Vodafone New Zealand one step closer to 3G

MEDIA RELEASE
18 JANUARY 2001

Vodafone New Zealand one step closer to 3G future
Successful purchase of 3G radio spectrum

Vodafone New Zealand’s plans to continually deliver new, exciting and valuable mobile services in New Zealand are on track with the purchase of 3G radio spectrum.

3G is the term adopted by the mobile industry to cover the introduction of new technologies which work alongside existing networks and enable operators to develop and deliver a range of new multi media services to customers. Using the new 3G spectrum will be another step forward in this process.

In New Zealand, Vodafone has already upgraded its GSM network with technology called GPRS (General Packet Radio Service). This 2.5G service is a stepping stone to 3G. This capability means Vodafone users in New Zealand will have access to high speed data and new services in the next few months.

The company has successfully purchased 3G spectrum. This new spectrum will enable Vodafone to provide even more mobile services including many that until now, have been limited to the imagination.

New services such as mobile videoconferencing, photographs sent by mobiles, advanced messaging, colour touch screens and surfing the web will all become a reality in New Zealand.

According to Vodafone New Zealand Managing Director, Grahame Maher, the way Kiwis use their mobile phones will continue to change over the next few years. They will continue to replace fixed phone services with mobile services which will become an increasingly important part of people’s lives.

“Mobiles will become people’s credit cards and they’ll use them for a wide range of entertainment and information services.

“Imagine playing an advanced video game for two, in colour, with someone in America or watching the news as it happens, wherever ever you are, on your mobile,” said Maher.

Vodafone is ideally positioned to provide these and other services before anyone else in New Zealand. The new Third Generation technology, known as UMTS or Wide-Band CDMA, is a natural development of Vodafone’s existing GSM and GPRS (2.5G) technology.

Vodafone New Zealand is recognised as being a technology innovator and will remain at the cutting edge in the development of new applications and services through access to the resources and expertise of the world’s largest mobile telecommunications group.

New Zealand was the first country in the Vodafone group to fully deploy a GPRS (2.5G) network and was also the country chosen for the launch of the Vodafone global mobile portal, Vizzavi.

To ensure this leadership position continues and to encourage and assist local talent, Vodafone has established a programme called VIPER (Vodafone’s Initiative for Partnering Emerging Resource).

Established last year, VIPER aims to provide New Zealand technology developers with vital information, engineering advice, access to test networks, venture capital and a programme of developer workshops, forums and conferences.

“VIPER is part of our local strategy to work towards the Vodafone Group’s global vision of becoming the world leader in mobile multi media. It will also provide an opportunity to export great Kiwi technology to the rest of the world through the Vodafone Group’s 78 million customers in 25 countries.

“For New Zealanders, our global vision will translate into some of the most exciting and innovative telecommunications applications yet to be seen,” said Maher.

Finalising the purchase of radio spectrum allows Vodafone New Zealand to continue planning and developing new networks and services as well as preparing for vendor selection for its infrastructure requirements.

About Vodafone

Vodafone New Zealand Ltd is part of Vodafone Group Plc, the world’s largest mobile telecommunications company with 78.7 million proportionate customers. The company has interests in 25 countries over five continents.

Vodafone New Zealand now has more than 753,000 customers on its fully digital network and provides coverage to 97 per cent of the population.

ENDS

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