Mobile Phone Users Hit One Million

More than one million Kiwis now use mobile phones, according to new figures issued by Telecom today.

Telecom has notched up another record quarter of growth with 83,500 new net connections in the three months to 30 September. That makes a total now of 760,800 Telecom mobile customers. The number of Kiwis connected to Telecom's mobile network has grown by more than 50%, from 504,000 a year ago.

If Telecom's three quarters of a million is added to the Vodafone tally of 293,000 connections announced last week, a grand total of 1,053,800 customers - or 27% of New Zealanders - now have mobile phones.

Telecom Chief Executive Theresa Gattung said Kiwis were getting mobile in huge numbers.

"Total market penetration is now growing by more than a percentage point each month. On that basis we expect that 30% of New Zealanders will have mobile phones by the end of this year."

Ms Gattung said prepaid phones have continued to be a big hit with consumers, but new pricing plans for contract customers which include free minutes and additional services have attracted large numbers of customers.

Ms Gattung said as mobile phones become a mass market product, Telecom is expanding its range of distribution outlets.

"Mobile phones and associated products can now be bought in service stations, supermarkets, through the Internet and over the phone, as well as through the specialist dealer networks.

"Mobile phones, especially prepaid phones are also likely to prove an even more popular Christmas gift than they were last year, so we're expecting the December quarter to be another big one for sales."

ENDS

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