Spark Retains Top Spot For The Widest Coverage Experience Across Aotearoa

Thursday, 30 October 2025, 12:16 pm
Press Release: Spark

Spark has reaffirmed its leadership in mobile connectivity, ranking first for overall coverage experience and 5G coverage experience, while maintaining a top spot in reliability and availability in the latest New Zealand Mobile Network Experience Report [1], released by Opensignal (October 2025).

The independent report measures real-world mobile performance across Spark, OneNZ, and 2degrees, with Spark outperforming competitors in overall coverage and 5G reach. The results highlight Spark’s continued investment in building a 4G and 5G network that now connects 99% of people and businesses across New Zealand.

Renee Mateparae, Spark’s Network and Operations Director, said the recognition underscores Spark’s focus on delivering a world-class network that’s reliable today and ready for the future.

“Our goal is to give customers confidence that our network will perform when and where they need it – whether that’s enabling businesses to run more efficiently, helping people stay connected, or supporting innovation through 5G,” said Mateparae.

“We’re proud to be recognised for coverage, reliability and availability, which are the foundations of a great mobile experience. These results reflect the scale of our investment and the capability of our team.”

Spark’s 5G network now reaches more than half of New Zealand, with more than 980 cell sites nationwide. Opensignal has commented on these results, saying “this dominance in the Coverage related metrics underscores Spark’s ability to provide a dependable connection for users throughout New Zealand’s diverse geography.”

As the first provider to begin testing a 5G standalone network, Spark is setting new benchmarks in connectivity performance, with the potential to tailor network slices to meet specific needs such as lag-free gaming, faster and more resilient connections for businesses, or security optimised connections for hospitals or financial institutions like banks.

“This level of innovation enables us to support digital transformation across multiple sectors,” Mateparae added. “It’s not just about faster speeds – it’s about enabling new ways of working and doing business.”

Opensignal’s independent analysis uses real-world measurements based on customer experience, ensuring operators cannot optimise for test conditions. This approach provides an objective view of network performance and valuable insights for ongoing improvement.

[1] Opensignal Awards – New Zealand: Mobile Network Experience Report, October 2025, based on independent analysis of mobile measurements recorded during the period Jul 01 - Sep 28, 2025 © 2025 Opensignal Limited.

Note:

Spark’s awards in the Opensignal Mobile Network Experience Report (October 2025) include:

• Winner – Coverage experience

• Winner – 5G coverage experience

• Joint winner – Video experience

• Joint winner – Availability

• Joint winner – Reliability experience

About Opensignal

Opensignal is the leading global provider of independent insights into consumers' connectivity experiences and choice of carrier. Opensignal is committed to delivering accurate and actionable insights into network performance, helping consumers and operators alike to understand and improve the digital experience. Its data-driven approach ensures that network experience metrics are truly reflective of everyday usage, supporting meaningful improvements in mobile connectivity.

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