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  "description": "One NZ starts its 3G shutdown in Dunedin, while Telcowatch data reveals long-term mobile market share remains remarkably stable. Plus, Connexa partners with Nokia.",
  "path": "/3g-shutdown-begins-dunedin/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-01-22T18:35:50.000Z",
  "site": "https://billbennett.co.nz",
  "tags": [
    "Six years ago in the January 2020 Telcowatch report",
    "Last July the Digital Equity Coalition Aotearoa identified risks",
    "Spark to recycle 3G spectrum for rural 5G",
    "NZ 3G networks plan to close by end of 2025",
    "3G use slows as networks face closure",
    "Spark delays 3G shutdown - official cut-off confirmed",
    "Digital equity concern as 3G shutdown nears",
    "satellite",
    "Gartner says PC market is up almost 10%",
    "Kordia boss Neil Livingston’s Swedish experience",
    "New Zealand law is way behind when dealing with Grok’s sexualised deep fakes",
    "Privacy Commissioner announces inquiry into Manage My Health cybersecurity breach",
    "Covid’s technology Great Leap Forward - Bill BennettTechnology adoption took off within days when the world went into lockdown for the Covid pandemic. We left forward by years.Bill BennettBill Bennett",
    "NZ monthly data use climbs at end of 2024 to 644GBNew Zealander’s data consumption has climbed thirteen-fold in a decade and downloading a monthly terabyte is no longer outlier behaviour. The mobile market is largely static. PC sales improve.Bill BennettBill Bennett",
    "Southern Cross Cable talks Tasman Express plans"
  ],
  "textContent": "## **Spark, One NZ, 2degrees hold market share positions**\n\nIn its latest report, Telcowatch says One New Zealand was the leading mobile service provider in fourth quarter of 2025 in terms of market share. One NZ has a 36% share of the market.\n\nWhile this puts One NZ well ahead of second-place Spark (32% market share), Telcowatch regards Spark’s budget-price Skinny brand as a separate entity.\n\nSkinny has a 6% market share. If this is combined with Spark’s 32%, then Spark remains the overall market leader with a 38% share. This would be the market share metric that matters in telco boardrooms. It also makes sense as Skinny is now closely integrated with the rest of Spark.\n\nMeanwhile, more than three years after 2degrees merged with Orcon, the business has 26% of the market.\n\nThis tells us New Zealand’s mobile phone market has been stable for a long time. Six years ago in the January 2020 Telcowatch report, Spark combined with Skinny commanded a 41% market share.\n\nOne NZ, then known as Vodafone, was on 36%, the same as today. Likewise Skinny was on 6% then and now. 2degrees was on 23%. Over the long haul 2degrees has won 3% of market share from Spark’s main brand.\n\nNew Zealand's mobile market has been remarkably stable since 2014\n\nMobile Company | Q4 2025 Share | Jan 2020 Share | Change (pts)\n---|---|---|---\nOne New Zealand | 36% | 36% | 0%\n2degrees | 26% | 23% | +3%\nSpark (Core Brand) | 32% | 35% | -3%\nSkinny | 6% | 6% | 0%\nTotal Spark + Skinny | 38% | 41% | -3%\n\n* * *\n\n## One NZ begins 3G shutdown in Dunedin\n\nOne New Zealand has begun shutting down its 3G mobile network and moving customers to 4G and 5G services. The company says the switch off started earlier this week in the Dunedin region where the 3G network shut down on Tuesday January 20.\n\nKieran Byrne, chief technology officer, says last year One NZ completed 258 mobile upgrades in anticipation of the 3G shutdown. Every One NZ site is now equipped with 4G, many have 5G.\n\nWhile closing the 3G network represents progress, it remains controversial. Last July the Digital Equity Coalition Aotearoa identified risks associated with the shutdown, including a general lack of awareness about the move.\n\n* * *\n\nMore on the New Zealand 3G shutdown\n\n2023 Spark to recycle 3G spectrum for rural 5G\n\n2023 NZ 3G networks plan to close by end of 2025\n\n2024 3G use slows as networks face closure\n\n2025 Spark delays 3G shutdown - official cut-off confirmed\n\n2025 Digital equity concern as 3G shutdown nears\n\n* * *\n\n## Satellite messaging drives holiday traffic growth\n\nPosting on Linkedin, One New Zealand general manager of network services, Sharina Nisha, reports on the company’s holiday traffic stats:\n\n  * One NZ saw greater than 50% increase in traffic at key holiday destinations.\n  * On Christmas Day, One NZ customers sent the eight millionth satellite message on the company’s network.\n  * Satellite data went live with data traffic up 100%.\n\n\n\n## Sign up for Bill Bennett\n\ntelecommunications + technology from a New Zealand perspective\n\nSubscribe\n\nEmail sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup.\n\nNo spam. Unsubscribe anytime.\n\n* * *\n\n## Other telecom and technology news\n\n  * Gartner says PC market is up almost 10% — Gartner.\n_Lenovo remains the world’s leading brand._\n  * Kordia boss Neil Livingston’s Swedish experience — The Post.\n_Lessons for NZ business leaders._\n  * New Zealand law is way behind when dealing with Grok’s sexualised deep fakes — The Conversation.\n_Government has not kept pace._\n  * Privacy Commissioner announces inquiry into Manage My Health cybersecurity breach — RNZ.\n_Key is making sure this can’t happen again._\n\n\n\n* * *\n\n## Nokia and Connexa partner to streamline network operations\n\nA deal with Nokia means Connexa is the first mobile tower operator to outsource its network operations to a third-party service provider rather than managing them in-house or through traditional channels.\n\nThe move will see Connexa consolidate its operations from multiple local providers. The goal is to simplify operations, improve efficiency and give customers better network availability.\n\nConnexa will use Nokia’s expertise, tools and practices in network operations automation. CEO Rob Berrill says Nokia will help Connexa better manage its distributed tower network – over 2,500 sites (and counting) across Aotearoa New Zealand.\n\n* * *\n\n* * *\n\n## Five years ago we covered tech’s Great Leap Forward\n\nThe early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic saw a wave of rapid technology adoption that became a permanent part of our lives.\n\nCovid’s technology Great Leap Forward - Bill BennettTechnology adoption took off within days when the world went into lockdown for the Covid pandemic. We left forward by years.Bill BennettBill Bennett\n\nThis time last year Chorus reported surging data use on its networks:\n\nNZ monthly data use climbs at end of 2024 to 644GBNew Zealander’s data consumption has climbed thirteen-fold in a decade and downloading a monthly terabyte is no longer outlier behaviour. The mobile market is largely static. PC sales improve.Bill BennettBill Bennett\n\n* * *\n\n### Correction:\n\nLast week’s story “Southern Cross Cable talks Tasman Express plans” ended with a line saying the rival Tasman Ring Network being built by Datagrid and Chorus. During its recent results presentation Chorus announced it “had ended its engagement with the project”.\n\n_Download Weekly is a New Zealand telecommunications industry newsletter. You are welcome to pass it on to your friends and colleagues. While the newsletter is free, reader support helps enormously. If you’re reading this for work, donations are tax-free. There's a banner at the top of the page which will take you to the support site._\n\n_Have your say. Sign up as a subscriber, it is free, to comment on any of the stories on this site. We don’t collect any personal data other than an email address._\n\n****The Download Weekly is supported by Chorus New Zealand.****",
  "title": "NZ mobile market share stable as 3G shutdown begins",
  "updatedAt": "2026-05-24T00:04:08.203Z"
}