2degrees goes live in Hamilton
First network expansion since telco's August 2009 launch.
2degrees' network has gone live in Hamilton, marking the mobile newcomer's first geographic expansion since its August 2009 launch. The company flipped the switch at 12am this morning.
In February gained $100 million in vendor financing from its network infrastructure partner - Chinese company Huawei.
The money is being used to bankroll an expansion of 2degrees network beyond its original base of Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown.
Outside those areas, 2degrees customers roaming (invisibly, to them) on Vodafone's network.
2degrees is using its line of credit with Huawei in part to increase the number of towns where it has its own celltowers and other network infrastructure
A 2degrees spokesman told NBR that the Hamilton network is in a fine-tuning phase that will last several weeks.
Once the Hamilton network officially goes live, the Waikato city will become - along with Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown - one of 2degrees "Broadband Zones" where customers can tap mobile data deals that are far cheaper than other areas (chiefly because Vodafone isn't clipping the ticket).
Tauranga is next on the list to go live, the 2degrees spokesman said.
2degrees said in Februray that its network expansion and upgrade would take place over the next two years - but the company has been shy of detailing where, or when.
The carrier is also due to upgrade its network to support HSPA+, allowing for faster 3G connections.
Telecom and Vodafone have already carried out HSPA+ upgrades.
2degrees earlier told NBR its primary focus was on price, and reliability.
Chris Keall
Thu, 28 Jul 2011
Thu, 28 Jul 2011
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