Spark confirms 2020 start date for 5G

Spark says it is on track to begin rolling out a 5G mobile network in 2020. The company says services will go live during that year. This confirms the date the company previously said it would begin its next generation network build.

The confirmation comes after the company conducted trials earlier this year. Spark says the Wellington outdoor trial was successful with customers getting download speeds of up to 9 Ghz. An indoor trial in Auckland saw speeds as high as 18.2 Gbps.

While some telcos overseas are building new networks from scratch Spark says it will start by adding 5G services to its exisiting 4G and 4.5G networks. This will be extended when there is enough demand.

Spark managing director Simon Moutter says the company is working on mapping expected 5G cell site densities to learn where there is a need for new cell sites. He says: “We have already begun a build program to increase the number of cell sites in our existing mobile network – which will enable us to meet near-term capacity demand as well as lay the groundwork for network densification required for 5G.”

Funded through existing capex

The company says it is expects to fund its 5G network through its existing capital expenditure programme, although this does not include any additional spectrum purchases. Spark spends around 11 to 12 percent of its revenue on capital expenditure.

Spark plans to open a 5G Innovation Lab later this year in Auckland's Wynyard Quarter. This will let companies test their applications on a private 5G network before the full roll-out. The company says: “Providing early access to a pre-commercial 5G network through our global relationships with leading equipment vendors like Huawei, Cisco and Nokia will give our local partners a competitive boost, fast-tracking these businesses’ 5G developments."

Significantly Spark has not named the network equipment provider it will work with on the 5G programme. The company used Huawei to build the 4G network and has previously worked on developments with the Chinese equipment maker.

One potential concern is available spectrum. In a briefing paper Spark called on the government to make more spectrum available. This is already in motion, but the company wants this done in time for 5G networks to be running ready for the 2021 Amercia's Cup in Auckland.

Spark says it needs large blocks off spectrum in the C-Band, that's 3400 to 4200 MHz. It says it needs at least 80 MHz blocks and preferably 100 MHz blocks to build networks with 5G performance. It also calls for even larger blocks at higher frequencies.

Retail telecoms in Commerce Commission sights

Retail telecoms will be one of next year’s priority focus areas for the Commerce Commission. The Commerce Commission says it has "been working to improve its understanding of the retail telco issues faced by consumers".

This year it intends to monitor areas of service quality including billing, contract terms, marketing and switching between service providers. The Commission says: “We also expect to implement new consumer provisions from amendments to the Telecommunications Act, including industry codes to address issues of retail service quality.”

This is in addition to work the Commerce Commission is doing on the implications of competition and regulation in mobile and fixed line services. The mobile market is especially relevant with carriers making noises about moving to 5G.

The Commerce Commission also singled out online retail for attention.

2degrees boss Stewart Sherriff to retire

2degrees CEO Stewart Sherriff is to retire when a replacement is found. Sherriff has been associated with 2degrees since the company first started. He was originally with the Canadian-based Trilogy Group which is now the telco's main shareholder and was sent to check on the company. In 2010 he became chairman, then moved to take over as CEO after Eric Hertz was killed in a plane crash in 2013.

At first that was a temporary job, but he stayed five years. Sherriff will become a director after he leaves.

TeamTalk starts digital mobile radio build

TeamTalk has started work on its digital mobile radio network. The company will work with Visionstream as its installation partner. Canterbury will be the first area and will be used to test the technology. TeamTalk says it will have a customer on the network in the next three weeks. The network is Tier III digital mobile radio, that means it can be used to send voice and short messages as well as data packets.

Dargaville gets UFB ahead of schedule

Parts of Dargaville were connected to the UFB fibre network, two months ahead of schedule. The network in the town now passes 500 people and 70 have already signed for service. Another 500 will be connected in a month.

Northpower Fibre says all of Dargaville will be connected in a year. Eventually the network will reach 2000 homes and businesses in the town.

Northpower Fibre says it is the next stage of a project to take fibre to more people in parts of Northland. The company says 6000 people in the Kaipara District will have fibre by 2021. Network construction is underway in Mangawha while Kaiwaka, Maungaturoto, Paparoa and Ruawai are all in the pipeline.

Sky launches pop-up eSports channel

eSports, essentially where professionals play computer games in front of audiences is coming to Sky TV. From August 13 Sky TV will broadcast the Ginx eSports channel for 24-hours a day. The service will be available to Sky subscribers with a Sky box.

UK ISPs drop broadband speeds 41% after advertising rule change

Many broadband providers in the UK have been forced to cut the headline speeds in their advertising after new advertising rules kicked in. Which? a publication from the Consumers' Association analysed speeds and claims of a number of ISPs.

One group previously advertised ADSL deals as "up to 17 Mbps" their marketing now only claims 10 or 11 Mbps. Vodafone UK renamed its Fibre 38 and Fibre 76 plans as Superfast 1 and Superfast 2.

Perhaps the New Zealand organisations could point out these products are unlikely to be considered 'superfast' in this part of the world.

Kordia wins Fitzroy Engineering SD-Wan

Kordia has won a contract to build a New Zealand-wide six site SD-Wan for Fitzroy Engineering, an oil gas and energy engineering service company. The SD-Wan is based on Cisco Meraki kit.

Tuanz joins Broadband Compare awards

Tuanz's name will appear alongside Broadband Compare on this year's broadband awards. There are new and revised categories with a total of ten awards on offer.

Reanz hosts Asia-Pac academic network meeting

Reanz hosted the Apan ( Asia Pacific advanced network) meeting in Auckland this week. The event attracted more than 300 researchers and academics from 29 countries. It was the first Apan meeting in Auckland for a decade. The organisations supports connections between universities and research institutes in the region.