One NZ Completes 28 Mobile Upgrades And New Site Builds In The Past Quarter
by One NZ · SCOOPTo respond to ongoing increases in data use and customer demand, One New Zealand completed work on 28 mobile network sites across the country between July and September 2026. Of these, 22 were extending 5G coverage – 8 of them new site builds and 14 upgrades to existing sites. The other six were new Rural Connectivity Group (RCG) sites, helping extend mobile connectivity to more of rural New Zealand.
Whether its connecting in our biggest cities, or supporting regional and rural communities, this investment is about helping more New Zealanders work, live and play online.
Investing in better connectivity where it matters
Every new site and network upgrade is about improving the experience our customers have when they use our network, whether that means better cell-tower coverage, more capacity in busy areas or access to faster 5G connectivity.
New or improved mobile network infrastructure was delivered in locations across Auckland, Northland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Hawke’s Bay, Wellington, Canterbury, Otago and the West Coast – from Paihia and Kaitaia in the north, to Queenstown and Wānaka in the south.
This quarter’s investment included work in growing communities, busy urban areas, regional centres and popular destinations. Many of these locations were chosen because customers highlighted them as areas for improvement, via One Pin. The One NZ One Pin Tool allows people to report poor mobile reception or no connectivity by entering an address and dropping up to five pins on a map.
Expanding 5G and strengthening our mobile network
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Alongside expanding cell-tower coverage, we’re continuing to add capacity and extend 5G to more places.
By the end of September, One New Zealand had completed work on 109 mobile network sites during 2026. This included 61 new site builds, 86 sites with coverage improvements and 91 sites where new 5G technology had been added – as well as core network upgrades. In FY26, One NZ invested approximately $100 million in its mobile network and supporting infrastructure.
This follows the shutdown of legacy 3G networks, and continued investment right across New Zealand, from cities to farms and lots of places in between.
Mobile network sites are only one part of how we’re keeping Kiwis connected
For places outside traditional mobile coverage, including much of rural New Zealand, One NZ Satellite* provides another layer of connectivity. Satellite connectivity helps extend our reach into the roughly 40% of New Zealand’s landmass without traditional mobile coverage, as well as up to 85 nautical miles offshore.
One NZ Satellite Data also enables customers with eligible phones and plans to use select apps, including WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger and Google Maps, when they have a clear line of sight to the sky.
To learn more and check coverage in your area, please visit: https://one.nz/network/coverage/
* One NZ Satellite: TXT/MMS in minutes and use data on select apps. Requires eligible phone/device and plan/IoT plan. Requires line of sight to the sky. Limited app features. Paid Add-On may apply. Terms, fair use, standard MMS charges and capacity control apply. see: https://one.nz/satellite/