Latest news with #2degrees
NZ Herald
28-07-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
AI Month: How 2degrees will put AI tools in the hands of every employee
You may be polishing your office memos with ChatGPT and drafting emails with Microsoft Copilot. But is AI actually making you more effective at your job? The only way to find out is to spend hands-on time with AI tools – and for more than finding a few productivity hacks for admin tasks. The Government's newly released Strategy for Artificial Intelligence suggests our economy can be boosted to the tune of $76 billion by 2038 through the effective use of AI. But the strategy also flagged the need to raise awareness and build confidence to address a 'lack of perceived value' in AI. Many Kiwi organisations are dabbling with AI, but haven't yet progressed to applying the technology to unlock true productivity gains based on high-quality company data. Many business leaders surveyed in the 2025 2degrees Shaping Business Study reported a lack of digital skills as a major obstacle to adopting AI and other advanced technologies. The challenge is twofold: not only is there a shortage of skilled technology professionals, but businesses also struggle to find the time and resources to upskill their existing workforce. Taking AI use to the next level 2degrees was an early adopter of AI and has put it to work to achieve dramatic results in areas like customer service and marketing. But in August, the country's third-largest telecommunications provider will conduct a company-wide experiment with AI, taking its use to the next level. 'People need to start thinking deeply about AI and not be fearful of it,' says Mark Callander, 2degrees' Chief Executive Officer. 'Using AI isn't about eliminating jobs. We're trying to flip it on its head and ask: how can you use AI in your area of work to make your job easier, more productive, and more impactful? That's how we get the real productivity gains.' For four weeks, each of 2degrees' 1600 employees, from network engineers to marketing staff, legal teams to customer service representatives, will participate in a series of AI training sessions, workshops, and hands-on experiments. The initiative is not just about learning new tools. It's about creating a cultural shift where AI becomes an integral part of daily work. A month-long prompt-a-thon With that in mind, even 2degrees' management and board of directors will go deep on AI, using the tech to draft board reports, analyse financial performance and forecast future trends. The aim is to compare AI-driven analysis with traditional human-led insights, highlighting new opportunities and potential blind spots. 2degrees' AI Month is structured around four themed weeks and is supported by the telco's technology partners, including AWS, Ericsson, Microsoft, Nokia, Salesforce, ServiceNow, Snowflake, and TechMahindra, who all now offer extensive AI tools. The programme, run nationally, will see employees receive training tailored to their roles, from prompt engineering to understanding unconscious bias in AI. Technical teams will deepen their use of tools like GitHub Copilot, while non-technical staff will learn how to integrate AI into their workflows. Build-Your-Own-AI workshops will enable staff to put no-code AI agents to work on the real tasks they most want to automate. For example, a marketing team member recently used an AI tool to analyse mobile sign-up processes across competitors' websites, uncovering actionable insights in just 15 minutes, a task that would previously have taken hours. 2degrees employees are invited to share their discoveries and successes in internal forums, fostering a culture of curiosity and collaboration. Callander says the central theme of AI Month is transparency and openness to change. 'You can't write a three-year AI strategy at the moment because everything is moving so quickly,' he says. 'You can set your culture right, so you can embrace opportunities as they arise with AI.' The shift every business needs to make This cultural shift, says Callander, is essential for the long-term success of 2degrees. As AI evolves rapidly, organisations must be agile and ready to adapt. By empowering employees to explore AI and embed it into the fabric of the organisation, 2degrees hopes to unlock new levels of productivity, innovation, and customer value. As Callander puts it, 'Whatever it is, we'll hopefully do it smarter, faster, and cheaper. We might make mistakes and go down some dead ends, but we'll learn together and build our confidence in using AI across 2degrees.' In September, 2degrees will report back on the outcomes of AI Month, sharing key lessons, successes, and areas for growth with staff, partners, and the wider business community.
NZ Herald
17-07-2025
- Health
- NZ Herald
Tauranga: Former Bethlehem College student Lauryn Maxwell makes Y25 list
This year, the 22-year-old is doing her post-graduate studies in public and Māori health. She was awarded two Prime Minister's Scholarships for two six-week internships and went to India in January for her first. Maxwell said it was 'eye-opening' and 'humbling' - she worked for a non-governmental organisation doing mental health research and supporting efforts to manage the spread of HIV/Aids. The 'biggest takeaway' was seeing the resilience of different communities in Mumbai, she said. 'They were dug so deep under stigma and structural barriers, but they still stuck together and worked as a community.' This made her reflect on the importance of community-led solutions. 'I would love to return to India one day when I have more skills and more knowledge to bring. It was an opportunity I will never forget.' Maxwell said she had just finished serving as the UN Youth national equity officer. Her role involved overlooking the organisation from an equity perspective, ensuring events were 'more accessible to our underrepresented communities'. Last year, she participated remotely in the global leadership challenge at the University of Oxford. She said this involved making an equity-focused plan for quality education with four other students. They designed a 'gamified tool' for young people to tackle disinformation in the Philippines. Her team won, and Maxwell was invited to go to Switzerland in May to attend the 54th St Gallen Symposium. She connected with world leaders and talked 'all things equity' which she said was 'life-changing'. Maxwell also worked as a kaupapa Māori advisor at 2degrees in Auckland. In November, she was going to Japan for her second internship focused on public health. Former Bethlehem College student Lauryn Maxwell is going to Japan in November for a six-week internship. Photo / Supplied Maxwell said it was 'incredibly special' to be on the Y25 list. 'As a young woman, I think my work has always been driven by a commitment to equity, specifically in the health sector ... ' Being on the list felt like 'a big celebration' of communities and support networks which made her work possible, she said. Maxwell said she was most looking forward to connecting and building relationships with the other winners, who may have other perspectives, skills, and lived experiences. 'I'm excited to learn from them and also challenge my thinking as well in different ways.' Her long-term goals included contributing to systemic change in Aotearoa, helping shape health systems and policy that 'truly reflect the lived realities of our communities'. She would also love to help or start a social equity project focused on mentoring Māori students. 'I just want to help keep uplifting our Māori students, our rangatahi, and any unrepresented voices so more of us are at the table shaping the solutions, not just being talked about.' YWCA chief executive Dellwyn Stuart said young women and gender diverse youth were often 'mischaracterised' by the media, politicians and their elders. 'They tend to be seen, but not to be fully heard. We want to change this.' Stuart said this year's group were using 'their youth as a superpower' and showing new ways to succeed in Aotearoa. 'However, they do need support, access to networks and resources, and a safe place to be themselves and connect with others. This is what the Y25 programme provides for them.' YWCA Tāmaki Makaurau youth engagement manager and Y25 lead kaimahi 2025 Mary-Lynn Huxford said the organisation was celebrating trailblazers who were 'beacons of hope'. 'Whether they are breaking barriers, representing their communities, creating joy and art, or helping solve some of the complex problems in our society. 'Many have faced challenges and used these experiences to build their tenacity and determination to make our country better.' The full list would be announced at an event in Tāmaki Makaurau today. Megan Wilson is a health and general news reporter for the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post. She has been a journalist since 2021.
Techday NZ
03-07-2025
- Business
- Techday NZ
2degrees accelerates MVNO growth with Totogi SaaS platform switch
New Zealand operator 2degrees has completed the migration from its legacy systems to Totogi's Charging-as-a-Service platform, aiming to support the evolution of its wholesale telecommunications business. Following the adoption of Totogi's cloud-native SaaS platform, 2degrees reports having accelerated its wholesale mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) revenue growth beyond what was possible with its previous systems. The company states it has on-boarded new MVNO partners and delivered over 300 new features without experiencing service disruptions. This development underscores the capabilities of SaaS-based operations in addressing the demands of the current telecoms environment. Wholesale growth Legacy monetisation systems have long been regarded as an obstacle to wholesale expansion for mobile network operators (MNOs), often requiring prolonged and expensive upgrade cycles. According to Totogi, its platform allows operators to on-board MVNOs more rapidly, deliver new functionalities swiftly, and avoid the need for disruptive and costly system upgrades. Chris Bradley, Head of Digital Architecture at 2degrees, said, "Totogi's SaaS-based charging platform has transformed how we operate our wholesale business. Wholesale success is about partnerships, agility and demonstrating quick time to value, and with Totogi, we continue to challenge the status quo, scaling and growing our wholesale business." Totogi's solution was introduced at 2degrees in 2024, with the aim of providing real-time monetisation of network services. Since then, 2degrees has been able to streamline its wholesale operations and increase efficiency in its commercial processes through the use of public cloud and automation. Platform capabilities The enhanced abilities provided by Totogi's platform include predictive churn scoring, giving operators insights to anticipate and address subscriber churn before it impacts revenue. Additionally, the platform offers automated customer journey mapping that leverages behavioural insights to improve engagement and increase average revenue per user (ARPU). "2degrees is proving that MNOs can support MVNOs at the speed the market demands—not at the pace of legacy systems," said Danielle Rios, Acting CEO of Totogi. "The telecom industry has reached a clear inflection point: operators stuck in legacy systems will lose ground, while those embracing public cloud, SaaS, and AI will dominate the market. With Totogi's multi-tenant platform, operators can run their wholesale business like a software company—rolling out features continuously, scaling dynamically, and turning their network into a competitive advantage rather than a limitation." The multi-tenant infrastructure of the platform is designed to allow continuous rollout of features whilst maintaining operational stability, which 2degrees cites as a key driver behind its enhanced agility and ability to scale. Market outlook 2degrees' migration to the new charging system comes as more telecommunications providers seek to modernise operations, especially in wholesale segments that serve MVNOs. The capacity to quickly on-board new partners and introduce service enhancements is considered crucial for growth as competition intensifies and as operators look to diversify revenues. Totogi reports that its SaaS approach frees up resources previously committed to managing upgrades and ongoing maintenance, thereby allowing operators to focus on commercial growth and innovation in service offerings. The partnership demonstrates the trend of mobile operators moving away from traditional monetisation systems in favour of public cloud-native platforms that promise operational flexibility, streamlined processes and, potentially, improved financial performance in wholesale telecommunications markets. By reducing deployment timelines and removing technical barriers, 2degrees' example is noted as an operational framework for other MNOs aiming to expand their MVNO activities and adapt to evolving requirements in the sector.
Otago Daily Times
28-06-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
No plans for new 5G towers, providers say
Opponents of controversial 5G telecommunications technology can relax slightly, after it was revealed none of the main mobile providers have plans to build new cell towers in Oamaru. The Oamaru Mail was recently contacted by a concerned Kakanui resident after they saw workers connected to a mobile infrastructure group, but all providers contacted by the Mail have stated they have no plans for new towers. National company FortySouth, which owns the cellular structure network operated by OneNZ, told the Mail it had no immediate plans for new 5G cell towers in Oamaru. A spokesperson for 2degrees also confirmed it had no plans for new 5G towers anywhere in the district. "We constantly review and prioritise our coverage investment based on customer needs and demand. "There are two 2degrees sites with 5G enabled in Oamaru, one central, one on the south edge. "We don't currently have plans for additional 5G sites, but we have plans to upgrade the RAN equipment at a couple of other nearby sites to provide enhanced 4G service." A spokesperson for Spark said it had recently upgraded one 5G cell site serving Kakanui and the surrounding area but was not planning to build new towers. "For Oamaru and North Otago, the 5G rollout is still in progress with some sites still to be upgraded — this means existing cell towers will have 5G technology added to them rather than new towers built." A spokesperson for the Waitaki District Council said the council had "no knowledge" of any providers with plans for 5G towers in Kakanui or anywhere else at the time. At present, councils have limited control on where 5G cell towers are erected if National Environmental Standards for Telecommunication Facilities (NESTF) are met, as the activity is classed as permitted. On private land, installation requires only the landowner's agreement, bypassing public notification completely. The NESTF, part of the Resource Management Act 1991 framework, allow companies to install low-impact telecommunications infrastructure, including 5G cell towers, as long as they adhere to local district plan rules. The government is consulting on changes to the national policy statement for infrastructure. "The current environmental standards around telecommunication facilities were drafted in 2016 and are now very out of date. "Changes to the standards will update rules around poles and other infrastructure and create a more efficient consenting environment," Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop said. That consultation ended today. While not mentioning cell towers specifically, the consultation document states one of the intended results is to provide "greater certainty, particularly in growing cities, that infrastructure services can continue to be provided or as planned, and that housing and other development can also occur in a compatible way".
NZ Herald
23-06-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
Kiwi company Halter reaches billion-dollar status & how much would you pay for a single Kiwifruit
BusinessDesk's Garth Bray talks business with 2degrees, virtual fencing firm Halter reaches billion-dollar status and how much would you pay for a single Kiwifruit?
