Latest news with #OneNZ
RNZ News
5 days ago
- Business
- RNZ News
Widespread internet outages around lower North Island
Photo: Downdetector/supplied Widespread internet outages are being felt around the North Island, which telcos are blaming on a Chorus fault. "We can confirm that there is a Chorus fault impacting broadband services across all telecommunications providers in the Wellington region," internet provider Spark told RNZ in a statement. "Spark apologises for the inconvenience this is causing customers. We are working with Chorus to ensure this issue is resolved as quickly as possible." Earlier, Voyager said it had identified an issue affecting "Chorus Wellington UFB (ultrafast broadband) handover". "This handover services Wellington, Kapiti, Hutt Valley, Palmerston North and through to Napier." Voyager said Chorus had identified the source of the issue and was working on a fix. Around 90 percent of connections were believed to be affected. "We are working with Chorus on a resolution." Downdetector showed a large spike in outages at Spark, One NZ, Skinny, and 2Degrees among others. Chorus, Spark, and One NZ earlier said they were looking into the problems. There were numerous reports on social media of internet outages with businesses in central Wellington left with no internet connections. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
The Spinoff
7 days ago
- Business
- The Spinoff
The end of ‘off the grid': How satellite texting works and who it's for
Satellite texting, explained. Late last year, One NZ became the first company globally to launch a nationwide Satellite TXT service powered by Starlink. While anyone can hypothetically use this new tech, its potential is perhaps largest for the 40% of the New Zealand landmass that does not have mobile coverage. New Zealand's rugged terrain and large swathes of sparsely populated land make it difficult to run physical infrastructure to many parts of the country. One NZ is using Starlink satellites equipped with Direct to Cell technology to open up a whole world of possibilities for cellular coverage here. This technology already has a powerful track record. During Cyclone Gabrielle, Starlink satellites were able to provide crucial connectivity in emergency scenarios. As One NZ rolls out Direct to Cell technology to customers, people who live, work and travel in remote areas could stand to benefit. So what's the latest on this new service? And how does it even work? I'm hearing a lot about satellite texting lately. What's that all about? Satellite texting is the latest development in how we connect to each other in Aotearoa. Unlike traditional mobile texting which uses cell towers situated on the ground, satellite texting uses 'cell towers in the sky' to provide mobile coverage across Aotearoa, including to the around 40% of NZ's landmass that is not covered by traditional mobile networks – plus approximately 20 kilometres out to sea. So we've literally glued cell towers to satellites? Well not literally, no. It's a little bit more than just a cut-and-paste job, and they definitely look a lot different from the regular cell towers you're thinking of. But for the purposes of visualising how this all works, it's useful to think of these satellites as cell towers floating in the sky. Got it. But why? What's wrong with good old cell towers on the ground? Nothing at all! Cell towers on the ground are the backbone of connectivity in Aotearoa, providing 60% geographical coverage. The biggest advantage of satellite cell towers, however, is their ability to address 'dead zones' – areas that don't get cell coverage, either because they're too far from the nearest cell tower or because something in the environment, maybe a huge mountain, is obstructing transmission. Currently, around 40% of New Zealand's geography remains untouched by traditional mobile coverage with countries like Australia (60%) and Canada (70%) also in similar situations. Why is it so hard to get cell coverage across the whole country? Unfortunately, building cell towers across the entire country is a pretty physically prohibitive task. Much of Aotearoa is characterised by rugged and mountainous terrain which makes building functional infrastructure difficult or impossible. Plus, cell towers are expensive to build and maintain. Most of us already live in cities and towns with good mobile coverage, so there's little incentive for networks to spend money expanding further across our sparsely populated land. If most of us are already living in areas with decent cell coverage, what's the point of addressing these 'dead zones'? It's nice going off the grid sometimes. If you're looking to escape from dreaded work calls or Instagram's algorithmic vortex, then going off the grid can be a lovely change of pace. But when your car breaks down in the middle of nowhere or you get lost during a hike, being off the grid can be stressful, dangerous, and sometimes even a matter of life or death. Satellite communication is set to be a game changer for outdoor safety. For example, if a group of skiers are running behind schedule, they can simply send their loved ones a quick text to let them know they're on their way, preventing an unnecessary call out for search and rescue. Fishers, divers, boaties, anyone out on the water are included as well, with offshore coverage extending up to 12 nautical miles. So do trampers no longer need to carry emergency communication devices? Satellite texting doesn't replace emergency devices like personal locator beacons (PLBs) or satellite phones. It does, however, give outdoor enthusiasts an accessible and affordable layer of protection to rely on if things go wrong. Hmm, I'm not really an outdoor person though. Are there any other benefits to this tech? Absolutely. It will add a layer of resilience to the communication network we all use. If the ground based cell network was hit by a cyclone and lost power, let's say, customers could continue to text via satellite. It also benefits drivers who, in the event of a breakdown or accident on remote roads, will have a reliable way to text for help wherever they may be. For businesses that rely on transporting goods and services nationwide, like logistics or waste management companies whose drivers often spend long hours on the road, having the ability to get in touch with customers and their headquarters also means an extra layer of convenience, safety and peace of mind. Farmers and other rural workers are set to reap the benefits too. Is there anywhere this won't work? As long as you have a direct line of sight to the sky, satellite texting should work wherever you are in Aotearoa. Unfortunately, that means cavers are probably out of luck. OK texting is cool, but what about calls and data? There's no set date for this roll out, but the plan is to offer calls and data eventually. The technology is still new but should improve as time goes on. So how does this technology work exactly? Basically, SpaceX has launched hundreds of Starlink satellites with Direct to Cell capability into space. These satellites circle the globe at a low-earth orbit, providing coverage over a much larger geography from above. They move in convoys so that when one satellite moves out of range, another one soon follows. That means there may be some delays as satellites move in and out of sight, but their continuous orbit means that shouldn't be more than a few minutes at a time. So how long can we expect texts to take? Currently, most texts should be delivered within a minute, although in some cases it may take longer. However, as more and more satellites are deployed, delay times are expected to steadily decrease. What about weather? Will rain, snow or wind affect this service? Other than extreme weather events, satellite texting is expected to work in whatever climate you're in as long as you have a clear line of sight to the sky. I'm keen. What do I need to do? If you're a One NZ customer with an eligible phone and plan, you don't have to do a thing. Satellite texting is included in business and consumer pay monthly plans, as well as on Prepay for a limited time, at no extra cost. Your phone will automatically start delivering texts via satellite if it detects you're outside of traditional mobile coverage and you have a line of sight to the sky. You'll know you're connected to the satellite network when the banner on the top left of your phone screen says 'One NZ SpaceX'.
RNZ News
27-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Infratil posts $986m underlying profit
Infratil chief executive Jason Boyes Photo: Supplied Infrastructure investor Infratil has reported a strong full year result with underlying profit near the top end of its guidance. However, the company made a bottom line net loss, primarily reflecting a drop in revaluation gains over the year earlier, when Infratil's controlling interest in One NZ resulted in a $1.075 billion revaluation gain. Key numbers for the 12 months ended March compared with a year ago: Infratil chief executive Jason Boyes said the result reflected strong operating earnings growth of 8.6 percent, driven by growing contributions from CDC Data Centres, One NZ, Wellington Airport and RetireAustralia. "Overall, the operating results were pleasing, particularly given inflationary pressures heading into the year," Boyes said. "One NZ's above target performance stands out, given the difficulties the New Zealand economy has faced, and demonstrates the differentiated position of our business. "CDC and Longroad's strong growth continued. Qscan produced excellent double-digit earnings growth with RHCNZ Medical Imaging not far behind, with both getting on top of the sector's inflationary pressures." He said AI was accelerating demand for data centre space as well as electricity to power them. "This calendar year, investors have focused closely on the pace of that acceleration, and now US tariffs, amid tight New Zealand's economic conditions." Boyes said Australia and New Zealand were emerging as critical destinations for fit-for-purpose AI infrastructure. "CDC is exceptionally well positioned, benefiting from geopolitical trust, energy stability, and regulatory certainty - factors that are becoming increasingly important to global hyperscale and AI customers." The company expected the current year to deliver underlying profit of between $1 billion and $1.05b, excluding its stake in Manawa Energy following the sale to Contact Energy. However, it said the guidance range for its renewable development companies, Gurīn Energy, Galileo and Mint Renewables, was for a loss of $85m-$105m. Boyes said CDC's independent valuer confirmed A$13.7 billion as the mid-point of its independent valuation, which in turn valued Infratil's investment at NZ$7.2b, compared with the year earlier's NZ$4.4b. He said the CDC valutation alongside independent valuations of its other international assets, would see the portfolio manager, Morrison & Co, receive a $350.6m incentive fee payable over three years.
Techday NZ
27-05-2025
- Business
- Techday NZ
New Zealanders demand trust & ethics in AI adoption, study finds
Research commissioned by One NZ has found that transparency and trust are considered essential by the public for the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in New Zealand. The One NZ AI Trust Report revealed that while 77% of New Zealanders have knowingly used AI-powered services in the past year, nearly half do not trust large companies to use the technology ethically. The study, which surveyed 1,000 New Zealanders, highlighted that 62% of respondents would discontinue using a company's services if they had concerns about its AI use. The primary concerns among participants centred around the misuse of personal data, cited by 67% of respondents, job losses at 65%, and unfair decision-making processes, noted by 62%. The report pointed to the growing prevalence of AI in everyday life across the country but found that a significant trust deficit remains when it comes to how larger organisations employ these tools. Further results from the survey indicated that 87% of New Zealanders believe strong data privacy protections are either important or essential when it comes to the deployment of artificial intelligence. Additionally, respondents saw potential advantages with AI, including increased productivity (43%), strengthened cybersecurity (42%), and new opportunities in innovation (41%). According to the findings, certain industries such as government, banking, and healthcare are facing greater challenges in earning public confidence in their use of AI technologies. The survey also showed that New Zealanders are far more likely to trust small businesses and large domestic firms to act responsibly and ethically with AI compared to multinational companies. Concerns regarding sustainability were also reported in the research, with 48% of New Zealanders expressing anxiety about AI-related energy consumption and the potential for greenwashing claims. The report encourages businesses in New Zealand to prioritise trust by embedding transparent and human-centred AI systems. The recommendations include clear communication, robust governance, and a commitment to fairness to address legitimate public concerns. One NZ Chief Executive Officer Jason Paris said, "The opportunity for New Zealand to boost productivity with AI is massive, but it'll only work if Kiwis trust the right steps are being taken when it comes to using these tools ethically." Paris added, "We commissioned this report to listen to New Zealanders and help businesses use AI in a way that's transparent, ethical, and ultimately human-led. Businesses that fail to earn trust will fail to realise AI's full potential." The study found that, despite public reservations, many New Zealanders see value in the technology provided there is effective oversight and safeguards in place. The report offers a roadmap that businesses can follow to earn and sustain public confidence in the evolving AI landscape. Paris commented, "At One NZ, we've done a lot of groundwork, making sure our approach is guided by the right ethics and data privacy frameworks. We're starting to see real world results from the technology as we roll it out, including better customer experiences and increased fraud protections." "The businesses that lead on AI will be the ones Kiwis choose to engage with, work for, and support. "While we recognise the enormous potential benefits of AI, it's important to appreciate many Kiwis have concerns, particularly around how their data will be used, how decisions will be made by these autonomous agents, and what this means for people's jobs. Importantly, people want to know when AI is being used, and how to get support from a human where needed." He continued, "That's why we believe communication and training go hand-in-hand with any rollout of these tools. Transparency is key, and we've committed a quarter of our budget to ensuring our staff gain AI skills that are transferable within the market." "We're hoping by sharing our experiences we can help other organisations to maximise AI tools, and boost productivity for New Zealand overall. It's also important to remember that to benefit from AI, businesses need to ensure they have the underlying technology in place, including an AI-ready network and digital infrastructure." Paris concluded, "AI isn't just about LLMs, algorithms and data science, it also requires a great connectivity network to underpin it. A robust, high performance, and secure network isn't a nice-to-have - it's essential for organisations to be able to truly harness the transformative power of AI."
NZ Herald
26-05-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
One NZ survey shows most New Zealanders don't trust AI and fear job losses from it
The majority of New Zealanders fear artificial intelligence will take their jobs, but that hasn't stopped them from using it. A survey of 1,000 people conducted by market research firm Perceptive and commissioned by One NZ shows conflicting attitudes towards AI: 65% fear job losses, 62% worry about the use of AI leading to unfair decision-making, 67% of people were concerned about the misuse of personal data, and 47% did not trust large companies to use AI ethically. None of this has prevented people from adopting AI, with 77% of respondents saying they had knowingly used AI services over the past year. However, there are generational differences with 90% of 18 to 34-year-olds having interacted with AI compared to 60% of people aged 55 years and older.
