The Rural Connectivity Group has achieved a significant milestone by reaching 500 open access cell towers, with the latest tower located in Anawhata. This coastal community, situated between Piha and Bethells on Auckland’s west coast in the Waitākere Ranges Regional Park, now connects 33,000 houses that previously lacked broadband access. In the past month alone, the RCG network has handled four petabytes of data traffic and nine million voice calls per month.
The RCG’s tower network covers thousands of kilometers of rural roads, 110 tourist hotspots, and even includes five towers in the Chatham Islands. This expansive coverage highlights the RCG’s commitment to reaching remote locations across New Zealand. The RCG, a joint venture between Spark, 2degrees, and Vodafone, was established to address cellular network coverage gaps in rural areas that were not economically viable for commercial tower investment.
In addition to expanding its tower network, the RCG provides open access towers that mobile carriers and other interested parties can utilize for their services. This collaborative approach has enabled the RCG to deliver connectivity to some of the most remote sites in the country, often requiring innovative solutions such as solar power for off-grid locations.
Meanwhile, Apple has announced plans to enhance iPhone users’ satellite messaging capabilities with the upcoming iOS 18 update. This new feature, called Messages via satellite, will allow users to send and receive texts, emojis, and tapbacks over iMessage and SMS when unable to connect to a cellular network or Wi-Fi. The service will offer end-to-end encryption, ensuring secure communication for users with compatible devices.
In other technology news, IDC projects a significant growth in global spending on telecom and network application programming interfaces (APIs) by 2028. Service providers are expected to prioritize programmable connectivity to monetize new network capabilities and expand the market ecosystem. Additionally, Nokia has introduced immersive 3D sound technology for phone calls, aiming to enhance the live voice calling experience.
As the technology landscape continues to evolve, companies like Xero are exploring AI-driven solutions to empower businesses, while concerns about AI-generated content and phishing campaigns remain prevalent. Despite the rapid growth of AI platforms in the Australia and New Zealand market, there are ongoing discussions about the impact of AI on employment and the quality of AI applications in various industries.
Overall, the advancements in rural connectivity, satellite messaging, API development, and immersive communication technologies reflect the ongoing innovation in the tech sector. With a focus on expanding access to digital services and enhancing user experiences, these developments are shaping the future of telecommunications and network infrastructure in New Zealand and beyond.