Phones would need a clear line of sight to the sky for the service to work. Photo: Supplied
- Only certain phones will be eligible for satellite texts at first.
- Phones will need a clear line of sight to the sky.
- More phones will become eligible next year.
- One NZ said initially, texts would be sent and received within three minutes, but it may take longer.
One New Zealand has started rolling out its long-awaited satellite text messaging service, but to selected customers first.
The telecommunications company said customers with certain Android phones would be notified if they qualified, with more phones becoming eligible next year.
The phones eligible were Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6, Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and OPPO Find X8 Pro.
Phones would need a clear line of sight to the sky for the service to work.
It said current consumer pay monthly plans would include satellite texts for no extra charge, including companion group plans, and endless business mobile plans.
"We have lift-off! I'm incredibly proud that One NZ is the first telecommunications company globally to launch a nationwide Starlink Direct to Mobile service, and One NZ customers are among the first in the world to begin using this groundbreaking technology," One NZ experience and commercial director, Joe Goddard said.
"We've worked with Starlink to provide coverage across Aotearoa, including to the around 40 percent of NZ's landmass that is not covered by traditional mobile networks - plus approximately 20 kilometres out to sea."
The telecommunications company said customers with certain Android phones would be notified if they qualified, with more phones becoming eligible next year. Photo: Supplied
One NZ said testing indicated during the initial rollout period, text messages would be sent and received within three minutes, but at times it may take 10 minutes or longer.
The company expected speeds to improve as the service matured.
"This is a generational change in mobile technology, just like 4G or 5G," Goddard said.
While today marked a big milestone for One NZ, it has not been all smooth sailing for the telco to reach this point.
It faced Commerce Commission charges over an ad campaign claiming 100 percent coverage, which the company planned to defend.
The commission said the telco did not make the service's limitations clear to customers, but One NZ said it "strongly disagreed" with the legal action.
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