Telecoms Major Players

Telecom New Zealand (www.telecom.co.nz) is New Zealand dominant telco. It operates New Zealand's major national telephone network. Its backbone is 95% fibre-optic. It also operates the second largest mobile network. It has around 1.8 million phone customers and Nearly 300,000 internet connections.

TelstraClear (www.telstraclear.co.nz) is New Zealand's second largest full-service telecommunications company. It operates a cable service in Wellington, the Kapiti Coast and parts of Christchurch. About 90 per cent of Wellington homes and 65 per cent of homes in Christchurch can be connected to the network. Currently subscribers number around 70,000 Mr Jackson says the telco has no plans to fully cover the two cities, but is "selectively in-filling" some areas it doesn't serve.

Vodafone New Zealand (www.vodafone.co.nz ) is the largest mobile phone service provider in New Zealand. More than 3.8 million New Zealanders– or about 92% of the population - are now estimated to have a mobile connection and Vodafone claims 55% share of that market. They operate from more than 1100 mobile phone sites around New Zealand covering 97% of the population. Vodafone Group acquired its New Zealand business (previously known as BellSouth New Zealand) in November 1998 when it had 138,000 customers. In Vodafone acquired a controlling interest in ihug an independent internet service provider with satellite and wireless services, principally in Auckland but offering services nationally.

Woosh Wireless (www.woosh.com) operates the third largest mobile network and is the dominant wireless broadband provider in New Zealand. Its network covers around 25% of the population mainly in Auckland and two other large cities.

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