Spark has started the next phase of its landline voice calling upgrade to ensure that customers can stay connected now and into the future.
The upgrade will move customers onto more modern technology that is already being used by the majority of Kiwis, including landline over wireless and landline over fibre.
To keep New Zealand connected into the future, we're retiring the old PSTN area by area, and moving customers to a more modern network. It's a once-in-a-generation technology upgrade, like moving from analogue TV to digital.
Spark operates the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), which is a network of switches that connects calls from one person to another over copper lines. It's an old system that was built in the 1980s. The parts we need to keep it going aren't being made any more, so it's time for us to retire the PSTN.
Note:
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14 September 2020 |
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28 January 2021 |
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AR3
PRM4
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Ashburton
Paraparaumu
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29 April 2021 |
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MRE
OH MKY MNR ETM OAA
MMA |
Mangere
Otahuhu Manukau City Manurewa East Tamaki Otara
Memorial Ave |
12 July 2021 |
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ON4
LYE2
JV4 LHT2
BSY SOD TDL |
Onehunga
Lynmore
Johnsonville Lower Hutt
Browns Bay South Dunedin * Taradale * * Consumer only |
25 January 2022 |
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ELL GDW INE
MAW MMN NLN
MOD |
Ellerslie Glendowie Invercargill East
Marewa Mount Maunganui New Lynn
Mount Eden |
16 May 2022 |
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AL
BSY CPC
FG GID HBC KK KLB PTN PLM POY PUI STI SHB TDL TH TKU WAE WKW WPU WNK |
Alexandra
Browns Bay * Courtenay Place
Feilding Green Island Hibiscus Coast Kaikoura Kelburn Petone Plimmerton Ponsonby Papanui South Invercargill St Heliers Taradale * Thames Tuakau Waikanae Waikiwi Wakatipu Wanaka * Small Business / Enterprise lines only |
21 September 2022 |
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AVS BKM FGF GLE HCK HOT LTK NAE STL UPN AVO BYM WGL HSN ISL MDX PRO TAT TGN WTN |
Avondale Beckenham Flagstaff Glen Eden Howick Horotio Lake Tekapo NaeNae St Albans Upper Hutt North Avonhead Brymer Girls College Henderson Islington Middleton Porirua Te Atatu Titirangi (moved to batch 9) Waitangirua |
10 May 2023 |
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BGN FDN FB HNE HRD KAM LIN MHL MTG MPL NVY OUN ORH OT PCV POP REM SOD SUM TGN WH WBH WBY WP WR WEI |
Brighton Fendalton Foxton Beach Hamilton East Harewood Kamo Linwood Maori Hill Matangi Mount Pleasant North East Valley Oamaru North Onerahi Otaki Pacific View RLU Papatoetoe Remuera South Dunedin * Sumner Titirangi Waiheke Waihi Beach Welcome Bay Westport Whangarei Whenuapai *= Small Business / Enterprise lines only |
28 September 2023 |
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Exchanges |
Communication with affected customers |
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AK/AT ABB BHE BLF CB CLE DRL DHB GV GRT HLY KT MPU MVE OTR OTE PIH RSB RIC SR TRV WUA WGE |
Airedale St Andersons Bay Bethlehem Bluff Cambridge Claudelands Dargaville Diamond Harbour Gonville Greerton Huntly Katikati Maungatapu Melville Otatara Otumoetai Paihia Ravensbourne Riccarton Shirley Te Rapa Waiatarua Wanganui East |
1/05/2024 |
Spark customers using broadband over copper will also need to move to alternative broadband services (such as Spark's broadband over wireless or fibre). Because some of Spark's broadband over copper services are also delivered through systems associated with these old switches, Spark has also made the decision to withdraw all of its copper-based broadband services in these areas.
If you are one of these customers, the change will be a very simple process for most. We'll send you the information you need to make an informed choice about what landline calling or broadband service you would like to move to, with a recommendation based on how you use your landline or broadband and what's available at your place. We'll then arrange the move to the new service. We have a specialist team on hand who can chat through any concerns you have to ensure you have everything you need to stay connected before we make the switch. It's also okay to choose a different provider for your new landline calling or broadband connection. While we would be sad to see you go, we can help you leave without any early exit fees.
We know these things can be unsettling, so we'll do everything we can to make it easy. We want to make sure you will have access to modern technology that will keep you connected into the future.
If you have any questions, get in touch with our specialist team on 0800 733 799
Note: SME business customers, please get in touch with your local Business Hub. Corporate/Enterprise customers, please contact your Customer Lead.
As the PSTN is end of life and with parts no longer available, it won't continue to work in the future. We'll work with you to move your services to a more modern, more resilient service that's future proofed. If you want to update your connection prior to when we will be contacting affected customers directly, please get in touch with our specialist team on 0800 733 799 and they will arrange everything for you.
Absolutely, by making the change now you won't have to do it in a few months' time. Please get in touch with our specialist team on 0800 733 799 and they will arrange everything for you.
If you have a Spark broadband connection over copper (ADSL or VDSL) you will need to move to an alternative service. Spark is offering most impacted customers either fibre or wireless broadband (or both). This is because some of Spark's broadband over copper services are also delivered through systems associated with these old switches, Spark has also made the decision to withdraw all of its copper-based broadband services in your area. So once we shut down this old technology in your area, Spark copper broadband will no longer be available.
Other providers may still offer broadband delivered over copper in your area. You would need to check with them directly. While we would be sad to see you go, we can help you leave without any early exit fees.
You might also want to check out the broadband map to see what technologies are available at your address: broadbandmap.nz
If you are a Spark customer, and your naked broadband service is delivered over copper (ADSL or VDSL) then you will need to move to an alternative service. This is because some of Spark's broadband over copper services are also delivered through systems associated with these old switches. Spark has also made the decision to withdraw all of its copper-based broadband services in your area.
You can read more on the Telecommunication Forum’s website.