Samsung and Spark Launch 5G Network in New Zealand

Driving 5G momentum forward, Samsung switches on its first 5G in New Zealand, bringing a new wave of rich and immersive services to Spark users

Samsung Electronics and Spark New Zealand today announced the launch of 5G network in Christchurch, the most populous city in South Island of New Zealand. The launch marks the country’s first new network vendor in over a decade, and is Samsung’s first network installation in New Zealand.

Through this collaboration, Samsung and Spark are enabling more users in New Zealand to experience the ultra-fast connectivity and low latency of 5G, and helping enterprise customers take advantage of the innovative services. With technology partners like Samsung, Spark is advancing its goal of helping New Zealanders grow in a digital world by extending 5G accessibility to drive new economic, educational and societal benefits.

“We’re pleased to collaborate with Samsung to launch 5G in central Christchurch, New Zealand to have access to 5G speeds at home with our wireless broadband or on-the-go with a compatible 5G phone,” said Rajesh Singh, General Manager of Value Management at Spark New Zealand. “Samsung’s 5G Massive MIMO radio enables major improvements in both throughput and efficiency for Spark.”

Spark’s new 5G network is the first deployment of Samsung’s latest 5G RAN solutions in New Zealand, including the company’s Massive MIMO radio. Samsung’s Massive MIMO radio is one of the lightest and most compact network radios in the market, featuring a slim design profile that provides space savings on tower tops. Using advanced 3D beamforming technology, Samsung’s Massive MIMO radio also delivers improved capacity and effectively extends network coverage.

“We are thrilled to work with Spark in building its 5G network. This project in Christchurch marks another milestone in Samsung’s 5G journey,” said MinSu Chu, Managing Director and Head of Samsung Electronics New Zealand. “We have built a strong following in New Zealand through our mobile devices, so we are pleased to be able to take the next step in advancing reliable, secure 5G network and offer an end-to-end solution.”

As 5G rollouts gain momentum, Samsung continues to demonstrate its technology and operational expertise in partnership with forward-looking operators seeking a smooth 5G migration. Samsung is already powering some of the most advanced commercial 5G networks around the globe and the company is now bringing its industry-leading capabilities and the next-generation network’s faster speeds to New Zealand.

Samsung has pioneered the successful delivery of 5G end-to-end solutions including chipsets, radios, and core. Through ongoing research and development, Samsung drives the industry to advance 5G networks with its market-leading product portfolio from fully virtualized RAN and Core to private network solutions and AI-powered automation tools. The company is currently providing connectivity to hundreds of millions of users around the world.