NEW YORK-Walker Wireless, which owns spectrum throughout New Zealand, has contracted with U.S.-based IPWireless to build a broadband wireless network that covers the country’s three largest cities and about half its population.
IPWireless did not disclose a dollar amount for the deal.
IPWireless also provided network infrastructure for a commercial trial, which involved 400 businesses and individuals in parts of Auckland earlier this year. Walker Wireless and Vodafone New Zealand each contributed US$3 million to that demonstration project.
“In my 14 years in the telecommunications industry, this is the most successful project I have ever been associated with,” said Bob Smith, chief executive officer of Walker Wireless.
“Our trial participants raved about the service. Our initial trial confirmed our belief that the time is right for a broadband solution like IPWireless that enables us to offer cost-effective services that subscribers can use at work, at home and anywhere else they need to get service while on the move.”
Walker Wireless will foot the entire bill for the network expansion in Auckland and into Wellington and Christchurch, New Zealand’s three largest cities. Vodafone New Zealand will serve as a reseller of the service, which IPWireless said delivers the speeds of Wi-Fi with at least 20 times the range.
“We envision a domino effect as we expand across New Zealand and into Australia, because we learned in our survey (that) the more people use IPWireless, the more they tell their friends and the more people want to subscribe,” Smith said.
Walker Wireless will begin offering widespread commercial service on the IPWireless network within three to four months, and the carrier plans to expand to other cities later next year, said Jon Hamvidge, senior director of marketing for IPWireless.
