Two Degrees New Zealand Limited, trading as 2degrees, is a New Zealand full service telecommunications provider. It is the third-largest wireless carrier in New Zealand, with 1.6 million subscribers as of May 2021. Since launching its mobile network, 2degrees broke up the New Zealand mobile duopoly, halving the price of prepay overnight.
It has spent over NZ$550 million building its mobile network, which covers Ashburton, Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Hamilton, Hastings, Invercargill, Levin, Napier, Nelson, New Plymouth, Oamaru, Palmerston North, Queenstown, Rotorua, Taupō, Tauranga, Timaru, Wanganui, Wellington and Whangārei. In areas without 2degrees coverage, handsets connect to One NZ's UMTS and LTE network using MoRAN, using 2degrees' spectrum.
2degrees is owned by 2degrees (NZ) Holdings Pty Limited, with Macquarie Asset Management and Aware Super as its ultimate shareholders. Until 24 May 2022, it was majority owned by US-based Trilogy International Partners.
In March 2015, 2degrees announced it had acquired Snap, a broadband-based ISP, and from 28 July began offering broadband and home-phone services in addition to existing mobile services.
In 2022, 2degrees merged with Vocus New Zealand – the operator of the Orcon, Slingshot and Stuff Fibre brands – following their acquisition by Macquarie Asset Management and Aware Super. The New Zealand Commerce Commission granted clearance for the merger in May 2022, allowing the combined entity to become one of the largest integrated telecommunications providers in the country.
Naming The name of the company is a play on the concept of six degrees of separation, the "two degrees" being a reference to the relatively small population of New Zealand and the idea of the closeness of New Zealand communities.
Network 2degrees was formerly known as NZ Communications and previously as Econet Wireless. Planning began in 2000, but details were not revealed until 11 May 2009 and pricing was announced a day before launch. 2degrees accepted its first customers on 4 August 2009 for 2G calling and SMS only. Nearly a year later, on 3 August 2010, 3G was turned on and new data plans announced for use in areas where 2degrees has its cell towers. 2degrees launched its 4G network in 2014, and later launched its 5G network on 28 February 2022.
2degrees' network works with UMTS-900, UMTS-2100, LTE Band 1, 3, 8 and 28 and 5G NR Band n78 mobiles.
2degrees has plans to launch a direct-to-standard-phone (sat2phone) network in 2026 using Lynk Global satellites for SMS and AST SpaceMobile satellites for 4G and 5G data services.
Coverage 2degrees had native GSM (900M/1800) with EDGE data in the main centres using Huawei kit at launch and had a roaming agreement with One NZ (then Vodafone) (GSM with GPRS only), so had nationwide coverage on launch day. 2degrees launched 3G (UMTS 900/2100) services in August 2010 in all coverage areas, including One NZ roaming locations. 2degrees launched 4G LTE (B3 1800) services in Auckland in June 2014 and expanded to its own network over the next two years. 2degrees progressively extended its own network covering most of New Zealand's population. In 2020, 2degrees ended its national roaming agreement with One NZ. It now has an infrastructure sharing agreement with One NZ on 200 remote towers (using Multi Operator Radio Access Network (MoRAN) technology). 5G services went live in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch in March 2022. With the launch of 5G, 2degrees is progressively replacing its Huawei equipment with new Ericsson (3G,4G and 5G) kit. 2G services were shut down in March 2018.
+ Date Area Notes From Launch Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown. Wellington included Wellington, Hutt City, Porirua and Kapiti. Initially these areas were 2G only, then 3G a year later, then 4G as below.August 2010Piha, Muriwai. Holiday beaches near Auckland. Mid 2011 Hamilton and Tauranga April 2012 Whangarei, Rotorua, Taupō, Napier, Hastings, Whanganui, Palmerston North, Levin, Nelson, Ashburton, Dunedin and Invercargill June 2012 Burnham September/October 2012 TimaruNovember 2012 Rolleston Early 2013 Tokoroa, Putaruru, Opotiki, Picton, Cromwell, Westport, Temuka, Bluff, Blenheim, Motueka and Nelson. Mid 2013 Hāwera, Wairoa, Marton, Feilding, Greymouth, Hokitika, Hanmer Springs, Wānaka, New Plymouth, Gisborne and Oamaru. 2014 Culverden, Oxford (rural Canterbury). Featherston, Martinborough (rural Wairarapa). Inglewood, Te Awamutu, Te Aroha Kawerau, Waihi, Whangamata. Dannevirke and Woodville.30 June 2014 4G LTE Service in Auckland isthmus, including Auckland Airport, Mangere and Otahuhu in the south, to Devonport and Birkenhead in the north and Te Atatū in the West.5 September 2014 4G LTE Auckland, expansion of coverage out to Henderson, Kumeu, Albany and Torbay, in the west and north.4G LTE Service in Wellington City: including Miramar Peninsula, Wellington Airport, Thorndon, Te Aro down to Island Bay and north along the harbour to Ngauranga. Most of the harbour water and beaches across to Eastbourne beachfront and Petone beachfront (The Esplanade). 22 September 2014 4G LTE Christchurch coverage from airport to CBD, including: Shirley, Sydenham, Wigram, Yaldhurst, Harewood, Papanui. Excluding: Hornby, Bishopdale, New Brighton and Woolston. 26 September 2014 4G LTE Hamilton, coverage over the urban area. 7 December 2014 4G LTE Tauranga CBD and Otumoetai. Coverage over the urban area from Mount Manganui through Papamoa beach. January 20154G LTE Lower Hutt, Petone, Stokes Valley, Wainuiomata, up to Fergusson Drive (Hutt River bridge).4G LTE Hamilton, extended coverage: East to: Puketaha, Matangi and Tamahere. West to: Rotokauri and Burbush.April 20154G LTE Levin and rural surround, Feilding to Bunnythorpe, Te Awamutu, Ashburton, Dunedin City and harbour. Late April: Hastings.May 20154G LTE Whangarei, Whangamata, Katikati, Rotorua, Gisborne, Napier (including Clive and Havelock North), Whanganui, Palmerston North, Nelson, Blenheim, Rangiora (including Kaiapoi and Pegasus), Ashburton and Queenstown.3G UMTS in Methven, Windwhistle, Sheffield, Hinds and Rakaia.June 20154G LTE Greater Tauranga.July 20153G UMTS in North Island: Kaitaia, Kerikeri, Kaikohe, Wellsford, Huntly, Otorohonga, Katikati, Maketu, Shannon, Takaka, Takapau, West Melton, Waipukurau and Waipawa. In the South Island: Waipara and Waikari.16 October 20154G LTE Paraparaumu, Kapiti.January 20164G LTE Ōtaki, Te Horo, Waikanae, Porirua, Johnsonville.December 2021 4G in Chatham Island, Pitt IslandDecember 2021 5G in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch
2degrees also operated a Wi-Fi network in Wellington city. The network was on a trial with some selected members of the public (about 20,000 people).
4G LTE services are on (band 3) 1800MHz. In addition, (band 28) 700MHz is used for "long-range" 4G services and Rural Connectivity Group towers.
In December 2021, 5G towers have been registered in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch using the n78/3500MHz band. Over the next 3 years, 2degrees expanded their 5G network to cover many main centers.
Network operator partnerships
Rural Broadband Initiative 2 (RBI 2) and Mobile Black Spots Fund (MBSF) funding from the New Zealand Government resulted in a collaboration between 2degrees, One NZ, Spark NZ and Crown Infrastructure Partners, known as the Rural Connectivity Group (RCG), with shared mobile coverage and wireless broadband using Multi Operator Radio Access Network (MoRAN) technology.
Standards and technologies Technology Frequency Speed 2G GSM-900 and GSM-1800 Shutdown on 15 March 2018. Voice and Text only. 3G UMTS-2100 (band 01) urban, usually in town centres. UMTS-900 (band 08) has longer range in rural situations. To shut down from December 2025.7.2Mbit/s in some locations, 21 Mbit/s HSPA+, 42 Mbit/s DC-HSPA+ 4G LTE (band 3) 1800 MHz (rolled out to large cities in 2014). LTE (band 28) 700 MHz (has very long range) (2x10MHZ has been won in the 700 MHz auction for $44 Million)
LTE (band 8) 900 MHz 3Mhz (Roll out nationwide after 2G shutdown)
LTE (band 1) 2100 MHz (10 MHz, currently has limited deployment) 100Mbit/s on CAT3 4G devices in 1800 MHz coverage.
150 Mbit/s on CAT4 4G devices in 1800 MHz coverage.
For 10 MHz wide channel that has been won in the 700 MHz spectrum auction, a class 3, 4 or 5 LTE device can achieve a maximum of 36.9 Mbit/s, or 79.2 Mbit/s (2x2 MIMO) download, class 1 (10 Mbit/s) and 2 (39.6 or 51 Mbit/s 2x2 MIMO).5GBand N78/3500MHZ; commonly used mid-band frequencyGenerally, "Sub-6" 5G in New Zealand typically achieves between 300 Mbit/s - 400 Mbit/s download speed/20 Mbit/s - 50 Mbit/s upload speed; and up to 700 Mbit/s download speed/80 Mbit/s upload speed under ideal conditions; this speed is based on other providers using the same technology.
The company provides mobile services on its own cellular network. With support for 3G (UMTS 900 MHz and 2100 MHz) and 4G (LTE 700 MHz, 900 MHz and 1800 MHz). Wi-Fi Calling is also supported (handset dependent).
New features 2degrees has a few features not found on other New Zealand mobile service providers. The ability to get settings from the SIM menu
2degrees was the first mobile provider in New Zealand to offer Voice over WLAN/Wi-Fi calling.
MNC and dialing codes 2degrees' mobile network code is 530–24. The native STD prefix for the network is 022. New Zealand has mobile number portability, so customers switching from other networks may keep their existing mobile number.
Roaming 2degrees customers are able to roam on international networks in over 100 countries, including all three Australian networks (Telstra, Optus and Vodafone AU). Customers with handsets from some foreign networks, such as Three UK, can roam on 2degrees' network.
Expansion In February 2011, 2degrees announced that they had obtained financing for a further $100 million network expansion./
2degrees has an ongoing network expansion in place, having recently secured financing to further expand its network and roll out a 5G network. Rangiaho Everton claimed that the auction breached the Treaty of Waitangi because she believed radio spectrum is taonga and the government has no right to sell it. Everton lodged a claim with the Waitangi Tribunal, which was upheld. It was not until Labour won the 1999 election that Māori were allocated one of the four 2 GHz 3G spectrum licences at a "discounted price" - it was given, and they were paid $5 million to "develop" it. In February 2001, Simon "Tex" Edwards, a former banker, established NZ Communications Limited. Later in 2001, NZ Communications received further financial backing from Strive Masiyiwa's Econet Wireless, which Edwards also owns shares, and then a 30% stake from the Hautaki Trust, which is the trading arm of the pan-Maori trust Te Hauarahi Tika. In 2007, NZ Communications Ltd began building towers for New Zealand's third mobile network. Customers reported seeing "NZ-24" listed in their network settings in areas with towers.
In June 2008, Trilogy International Partners, which was established in 2005 by Strive Masiyiwa, John Stanton, Bradley Horwitz and others, purchased the 26% stake from Econet Wireless in NZ Communications Ltd.
In 2009, NZ Communications changed its name to 2degrees and began a roaming deal with Vodafone New Zealand. The deal allowed NZ Communications' customers to automatically roam onto Vodafone's 2G network. At the time the deal was announced, it was suggested the deal might also be expanded to include roaming on Vodafone's 3G network too, at NZ Communications' request. Also in 2009, Trilogy increased its stake from 26% to 52% while the Hautaki Trust stake was reduced from 20% to 13%, and Eric Hertz replaced Mike Reynolds as CEO in July.