Spark and Tū Ātea Partner to Strengthen Aotearoa’s 5G Future
Tū Ātea has signed a long-term partnership with Spark, securing rights to 20MHz of C-band (3.5GHz) spectrum for the next 18 years. This agreement will boost the performance of Spark’s nationwide 5G network while creating new opportunities for Māori-led innovation and community benefit.
The additional spectrum will be deployed across Spark’s 770 C-band 5G cell sites, increasing speeds by up to 25% and supporting 20% more traffic on the network. For customers, this means faster, more reliable mobile connectivity as demand for data continues to grow.
Beyond spectrum, Tū Ātea and Spark are working together to extend coverage and deliver shared value for communities. This includes:
Deploying rural and regional small cells to improve connectivity in hard-to-reach areas.
Supporting marae-based civil defence solutions to strengthen resilience during emergencies.
Creating workforce pathways to grow Māori participation in the telecommunications and digital sectors.
“This partnership strengthens our focus on rural connectivity and ensures marae have the digital tools they need to stand strong in times of civil defence emergencies,” says Tū Ātea Chief Executive Antony Royal. “It also creates new pathways for Māori to enter and thrive in the telecommunications sector. Tū Ātea is committed to unlocking the power of spectrum to drive innovation and deliver benefits for all communities across Aotearoa.”
This collaboration builds on Tū Ātea’s ongoing work, including partnerships such as CentrePort’s deployment of a private 5G network in Wellington and the 2023 acquisition of Broadtech Group.
