New Zealand-listed company SmartPay Ltd has entered into a partnership with Telecom to manage Telecom’s nationwide wireless hotspot network.
SmartPay and its Wi-Fi business FIVO was selected ahead of several other national and international companies. FIVO is a wholly owned subsidiary of SmartPay following the announcement of its acquisition from NATCOM in December 2007.
Telecom’s General Manager of Mobile Products, Martin Butler, says SmartPay-FIVO was chosen for their experience in both electronic merchant services and Wi-Fi, and their ability to grow the Telecom wireless hotspot network.
The Wi-Fi network will be powered by Telecom and managed by SmartPay-FIVO.
Linc Burgess, Chief Executive of SmartPay-FIVO commented that the partnership with Telecom will see the Telecom and SmartPay Group venture become the most significant player in the New Zealand Wi-Fi market.
Burgess says that in conjunction with Telecom, the SmartPay-FIVO wireless hotspot network includes approximately 600 revenue generating blue-chip sites throughout New Zealand from hotels, libraries, conference centres and popular cafes, to iconic fast food outlets with a significant pipeline of demand from corporate customers for many more locations.
“Currently Telecom and Fivo have around 1,500 venues who are eager to have access to our wireless hotspot networks so it is easy to see how the distribution mechanism will open up the full potential of broadband to both merchants and end users – we have no doubt that we are just at the start of the Wi-Fi revolution that will see immeasurable technology benefits for merchants and consumers.”
