That is incorrect. However we are closing down additional LACs as our coverage is now comparable in those areas (and that's our decision, not theirs).

SaltyNZ:

 

That is incorrect. However we are closing down additional LACs as our coverage is now comparable in those areas (and that's our decision, not theirs).

 

Thanks Salty, great info as always.

From time to time we make changes to our network. Unfortunately sometimes the change may affect coverage for some customers. Where possible we’ve been proactively contacting customers that have regularly connected to the affected sites to let them know of the changes.

In some of these areas customers may have their phone ‘locked’ to Vodafone and will therefore lose connection.

For the best experience on our network, customers should have automatic network selection enabled on their device.  Below are generic instructions for common operating systems.

Android:

 

1. Go to Settings, Go to More Networks and/or Mobile Networks.
2. Ensure Network Mode is selected to auto connect (LTE/WCDMA/GSM or 4G/3G.)
3. Ensure Network Operator is selected to connect automatically.

iOS: 

 

1. Go to Settings and then to Carrier.
2. Ensure Automatic is turned on.

2degrees is constantly investing in new network and technology upgrades so that we reach more New Zealanders with faster services such as 4G which is not available on our roaming network.  If any customer is having connection issues we’d be keen to follow up if they contact us or PM us their 2degrees number, exact address including street name and number, phone make/model and alternative contact number.

Where we identify a customer has been adversely affected by the changes we'll work with them if they want to change providers. 

Regards

^POB

The 2 degrees roaming agreement with VF has ceased in some areas, one of which is Waitarere Beach.  Judging by 2degrees' online coverage maps and the gis.geek.nz cell tower locations site, there is still almost-saturation coverage of the area, and for many km out to sea (except for a few tiny pixels on the dunes shaded by the north and south forests),  however there is in reality virtually no coverage at all.   This situation could be simply sucked up and accepted as a business decision, albeit rather poorly thought out, if it weren't for the persistent falsehood being promulgated by 2degrees CSRs that coverage may not be five bars, but it is pretty good with four bars throughout the area  -  according to the coverage maps the CSRs use.   In discussion at a local meeting, an undisclosed number of erstwhile 2degrees customers have already migrated to other providers,  having been left with no other option.   Visitors from Wellington who had become used to good signals thanks to the now-cancelled roaming agreement, are also quitting 2degrees.   Maybe the consequences of such service retrenchments will be felt more widely than 2degrees expected.

SaltyNZ:

 

That is incorrect. However we are closing down additional LACs as our coverage is now comparable in those areas (and that's our decision, not theirs).

 

For commercial reasons we will never know how much the roaming contract with Vodafone was actually costing 2degrees.  We can only assume that 2degrees intended culling sites where the agreement was in force and obviously of benefit to their customers would make some improvement to investor behavior.  How a sharp drop in customer numbers due to the loss of service in so many areas would bring about such a (supposed) renewed interest from investors here and overseas is a bit of a mystery. 

Referring to the coastal areas north-west of Levin, upon speaking with a number of 2degrees' customers who holiday there, mainly from Wellington but also from as far north as Auckland, they felt rather short-changed and were clearly less than delighted to find they now have either very patchy or no service at all.   Who needs a PhD to work out their New Year resolution?

61339:

 

The 2 degrees roaming agreement with VF has ceased in some areas, one of which is Waitarere Beach.  Judging by 2degrees' online coverage maps and the gis.geek.nz cell tower locations site, there is still almost-saturation coverage of the area, and for many km out to sea (except for a few tiny pixels on the dunes shaded by the north and south forests),  however there is in reality virtually no coverage at all.  

 

Yes, can confirm that the coverage maps are completely incorrect around Waitarere Beach. There is no coverage and you get the emergency calls only around there. This is on a phone that supports all bands except 700MHz. Before Christmas I actually moved from 2 degrees due to lack of coverage there to Skinny. On the leaving survey I listed lack of coverage at Waitarere Beach as the reason for leaving. Recently, it seems that Vodafone co-located some equipment on the cell site out there which meant that that area had good coverage, even better than indicated on their coverage maps. I did return to 2 degrees due to the coverage, however, yes, overnight it disappeared again. I like 2 degrees, however, if there is no coverage...

The big issue for me is the fact that their coverage map is completely incorrect for that area. I think they need to send someone out to measure the coverage and update their coverage map instead of relying on theoretical coverage predictions that do not match actual coverage out there.

We've ditched 2D/VF at home due it marginal and intermittent coverage.  We are within a few km of Nelson's Town centre of the and in 4G range for Telecom.