Spark and 2Degrees - when are they expecting satellite coverage to go live?

Forums › New Zealand Mobile and Wireless › Spark and 2Degrees - when are they expecting satellite coverage to go live?

jonathanjo

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#319901 12-Jun-2025 19:54

Have seen articles from 2024/23 about both having agreements and working on launch of their own satellite services

I'm due to replace my phone and looking at a deal with a new carrier, interested to know if anyone has any ideas or educated guesses about when either will be offering satellite coverage.

Linux

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#3383393 12-Jun-2025 21:55

@jonathanjo From the 2degrees website

https://www.2degrees.nz/mobile-plans/satellite

We’ve partnered with satellite cellular broadband network provider AST SpaceMobile to bring internet data services* to 2degrees customers via satellite during 2026

When it launches will not just be SMS and it will work with all 4G / 5G handsets and not limited handsets

jonathanjo

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

#3383503 13-Jun-2025 10:32

Yep.

Just surprised there has been no further information or updates and considering One NZ is actively offering users from other providers a trial of their txt to satellite service I'm surprised 2D and Spark haven't been more vocal that they have a competing (and better?) service coming soon.

I will probably go with One NZ, but if I knew that Spark or 2D were going to be online in the near future I'd consider one of them.

wellygary

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#3383504 13-Jun-2025 10:46

AST is still very much a "work in progress" and it is unlikely to be offering permanent total coverage over NZ in 2026...

Starlink by comparison currently has more than 7000 sats in orbit..

"According to AST SpaceMobile, non-continuous connectivity services could start in the U.S. with just 25 BlueBirds, while 45-60 satellites would be needed for continuous coverage across the U.S., Europe and Japan.

“Some of the earlier launches will have fewer than full capacity,” AST SpaceMobile chief strategy officer Scott Wisniewski said during the earnings call, “but we would really like to be in a position to have 20 satellites up … as soon as we can.”

Ramping Up

Avellan said AST SpaceMobile is on track to produce 40 satellites in 2025 as it ramps up facilities to churn out six per month toward the end of the year."

https://spacenews.com/ast-spacemobile-ramping-up-launches-ahead-of-beta-service-this-year/

richms

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#3383603 13-Jun-2025 11:36

I am waiting to see who does data first before caring about it. SMS only is so limiting. If its just for emergency needs then apple have their thing that suits people, and keeping in touch with people and having to revert back to SMS means finding peoples numbers ahead of when you leave data coverage.

Richard rich.ms

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#3383604 13-Jun-2025 11:38

jonathanjo:

Yep.

Just surprised there has been no further information or updates and considering One NZ is actively offering users from other providers a trial of their txt to satellite service I'm surprised 2D and Spark haven't been more vocal that they have a competing (and better?) service coming soon.

I will probably go with One NZ, but if I knew that Spark or 2D were going to be online in the near future I'd consider one of them.

{Emphasis added}

Not so soon, I think

IIRC, AST Spacemobile has had one test satellite orbited, and hope to get another much larger 'production standard' satellite launched this year. They plan to have about 240 satellites in orbit and on station to offer 24x7 coverage, but are currently authorised for just five (see US FCC License).

IMO, the chances of AST Spacemobile offering a world-wide (incl NZ) service before 2027 is extremely slim, and it may be nearer the end of the decade.