Spark - 5G Coverage + data instability (Wellington & parts of Auckland)

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Spark - 5G Coverage + data instability (Wellington & parts of Auckland)

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#3487158 3-May-2026 19:51

When did Spark start their 5G rollout? Still zero 5G in almost all of Rolleston, population >34,000 (one of the fastest growing towns in NZ).

quickymart

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#3487159 3-May-2026 19:56

No 5G there currently (according to their coverage map):

yitz

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#3487168 3-May-2026 22:03

Only satellite for satellite towns 😃

idanoo

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#3488758 8-May-2026 15:13

Looping back to the original topic. The only real area I notice Spark data stop working is around here (North Shore, AKL):

And I only notice because apps like Spotify start complaining - you can even see it shows it has 4G, but zero data throughput.

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richms

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#3488867 8-May-2026 16:54

boosacnoodle:

Have you tried turning 5G off?

How is that an acceptable solution to what is clearly a broken network? And it happens to me in those areas on the shore with a 4g only phone too.

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#3488868 8-May-2026 16:54

boosacnoodle:

Have you tried turning 5G off?

@boosacnoodle why would any customer do this?

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boosacnoodle

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#3488869 8-May-2026 16:55

Have you tried turning 5G off?

Separately, looks like Seymour Street, Hornby and Hampshire Street, Aranui should be live shortly.

boosacnoodle

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#3488872 8-May-2026 17:02

Linux:

@boosacnoodle why would any customer do this?

Have you heard of... troubleshooting?

Technofreak

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#3488983 8-May-2026 23:39

More to the point why would any normal (non technically inclined) customer even think to do this?

Spark have a broken network.

Customers shouldn't have to troubleshoot or fiddle around like this to get a reliable cellular data connection.

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Aucklandjafa

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#3489037 9-May-2026 05:54

I’ve just always kept my phone on 4g as it’s rock solid. The issue is when you’re on the cusp of non n5 coverage and you just get terrible inconsistent speeds - switching over to 4g/L700 sees speeds increase 20 fold.

Until Spark full rolls out n5 to all sites, I won’t be switching 5g on.

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#3489042 9-May-2026 07:48

boosacnoodle:

Linux:

@boosacnoodle why would any customer do this?

Have you heard of... troubleshooting?

@boosacnoodle then say " As part of basic fault checking does the same issue happen with 5G disabled '

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#3489051 9-May-2026 09:22

Just parked bottom of Onewa Road at Onepoto domain got a call from work asking me if I could quickly look at something so got out work laptop and tethered to my work phone on Spark very weak 4G signal but thought it would ok but nope had to tether laptop to my personal 2degrees phone with good 5G coverage!

Phone call was ok but flag trying to use mobile data

What has SparkNZ got against Onewa road and surrounding areas?

boosacnoodle

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#3489902 11-May-2026 15:44

Spark is in Hornby today work on the Seymour/Shands site. Looks like all the radio gear is installed up top mostly and the cabinet equipment underneath was about halfway done when I went past.

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#3490075 12-May-2026 10:27

Just so you don't think that its only John complaining, I was stopped on sylvan ave beside that park in traffic this morning waiting to get onto the motorway, and no data on the car. It did not show no signal.

It seems if you stop in one of these dead areas for a while like I did today and have done in the past in the same problem at the bottom of onewa, then you get no data for ages after leaving the area. This time I had nothing till I was on the viaduct going south and about to split towards port. Previous its been the top of the harbour bridge when I have been able to change tracks on the car.

Richard rich.ms

boosacnoodle

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#3490077 12-May-2026 10:33

So have you tried disabling 5G to troubleshoot the issue and see if it still happens? This is the first question Spark will ask you.

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