new spark cell site

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › new spark cell site - Pakuranga

nzpilot1181

132 posts

Master Geek

#175320 24-Jun-2015 23:47

Hi All,

Noticed another large multi armed mast being erected right next to a current standing spark mast in Pakuranga.
The two towers almost look identical and are literally a stones throw apart.
Seems a bit strange erecting a brand new tower when one already exists meters away?
Anyone know anything about it?
Will try and get a picture next time I drive past.
Actual location - Cortina Place, Pakuranga

Thanks

matisyahu

1623 posts

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#1331083 25-Jun-2015 00:27

I wouldn't be surprised if it was a 700MHz site because it appears (based on Spark's coverage map) that they're gradually creeping up the country and hopefully we'll see 700MHz coupled with VoLTE make an appearance in the major centres as well; with the spectrum advantage they have over Vodafone/2 Degrees I hope they take advantage of it with more data on offer.

"When the people are being beaten with a stick, they are not much happier if it is called 'the People's Stick'"

coffeebaron

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#1331098 25-Jun-2015 07:51

What spectrum advantage?? LTE can run across a lot of different frequencies, including 900 which Vodafone have a truck load of.

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matisyahu

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#1332183 26-Jun-2015 15:28

coffeebaron: What spectrum advantage?? LTE can run across a lot of different frequencies, including 900 which Vodafone have a truck load of.

Spectrum advantage in terms of how much spectrum that Spark purchased in the 700MHz spectrum.

Regarding the other spectrum - I assumed that if they were to use the 900MHz spectrum that Vodafone has for LTE that it would require turning off their 3G service and replacing it with LTE or can you run the two at the same time and the phone automatically connects to the LTE service? If they can keep the two running at the same time then would it mean that Spark could possibly offer LTE over 850MHz and 2100MHz if they wanted to?

"When the people are being beaten with a stick, they are not much happier if it is called 'the People's Stick'"

eXDee

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#1332489 27-Jun-2015 00:31

kawaii:
coffeebaron: What spectrum advantage?? LTE can run across a lot of different frequencies, including 900 which Vodafone have a truck load of.

Spectrum advantage in terms of how much spectrum that Spark purchased in the 700MHz spectrum.

Regarding the other spectrum - I assumed that if they were to use the 900MHz spectrum that Vodafone has for LTE that it would require turning off their 3G service and replacing it with LTE or can you run the two at the same time and the phone automatically connects to the LTE service? If they can keep the two running at the same time then would it mean that Spark could possibly offer LTE over 850MHz and 2100MHz if they wanted to?

You can slice up the spectrum and run LTE on one chunk and 3G on the other. And 2G on another chunk if you wish. It just means that you reduce the capacity for each technology the less bandwidth its given.

Spark indeed has the most spectrum in the 700 range, and have roughly the same amount of spectrum in the 850 range as vodafone has in the 900 range. 2Degrees i think has slightly less in the 900 range. Spark is running that 850 chunk as 3G only though, whereas the other two are operating 2G services on a slice of it.

Vodafone on the other hand acquired a great chunk of spectrum around the 2000mhz range (2600 iirc) when they bought telstraclear, in fact it was one of the most valuable parts of that acquisition. Though i think the other players + woosh + callplus have quite a bit in this area too, would have to look it up.

andrewcnz

961 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1332525 27-Jun-2015 07:27

nzpilot1181: Hi All,

Noticed another large multi armed mast being erected right next to a current standing spark mast in Pakuranga.
The two towers almost look identical and are literally a stones throw apart.
Seems a bit strange erecting a brand new tower when one already exists meters away?
Anyone know anything about it?
Will try and get a picture next time I drive past.
Actual location - Cortina Place, Pakuranga

Thanks

Existing site owner probably did not want to renew the site lease. Forced the provider to build a new tower on a nearby location.

sbiddle

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#1332529 27-Jun-2015 07:56

Vodafone have a massive LTE spectrum advantage over both Spark and 2degrees.

I was doing some quick stats on this before I went away, I think Vodafone have about 50Mhz more than Spark across all bands that can and will be used for LTE in the next year or so.

Spark's 700MHz LTE "advantage" with more spectrum means nothing in the real world. They wasted the money because they were scared VF would buy it. VF couldn't have cared less about it with their other spectrum

nzpilot1181

132 posts

Master Geek

#1334250 30-Jun-2015 15:56

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nzpilot1181

132 posts

Master Geek

#1334336 30-Jun-2015 17:15

Seems strange to have two completely next to each other, why not move the original one to where the new one is