One NZ launches with SpaceX collaboration announcement

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#3349126 2-Mar-2025 03:04

phoebonacci:
Maybe I'm wrong but my understanding is that RCS, like MMS, requires mobile data. Therefore if you're seeing RCS work it's not via satellite, which would permit bare-bones SMS only.

Hopefully @timmyh can clarify. I'd love to be wrong. It would explain that goofy "out of data" message I received.

RCS and iMessage is supported, see here

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phoebonacci

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#3349192 2-Mar-2025 12:16

Thanks for sharing.

Still, not exactly filling me with confidence - lots of "should be" and "if it fails" and a big carve-out for Sammy:

What's your device make and model please @scottjpalmer? Delighted it's working for you.

timmyh

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#3349198 2-Mar-2025 12:50

Hey @phoebonacci sorry you had some major issues there, a few suggestions and other info;

The Find X8 Pro out of the box won't work, it needs a software update that will be ready for you to download and install, if you haven't done so already. This allows the phone to see and display the "One NZ SpaceX" network banner.
I assume you are definitely on a plan that has Satellite TXT included?
The very first time to register on the satellite network on Android can take some time, TBH occasionally up to 30mins. This is because the phone doesn't know anything about this network which looks like a roaming network but in the home country, so it takes longer.
To shortcut this you can go to Manual network search and do a scan and if the Satellite is present it will show up as either "One NZ SpaceX" or "53013", then you can select it and attach. Depending on satellite presence this might take a couple of go's. However you only have to do this the first time and then remember to return the Network search mode to Automatic.
RCS is still a bit inconsistent and while we see it work very sell sometimes it can be flaky at others. We know that work is going on to improve this which we are very much looking forward to but I can't give any timeline. As an indicator to what we will see, Apple has done some great work with iMessage to enhance performance over satellite.
The Samsung Galaxy S25 range are the first Android models to now have a UI that is satellite aware (as of Friday Feb 28th) and while this provides a good level of user information the RCS capability itself has the same variability. The other benefit on S25 (which iPhone also has) is that the phone will do a better job managing the edge coverage between cell-tower and satellite and selecting the one that is best at that moment.
As per our FAQ that you have shown above, if RCS is not working for you then we recommend you turn it off and default back to SMS when on satellite. Once you have attached to the network the first time, I would recommend you prepare your message first, then check if you are under satellite coverage and as soon as you see the "One NZ SpaceX" banner, hit "Send". At that point it will be sent almost as quickly as cell-tower.
Satellites are continuing to go up at the rate of 50+ per month, look in the column "w/DtC" which means "with Direct to Cell" capability and the gaps of no satellite coverage are really shrinking.

I don't have any view on when the Find X8 Pro might get the "satellite aware" software and again apologies that you had this experience which really wasn't a great introduction to Satellite Mobile service, hopefully the tips above can help you use it better next time.

Thanks, Tim

phoebonacci

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#3349202 2-Mar-2025 13:28

Tim the way you flow with knowledge and are dedicated to informing us is ngl hot and dreamy as all get out.

I hadn't updated my Find X8 Pro because they assured me in-store that it would work ootb, and I didn't want to muck anything up.

But I finally let it update a couple days ago and based on your message went outside just now and boom: One NZ SpaceX 4G. Tapped it and it began "Registering", then said something along the lines of "couldn't register you on the network right now, do you want to switch to Automatic?". I cancelled then went back and tried to Register again. This time it popped up with "Already registered on the network".

I sent an SMS and it SMSed via space magic and everything in the world was good and buttery. Switched back to Automatic then came and wrote you this message and I guess let's see what happens in my life now that I will never ever suffer reception issues again.

Musk sucks though hope you can find another supplier some day.

@timmyh I am deeply indebted to you so you have my favour in the coming joust. @scottjpalmer thanks for sharing your experiences too.

Mod Edit - watch the language please.

scottjpalmer

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#3349217 2-Mar-2025 15:23

phoebonacci:
Thanks for sharing.

Still, not exactly filling me with confidence - lots of "should be" and "if it fails" and a big carve-out for Sammy:

What's your device make and model please @scottjpalmer? Delighted it's working for you.

Whilst it has been launched, in my mind it is still very early days for the service worldwide so teething issues are expected.

Samsung S23

freitasm

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#3362305 9-Apr-2025 14:38

Update:

More Kiwi can stay connected wherever they are in Aotearoa, following the announcement that One New Zealand Prepay customers with an eligible phone can now enjoy nationwide satellite texting at no extra cost as part of a free trial for a limited time, with an RRP of $5 per month after the trial period.

This allows eligible Prepay customers to send and receive texts in the 40% of New Zealand’s landmass that is not covered by traditional mobile networks – plus approximately 20 kilometres out to sea.

Joe Goddard, Experience and Commercial Director at One NZ, says: “We’ve seen incredible uptake of our One NZ Satellite service so far, with customers sending an average of more than 10,000 messages every day through space. We’re excited to take the next step and offer satellite texting to Prepay customers from today.”

The One NZ Satellite TXT service continues to improve: now with over 500 Starlink Direct to Cell satellites in orbit, text messages being sent and received within minutes, and more than 23 eligible phones.

One New Zealand was the first telco globally to launch a commercial, nationwide satellite text network in partnership with SpaceX in late 2024. The service brings additional resilience benefits, should there be a natural disaster or loss of power to the traditional network on the ground.

“One NZ Satellite TXT is like packing a coat in case it rains, with the added benefit that it also keeps you warm. It’s an extra layer of protection when you need it, and essential in a storm.

“Having access to the One NZ satellite service will mean our eligible Prepay customers can explore the great outdoors and stay in touch with loved ones and enjoy the peace of mind that they are with a network with coverage like never before, currently at no extra cost. This is an awesome value-add and offers incredible value to Prepay customers,” Goddard adds.

Prepay customers with an eligible device on MyFlex, Pay & Go, and Travel Prepay Plans can now access the service where they have a clear line of sight to the sky, and which is available at no extra charge for a limited time.

To find out more including device eligibility check out: https://one.nz/satellite

Terms: TXT in minutes on eligible phones and plans. TXT only and needs line of sight to sky. Terms, fair use and capacity control applies.

My technology disclosure

DjShadow

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#3362309 9-Apr-2025 15:06

Wonder if the next step is to open it up to the MVNOs like Kogan, MightyMobile, etc

wellygary

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#3362310 9-Apr-2025 15:10

With an RRP of $5 per month after the trial period.
One NZ Satellite TXT is like packing a coat in case it rains,

Sounds like a rather expensive coat that you have to keep paying for every month :) ,

boosacnoodle

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#3362313 9-Apr-2025 15:35

wellygary:

With an RRP of $5 per month after the trial period.
One NZ Satellite TXT is like packing a coat in case it rains,

Sounds like a rather expensive coat that you have to keep paying for every month :) ,

Straight in the bin - just like OneNumber. In my mind, these are the value adds that you should get out of the box for being with One NZ directly (as opposed to one of the MVNOs, which cost a fraction of One).

Aucklandjafa

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#3362315 9-Apr-2025 15:37

I mean, if they had half-decent coverage then there wouldn't be a need for such service.

wellygary

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#3362316 9-Apr-2025 15:43

Aucklandjafa:

I mean, if they had half-decent coverage then there wouldn't be a need for such service.

TBH, In a country like NZ, that is realistically never going to happen,

1/3 of the country is DOC land, trying to cover that with traditional towers would be economically crippling...

But slugging prepay users $5 a month is IMHO a bit rough, but it shows you that SpaceX are wanting their pound of flesh from their investment....

alasta

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#3362321 9-Apr-2025 16:13

It will be interesting to see what, if anything, Apple charges for their satellite service in the future. I seem to recall them originally saying it would be free for two years but they haven't made any moves towards charging for it.

I would happily pay $5 a month to be able to get help in an emergency while out of coverage, but there is no way I would pay anything to be able to use instant messaging. In fact, I would probably pay $5 a month for instant messaging to just go away and leave me alone.

scottjpalmer

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#3362517 10-Apr-2025 08:05

S25 makes it more obvious than S23 did that you're using satellite.

Aucklandjafa

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#3362551 10-Apr-2025 10:55

wellygary:

Aucklandjafa:

I mean, if they had half-decent coverage then there wouldn't be a need for such service.

TBH, In a country like NZ, that is realistically never going to happen,

1/3 of the country is DOC land, trying to cover that with traditional towers would be economically crippling...

But slugging prepay users $5 a month is IMHO a bit rough, but it shows you that SpaceX are wanting their pound of flesh from their investment....

100% it will never be economically viable, but One's (and 2d for that matter) coverage is quite behind Spark's. They are building out towers like nobody's business so it may only be a matter of time before they are all on par.

KiwiSurfer

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#3362561 10-Apr-2025 11:23

Aucklandjafa:

100% it will never be economically viable, but One's (and 2d for that matter) coverage is quite behind Spark's. They are building out towers like nobody's business so it may only be a matter of time before they are all on par.

It really does depend on the area. I swap between all 3 carriers every year or so and Spark in my experience are the one catching up in the places I frequent (mostly Auckland/Northland/Waikato). One/2deg is building out new sites and upgrading existing sites at a consistent pace and Spark not so much outside of their 5G upgrade programme. To be fair all three get a boost from the RCG towers -- to the point I don't think there's many new rural towers being built by the 3 carriers anyway. Spark may still the best carrier in a slowly decreasing list of certain areas (Pukekohe and SH1 between Auckland and Hamilton are two of my bugbears with 2deg/One coverage) but the days of them being the best carrier in every part of NZ is long gone. But their reputation remains!

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