Chorus accelerates copper network shutdown
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Declining demand means copper will be gone by 2028
Chorus has moved forward its timetable to retire the copper network.
In a statement to the NZX, the fibre company says it will complete copper’s planned retirement in 2028. This is two years ahead of the previous 2030 timetable.
Chief executive Mark Aue had previously indicated in public speeches that the company intended to complete the copper retirement ahead of the original schedule.
Changing demand
This week he said the change reflects declining demand for copper services and regulatory changes. In the current quarter, copper connections dropped more than 14 percent, a sharp fall from 63,000 to 53,000.
Regulations mean Chorus can't just keep the network running at a loss. Retiring the technology is not just a choice, but a regulatory constraint.
Aue says: “Customers are choosing more modern and reliable technologies like fibre, fixed wireless or satellite and our plans need to reflect that.
“Maintaining a nationwide legacy network being used by 2.5 percent of households when there are more cost-effective, modern alternatives is no longer efficient.”
Connections growing for first time in a decade
During the March quarter, Chorus experienced the first growth in connection numbers since 2013. It gained 13,000 fibre connections and lost a total of 10,000 copper connections. This happened despite the accelerating drop in copper connections.
Rising fibre adoption and data demand
Fibre adoption and data demand continue to rise. In the March 2026 quarter, Chorus saw the strongest quarterly fibre growth since the September quarter of 2023.
Monthly average data use on the Chorus network is up eight percent year-on-year. In March 2025, it was 642 GB, in March 2026, it reached 696 GB. The highest month on record was January 2026, when users on average consumed 722 GB. Business data use is up 19 percent year-on-year to 1,174 GB in March 2026.
By March 2026, 19 percent of fibre connections used more than 1 TB of data, up from 17 percent a year earlier. Fibre uptake is now at 73.1 percent.
Analysis: Copper retirement
At times it might appear that New Zealand hung on to its copper technology for longer than necessary. When should we rip out the copper network? was posted on this site in February 2014.
Many nations, including Singapore and Malaysia, completed their copper retirement years ago.
We sometimes hear that when Australia’s NBN built that nation’s fibre network, it removed copper as the fibre went in.
While true, that’s not the whole story. Australia’s NBN model overbuilt fibre to the premises in selected areas, then decommissioned copper locally. Yet there are still many areas that are on fixed wireless, satellite or HFC (hybrid fibre-coaxial). Its full copper retirement is also a phased, multi-year process, not an instantaneous cutover.
New Zealand’s cautious approach is similar to many other countries.
The UK will complete its switch-off in January 2027 after resolving challenges with medical alarms and critical infrastructure. Japan has set a 2035 target.
New Zealand's 2028 goal, while later than the UK's, reflects similar pressures: managing vulnerable users, rising maintenance costs and ensuring rural customers have alternatives like fixed wireless and satellite.
That timeline became possible only after the Commerce Commission recommended deregulating copper services in 2025, finding that competition from wireless and satellite had made copper regulation obsolete.
More on the PSTN shutdown and copper switch-off
Enable Networks ownership review signals possible sale
A recent ownership review of Enable Networks by Christchurch City Council’s investment arm Christchurch City Holdings Ltd has been interpreted by some commentators as signalling a potential sale of the fibre company.
Earlier this month, The Australian newspaper reported that Macquarie Capital had been asked to investigate a potential sale of the business that has the monopoly rights to ultra-fast broadband in the city.
A separate analysis on billbennett.co.nz sets out the valuation, the comparable deals and the politics.
Globalstar acquisition expands Amazon Leo satellite network
Amazon has agreed to pay more than $11.5 billion to buy mobile satellite services company Globalstar.
The deal does little to boost the scale of Amazon’s Leo network, which is expected to launch later this year. Globalstar only has 24 satellites to add to the 241 Amazon currently has in orbit.
Amazon wants the company for three reasons. Globalstar has 30 years’ experience of operating in what has become the direct-to-device space and owns considerable intellectual property. Moreover, Globalstar owns Block 53. This is a licensed spectrum band from 2483.5 to 2495 MHz that is particularly well-suited for direct-to-device communications.
Globalstar’s other key asset is its relationship with Apple. The computer and phone maker owns 20 percent of the business and uses Globalstar for the emergency SOS satellite service now offered on iPhone and Apple Watch.
Amazon Leo is late to market and is a long way behind Starlink, which has a constellation of approaching 10,000 satellites and has already picked all the low-hanging fruit.
Amazon Leo reveals gigabit inflight antenna
Amazon Leo says its aviation antenna intended for commercial airlines can deliver shared download speeds of up to 1 Gbps and uploads of 400 Mbps.
Like Starlink’s Aero Terminal, the antenna is installed on the outside of commercial jets where it connects with low-Earth orbit satellites.
In other news...
- Tait Systems New Zealand on fourth CEO in a year — RNZ
Public Safety Network project behind schedule and facing “cost pressures” - South Korea introduces universal basic mobile data access — The Register.
Everyone gets unlimited 400 Kbps downloads after using data allowance. - Wireless sector claims WiFi as secure as cellular — ITnews
The key is having the right configuration.
Spark gets Auckland Airport duty free exclusive
Spark is now the only carrier operating in the duty free area at Auckland International Airport. A deal with Lagardere Travel Retail, which has an eight year concession for duty free at the airport, means Spark will be the first mobile provider visitors see as they arrive.
Worldwide phone shipments down six percent in first quarter of 2026
Counterpoint Research says a six percent drop in worldwide phone shipments is partly due to shortages of key Dram and Nand chips. The shortages have led to increased handset prices at a time consumers are wary because of the war in the Middle East.
Apple is the leading brand, growing five percent year-on-year to gain a 21 percent market share. Demand for the iPhone 17 is strong. The company’s tightly managed supply chain means it is less affected by the shortages than some rivals.
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