From today locals and visitors to Castle Hill will notice improvement in mobile coverage in the area, with Spark announcing it has invested more than $175,000 on its infrastructure in the area.

Sparks's investment in the Castle Hill Rural Broadband Initiative (RBI) site responds to the increasing demand for mobile coverage in the area.  The site will give locals and visitors better quality voice, mobile broadband and text services over the Spark mobile network, which has been built specifically for smart phones.

The improved mobile coverage is part of Spark's commitment to open up access to mobile data and applications to rural communities. Spark is co-locating on every one of the Government's RBI sites where it doesn't already have coverage, and has an ongoing programme of new mobile site builds and upgrades to improve coverage and capacity.

Conor Roberts, Head of Public Affairs for Spark says, "it's important New Zealand communities are able to access mobile services and this investment will ensure those who live and work in the area - or who visit Castle Hill for its Cave Stream Scenic Reserve and nearby Mt Cheeseman Ski Field - can make the most of what the Spark mobile network has to offer."

Mr Roberts says rural communities and businesses have become increasingly reliant on mobile phones as their primary form of connectivity.

"Fast broadband and mobile services are crucial for the success of rural businesses, education, health providers, and in bringing rural communities together." he says. 

Colin Knaggs, the NZ Transport Agency's Canterbury/West Coast Highway Manager, says Spark's investment in improving cell phone coverage in the Castle Hill area will help the Transport Agency to provide safer journeys for motorists.

"This will mean less black-out areas along an area of our highway where communications are critical because of the ever-changing weather and road conditions, particularly during winter when snow and ice can make travel treacherous."

In this financial year alone Spark is investing more than $10 million to co-locate on every one of the Government's Rural Broadband Initiative sites where it doesn't already have coverage. This is in addition to its ongoing programme of new mobile site builds and upgrades to improve coverage and capacity.

More information about the Spark Mobile Network and mobile coverage, is at www.spark.co.nz/coverage.

For more information please contact:

Julie Wagener
Communications Manager
027 421 6697
Julie.wagener@Spark.co.nz

distributed by