Spark New Zealand : rolls in portable cell site to Mahia Beach for Christmas period

In anticipation of a huge surge in demand for mobile services in Mahia Beach this holiday season, Spark has brought in a temporary mobile site to improve coverage and capacity for the peak time of the year.

Mahia Peninsula is located on the east coast of New Zealand's north island between Napier and Gisborne. The stunning Mahia Beach has long been a surfing , fishing and diving mecca and a popular holiday spot over the festive season.

The temporary site, also known as a Cell Site on Wheels (or a COW), has been set up at Mahia Beach and is providing more 3G and 4G coverage and capacity for the area in preparation for the holiday rush.

Spark General Manager of Networks, Colin Brown, says the improved coverage means better access to mobile services for holidaymakers and beach-goers.

'We want to help Kiwis have the best summer yet by keeping them connected in more places this festive season, and giving them another excuse to stay away on holiday just that little bit longer.

'Mahia Beach is inundated with holiday makers over the holiday period so the improved service mobile service means people can share their great holiday moments with friends and family via Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram,' says Brown.

Nationwide upgrades:

To ensure customers right across the country can stay connected to their friends and families throughout the busy summer months, Spark has worked hard over the last couple of months to improve its mobile network in time for Christmas to cater for the expected increase in demand for mobile data.

In the last three months Spark has extended 4.5G to more than 30 locations, expanded capacity on more than 100 sites and built new sites in popular holiday locations such as Helena Bay, Kaeo, Mangawhai Heads, Pakiri Beach, Raglan, Waikawa and Te Anau.

Spark is also deploying transportable sites to popular locations across the country such as Whitianga, Mangawhai, Wanaka and Mahia Peninsula to improve capacity in the areas that see huge increases in visitors.