Vodafone is a vibrant and dynamic global company.
Developments in mobile voice and data communications are rapidly changing the way that we stay connected to our friends, family and colleagues in our global village.
Mobile is at the heart of what we do, but we are now becoming a total communications company. Our customers can benefit from a complete Vodafone experience in and out of their homes and offices. They can be notified about email with our consumer push email service, access instant messaging services on the move, and share images and video captured on their handsets.
Vodafone Group was established in the UK in 1983 and has equity interests in 27 countries over five continents, and partner networks in a further 31 countries. At 31 March 2010, based on the registered customers of mobile telecommunications ventures in which it had ownership interests at that date, the Group had 341 million customers, excluding paging customers, calculated on a proportionate basis in accordance with the Company's percentage interest in these ventures.
For more information on Vodafone around the world, see our parent company website.
The mobile telecommunications industry in New Zealand is vibrant, dynamic and fast-paced. According to the Commerce Commission, more than 4.7 million New Zealanders – that's more than 100% of the population – are now estimated to have a mobile connection! This number is set to increase with the advent of exciting new devices such as the always connected revolutionary tablet PC.
Having more than 1300 mobile phone sites around New Zealand, Vodafones mobile network covers 97% of where the population live, work and play.
In November 1998, Vodafone Group acquired its New Zealand business (previously known as BellSouth New Zealand). At the time of purchase, Bellsouth had 138,000 customers, by December 2005 Vodafones customer numbers surpassed the 2 million mark. On 31 March 2011, Vodafone New Zealand had a customer base of approx 2.5 million customers.
In 2002, the Vodafone New Zealand Foundation was established as a charitable trust. The Foundations mission is to improve the health and wellbeing of young New Zealanders via several charitable programmes. Since its inception, the Foundation has supported over 150 community projects and donated over $10 million to charitable organisations in New Zealand and overseas.
Vodafone New Zealand was the first to launch PXT, TXT, video calling, and was the first to bring the iPhone to New Zealand. We led the way with international roaming, Vodafone live!, mobile internet, BestMate™, and multiTXT.
As part of our continual commitment to leading innovation we spend millions globally on research and development as well as sharing best practice between the Vodafone operating companies. Today you can roam on Vodafone to 215 destinations worldwide, we also offer in-flight roaming and maritime roaming on over 60 cruise lines.
In October 2006, Vodafone bought fixed-line ISP ihug as part of its beyond mobile strategy. ihug, the original internet pioneer, has been making it easy for New Zealanders to connect to the internet for more than 13 years. This increased Vodafones product offering to include residential services like broadband, a full range of calling plans and innovations such as Vodafone + Sky and iSky (unmetered Sky content over your Vodafone fixed line broadband connection).
With its constant efforts to expand its retail network across New Zealand, Vodafone purchased First Mobile in August 2010, giving it the largest retail footprint in the country.
October 2010 saw Vodafone lead the market in New Zealand with a demonstration of LTE (or 4G services) – the next major innovation in network technology. Vodafone plans to deliver LTE services in the not-too-distant future.
In November 2010 Vodafone launched New Zealands first mobile Blacklist service, giving customers the power to control who they receive TXT/PXT from. The service blocks incoming TXT and PXT messages from user nominated numbers without the sender knowing the message has been blocked. Vodafones contact centre receives 6,000 calls a year regarding TXT bullying and the introduction of this service has seen a remarkable decline in this number.
In March 2011 the Minister for Communications and IT, Steven Joyce, announced Vodafone and Telecom the successful winners to roll out the Government's final Rural Broadband Initiative. Vodafone is responsible for delivering broadband coverage to rural New Zealand at minimum peak speeds of 5Mbps or better to 97.8% of New Zealand households. In order to do this, Vodafone will be building 154 new open access towers and equipping them with state-of-the-art wireless technology, and upgrading 389 of its existing towers.
In August 2011, Vodafone signed a 10-year multi-million dollar agreement with Pacific Fibre for the supply of international bandwidth on its new undersea cable system that will connect Australia, New Zealand and USA.
Today, Vodafone New Zealand employs 1950 passionate people who work in an energetic and fun culture that's focused on finding new and fresh ways to delight you!