CDMA operator Telecom New Zealand will launch its nationwide WCDMA/HSPA network on 13 May, a move that is a month ahead of schedule and increases 3G competition in the country. “This will mean world-class 3G mobile service is available, for the first time, in 97 percent of places where Kiwis live and work,” said CEO Paul Reynolds in a statement. Telecom is investing over NZD574 million (US$325 million) in the migration to the new ‘XT Mobile Network,’ deployed in the 850MHz spectrum band. The launch of the network will be supported by an exclusive handset from Sony Ericsson, the W995, as well as the touch screen Samsung F480.

Last October, Telecom completed an internal review of its future mobile technology deployment, choosing a migration to the GSM family of technologies as its roadmap. The operator is expected to upgrade to HSPA+ and LTE technologies in the future. According to Wireless Intelligence, Telecom is New Zealand’s second-largest mobile operator (just behind Vodafone), with 2.3 million customers and a 48 percent market share. Competition in the 3G market in New Zealand is hotting up; last month Vodafone said it was looking to expand its 3G network to cover 97 percent of the places New Zealanders live, work and play by 31 May 2009 – a year ahead of an earlier schedule. Nokia Siemens Networks is expanding Vodafone’s mobile broadband network. Vodafone currently has 1.1 million 3G subscribers using the WCDMA standard, whilst Telecom has 57,000 WCDMA connections from an earlier, limited deployment. Telecom has 904,000 3G subscribers using rival technology CDMA2000 1xEV-DO.