Spark and One New Zealand have teamed up with Next Generation Critical Communications (NGCC) and Police Minister Mark Mitchell to roll out the Cellular Network Visibility Service. The new system gives emergency services a live view of mobile network conditions so they can plan for outages and keep communication lines open during major incidents.
The project is being delivered through Hourua, the joint venture between Spark and One New Zealand. By pooling data from both operators, the platform lets emergency teams see potential problems up to two weeks in advance. That foresight helps ensure devices that rely on mobile coverage stay connected when they are needed most. It is the third Public Safety Network Cellular Service created by Hourua for NGCC.
The first was Cellular Roaming, launched in 2023, which allows emergency workers to switch between Spark and One New Zealand’s networks to avoid losing signal.
Cellular Priority was later added to give frontline teams faster, more reliable access when networks are under heavy strain. This applies during large public events or in natural disasters.
The latest addition, the Cellular Network Visibility Service, now provides predictive insights on potential outages, building further resilience into emergency communications.
Spark Chief Executive Jolie Hodson said: “Hourua is an important collaboration that is delivering real value for our critical emergency services teams who are saving lives and protecting New Zealanders on the front line. Each initiative we’ve delivered—from priority access to multi network roaming and now visibility of network availability in real-time—strengthens the Public Safety Network and ensures first responders have the reliable connectivity they need when it matters most.”
One New Zealand Chief Executive Jason Paris added: “We’re all about helping New Zealanders be better connected. There is no greater example than using cutting edge technology to help the people maintaining our emergency services be safer and more secure by having greater visibility of mobile coverage and any blackspots. This is a proud moment for all New Zealanders.”
The new system was put to the test earlier this year during Cyclone Tam. Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) used the tool to assess the impact of mobile outages on its ability to notify and mobilize volunteers. The insights enabled FENZ to act quickly, adopting alternative communication methods while network operators restored power to affected cell sites with generator support.