Fifteen new cell towers have expanded mobile coverage to more than 1700 square kilometres of rural areas that previously were without.
The towers were built by Vodafone and Spark after the companies won the auction of the 700 MHz band of radio spectrum in 2014. Under the auction agreement they were required to build new towers in new rural areas in the first five years after the purchase.
Fifteen of the towers are now complete, with 60 more still to come.
"People living and working in these areas can now use their mobile phones in places where there was previously no coverage," Minister for Communications Amy Adams says.
"This new coverage is essential for emergency situations and will help emergency service providers to quickly reach those needing assistance."
Ms Adams says 80 percent of New Zealanders now have access to 4G high-speed mobile data services, with the number expected to reach 90 percent by 2019.
4G is meant to be 10 times faster than 3G mobile.
"This is another important milestone in improving our internet services for individuals, schools, hospitals and businesses, including in rural areas, as New Zealanders seek to take advantage of the benefits of the digital economy," Ms Adams says.
Vodafone's five new towers are: Catlins North (Southland), Waihau Bay (East Coast), Tapawera South (Tasman), Otautau (Southland) and Millers Flat (central Otago).
New Spark towers have been built at: Castle Hill (north Canterbury), Awhitu North (south Manukau Heads), Porongahau (south Hawke's Bay), Glen Murray (south of Port Waikato), Barrytown (West Coast), Maihiihi (Waikato), Kaniere (West Coast), Gladstone (Wairarapa), Karamea (West Coast) and Kaiaua (western Firth of Thames).
Newshub.
