Starlink Enables First Nationwide Satellite Texting Service in New Zealand

One NZ launches the world's first satellite-to-cell texting service, offering coverage in remote areas but with initial limitations on speed and device compatibility.

One NZ, in partnership with SpaceX's Starlink, has introduced a nationwide satellite text messaging service, marking a global first for this technology.
The service aims to provide connectivity to rural and remote areas, covering 40% of New Zealand's landmass previously without mobile coverage and extending 20 kilometers offshore.
Currently, only four smartphone models are supported, with broader compatibility expected by the end of 2025 as the service develops.
Text messages are initially expected to take 3–10 minutes to send or receive, with improvements anticipated as more satellites are deployed and the technology matures.
The service is free for existing One NZ customers on monthly plans, though pricing for new customers or other plans has not yet been announced.