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Bill Bennett
Freelance journalist.
Auckland-based Bill Bennett writes technology and business stories that are directly relevant to New Zealand readers.
His emphasis is on telecommunications, but he also covers other aspects of technology and business. You can find his features in the New Zealand Herald and hear him regularly on RNZ Nine to Noon and the NZ Tech Podcast.
Bennett's The Download Weekly newsletter is published every Friday. You can sign up for it here.
If you want to support his work, you can make a donation to his PressPatron account.
Bill Bennett - Latest News [Page 2]
Ironically risk-averse thinking deepened the CrowdStrike fiasco
Friday, 2 August 2024, 6:57 pm | Bill Bennett
CrowdStrike was a low profile enterprise cybersecurity firm until it became famous overnight after a mangled update took out millions of Windows systems. More >>
Download Weekly: NZ Telecoms After Huawei
Friday, 2 August 2024, 5:19 pm | Bill Bennett
Where have we landed six years after the GCSB turned down Spark's plan to use Huawei for its 5G build? Spark reorganised digital equity projects. Public cloud spending to double in 4 years. More >>
5G Ubiquitous In NZ By 2030
Friday, 26 July 2024, 7:45 pm | Bill Bennett
Asia-Pacific report says New Zealand will move fast to reach 95 percent 5G penetration by 2030. Ericsson to supply 2degrees with radio access network (RAN) technology for the next five years. OIO gives Datagrid land purchase the nod. More >>
TCF Calls For Compulsory Dispute Resolution Membership
Saturday, 20 July 2024, 12:20 pm | Bill Bennett
The TCF echos Telecommunications Commissioner Tristan Gilbertson’s compulsory dispute resolution membership call. Chorus revenue capped at $3.3b. Schools network to use NCSC, CertNZ security services More >>
Data Peaks As Fibre Network Reaches 1.5 Million Addresses
Friday, 12 July 2024, 11:06 am | Bill Bennett
In today's Download Weekly newsletter: Chorus reports data use now higher than during pandemic lockdowns. One New Zealand picks Google AI security. Samsung hikes phone prices. More >>
The Case For Fresh Telecommunications Service Obligation Thinking
Saturday, 6 July 2024, 12:37 pm | Bill Bennett
The idea that every New Zealander should have access to suitable, reliable, affordable communications has been around for decades. But in recent years the goalposts have moved . More >>
Spark 5G Shines On ComCom Broadband Scorecard
Friday, 28 June 2024, 1:25 pm | Bill Bennett
The first MBNZ report to include Spark 5G fixed wireless broadband shows the technology is working well. One New Zealand heading back into town. More >>
Reflections On "NZ Pays Too Much For Broadband"
Tuesday, 18 June 2024, 11:59 am | Bill Bennett
Do Kiwis pay too much for broadband? There's more to this question than meets the eye. More >>
Rural Connectivity Group Hits 500 Cell Site Milestone
Friday, 14 June 2024, 7:24 pm | Bill Bennett
Anawhata is the site of the Rural Connectivity Group’s 500th open access cell tower. Apple extends satellite messages with iOS upgrade. More >>
Download Weekly: 3g use slows as networks face closure
Friday, 7 June 2024, 5:58 pm | Bill Bennett
In this week's newsletter: OpenSIgnal reports 3G use slowing as carriers ready network shutdowns. New Zealand, Australia front of queue for Amazon Kuiper LEO broadband. Graham to head One enterprise sales. More >>
Spark Buys Lauriston Solar Farm Output
Saturday, 25 May 2024, 3:46 pm | Bill Bennett
Download Weekly: A 10 year deal between Spark and Genesis Energy will see the telco buy all the power generated by the Lauriston solar plant. One NZ tail wags for Infratil’s dog. More >>
Download Weekly: Chorus Anticipates High-bandwidth Iot Demand
Sunday, 19 May 2024, 6:05 pm | Bill Bennett
Research from Chorus and the NZ IoT Alliance shows demand for high bandwidth IoT. 2degrees uses its Flex portal to reboot its wholesale operation. More >>
One Month With The Apple Macbook Air M3
Sunday, 19 May 2024, 5:55 pm | Bill Bennett
From the outside, Apple’s latest MacBook Air appears identical to its 2022 counterpart. It has the same ports, a great screen, terrific keyboard and the best trackpad you’ll find on any laptop. It is still thin and light. More >>
Download Weekly: 2degrees Charged Over Roaming Claim
Wednesday, 15 May 2024, 3:55 pm | Bill Bennett
In this week's newsletter: The Commerce Commission charges 2degrees over misleading roaming claims, One NZ gets the go head to buy Dense Air, Spark warns shareholders as challenging trading conditions hit. More >>
Download Weekly: Another Pacific cable for NZ by 2026
Monday, 6 May 2024, 3:08 pm | Digitl
An Auckland link will be added to the trans-Pacific submarine cable being built by Vocus and Google. Spark uses MBNZ technology to highlight fixed wireless performance. 2degrees appears to be winning mobile market share. More >>
Download Weekly: Mobile phone market bounces back
Saturday, 23 March 2024, 6:25 pm | Digitl
Upmarket phones lead handset market recovery. Bubbles in the frame as US government launches Apple antitrust case. Chorus expands edge racks after Mount Eden pilot sellout. More >>
Starlink’s fixed wireless challenge
Monday, 18 March 2024, 6:32 pm | Digitl
SpaceX’s Starlink deprioritised plan challenges rural fixed wireless broadband. Spark job cuts. More >>
Download Weekly: Call for firmer data leak action
Friday, 8 March 2024, 10:14 am | Digitl
Kordia's annual survey finds businesses are losing patience with poor data protection, Spark wants email customers to pay for the service, Mobile World Congress looks at 5G evolution. More >>
Download Weekly: Aue to succeed Rousselot at Chorus
Friday, 1 March 2024, 5:56 pm | Digitl
Aue to take over at Chorus as Rousselot moves on. Mobile shows strength in Spark first half. Crown Infrastructure update as Rural Broadband programme nears completion More >>
Download Weekly: Chorus names new fibre sites
Friday, 16 February 2024, 12:57 pm | Digitl
Chorus names new fibre areas, what the telco sector learned from Cyclone Gabrielle, PC slump continues More >>
