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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 6]
How The 2degrees-Vocus Merger Affected Competition
Saturday, 21 September 2024, 4:15 pm | Bill Bennett
Two years after 2degrees merged with Vocus the broadband market shows signs of being more competitive while there are mixed results in the mobile market. Spark to train SMEs in AI. Network for Learning gets an app. More >>
A Fortnight With HP’s 14-inch OmniBook X
Monday, 16 September 2024, 1:54 am | Bill Bennett
The first Windows laptop that can equal or better a MacBook’s performance and battery life. That alone makes the Omnibook X worth a look. More >>
Regulator Targets Mobile Coverage Maps, No Hassle Plan Exits
Monday, 16 September 2024, 1:53 am | Bill Bennett
The Commerce Commission has given carriers a year to lift their mobile coverage map game and wants simpler plan exits within six months. Customers are more satisfied with mobile than broadband. Amazon's New Zealand LEO plan emerges from stealth mode. More >>
Download Weekly: Five More Years Of Fibre Regulation
Sunday, 15 September 2024, 12:05 am | Bill Bennett
The Commerce Commission doesn't expect to deregulate fibre for at least the next five years. Spark and Chorus financial results show diverging fortunes. Tait's LMR public safety network moves to pilot stage. More >>
Apple Extends Satellite Messaging As IPhone 16 Announced
Saturday, 14 September 2024, 8:01 pm | Bill Bennett
A footnote in Apple's iPhone 16 launch suggests the company will extend its satellite services into messaging, but New Zealand is not in the initial plan. Connexa buys sites. 2degrees is first taxi off the the WiFi 7 rank. More >>
Download Weekly: Kordia Exits Public Safety Network Contract
Friday, 9 August 2024, 12:41 pm | Bill Bennett
In this week's newsletter: Tait Communications now 100 percent owner of Next Generation Critical Communications network build contract. Tablet computers make a comeback. More >>
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 >>
