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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 1]
Fixed voice rules head for deregulation
Friday, 8 May 2026, 7:17 pm | Bill Bennett
he Commerce Commission will investigate deregulating PSTN interconnection. Ventia plan to grow beyond telecoms with datacentre builds. One NZ builds 29 new cell sites More >>
Tuanz report: Networks built, value missing
Friday, 1 May 2026, 1:21 pm | Bill Bennett
Journalist and analyst Bill Bennett reports on the 2026 Tuanz Digital Priorities Report which found New Zealand needs to do more with its first class communications infrastructure. Al ComCom reviews Fibre input methodologies. More >>
ISPs accuse One NZ and Spark of anti-competitive 'satellite texting lockout'
Sunday, 26 April 2026, 12:15 pm | Bill Bennett
Journalist and industry analyst Bill Bennett reports on a potential regulatory row as New Zealand’s smaller ISPs claim they are being deliberately excluded from new satellite-to-mobile services. Also in this week's newsletter: 2degrees continues ... More >>
Analysis: the numbers behind a potential Enable Networks sale
Sunday, 19 April 2026, 4:12 pm | Bill Bennett
Christchurch City Holdings reviewed its ownership of Enable Networks, raising the prospect of a partial or full sale of one of New Zealand's four fibre wholesalers. A report in The Australian says Macquarie Capital has been engaged, with a potential ... More >>
Chorus accelerates copper network shutdown
Sunday, 19 April 2026, 4:10 pm | Bill Bennett
In this week's edition: Chorus moves copper network retirement forward two years. A look at the potential sale of Enable Networks. Amazon acquires Globalstar. More >>
Analysis: comparing New Zealand carriers’ satellite-to-mobile
Sunday, 12 April 2026, 11:50 am | Bill Bennett
Spark and One NZ are embarked on similar satellite strategies using SpaceX's Starlink constellation. Rival 2 degrees is a taking an entirely different approach to integrating satellites into its mobile network. More >>
Ministry review targets legacy telecom red tape
Sunday, 12 April 2026, 11:47 am | Bill Bennett
The government review of telecommunications regulation aims to strip out copper-era rules and cut costs. Spark launches mobile to satellite service. Commerce Commission aims to deregulate voice over fibre. More >>
New zealand's 3g era ends, emergency call concerns remain
Sunday, 29 March 2026, 8:46 am | Bill Bennett
Concerns about 111 emergency calling after the 3G shutdown remain. The case for handset rules. One NZ solar power project. Spark satellite service. More >>
End in sight for mobile termination regulation
Saturday, 21 March 2026, 1:00 pm | Bill Bennett
The Commerce Commission says our mature market no longer needs mobile termination rate regulation. Chorus launched digital equity product. Fibre regulations under review. More >>
Fibre deregulation on Commerce Commission's 2026 agenda
Sunday, 8 March 2026, 7:58 pm | Bill Bennett
Fibre deregulation on ComCom 2026 agenda Telecommunications commissioner Tristan Gilbertson says the Commerce Commission’s focus in 2026 is reviewing fibre regulation, improving retail service quality and considering the deregulation of services. He ... More >>
Chorus returns to profit as fibre uptake climbs
Sunday, 1 March 2026, 7:06 pm | Bill Bennett
Chorus posts a first half profit as copper retirement accelerates. Comparing Spark and Chorus post demerger performance. 2degrees ground station spooks inner city residents. More >>
Spark growth takes backward step to improve profit
Sunday, 22 February 2026, 2:21 pm | Bill Bennett
Spark's improved half year result shows return to profit at expense of growth and diversity. National Infrastructure Plan points to need for greater rural investment. One NZ offers mobile user scam protection. More >>
Pstn sunset looms as regulator eyes deregulation
Sunday, 15 February 2026, 8:26 am | Bill Bennett
The Commerce Commission signals the end of PSTN regulation as mobile and cloud alternatives dominate. TCF backs a competition law overhaul and new data reveals 4G fixed wireless performance gaps. More >>
Download Weekly: Emergencies behind 3G shutdown pause
Sunday, 1 February 2026, 12:39 pm | Bill Bennett
Multiple states of emergency in the North Island saw 2degrees and One NZ push pause on 3G shutdown. 2degrees partners with HPE for artificial intelligence. Broadtech buys Transworks. More >>
Download weekly: 3g shutdown begins in Dunedin
Saturday, 24 January 2026, 11:51 am | Bill Bennett
New Zealand's 3G network shutdown gets underway in Dunedin. Despite years of competition, the mobile market is remarkably stable. More >>
Comcom concerns over telecom disputes scheme
Saturday, 17 January 2026, 1:16 pm | Bill Bennett
In this week's newsletter: Commerce Commission review of Dispute Resolution Scheme calls for changes. MethaneSAT contradictions. Southern Cross talks Tasman cable plans. More >>
Tech and the state: An entanglement
Sunday, 21 December 2025, 6:34 pm | Bill Bennett
As 2025 closes, technology companies have become strategic assets in great power competition. From AI investment to satellite networks, tech policy is now foreign policy and New Zealand's dependencies are deepening. More >>
Wholesale telcos oppose mobile termination deregulation
Tuesday, 16 December 2025, 12:00 pm | Bill Bennett
Small telcos are uneasy about plans to deregulate mobile termination rates. Winners at the NZ Compare awards. NCSC gets in touch over malware. New Zealand partners with Korea for next generation quantum communications. More >>
Commerce commission hits One NZ with $1.1 million fine
Tuesday, 9 December 2025, 12:29 pm | Bill Bennett
One NZ hit with $1.1m fine over 111 access failures - Emergency comms network widens - AI tools cut network analysis time by 80% - Tasman Ring cable may add Tasmanian landing. More >>
Download Weekly: Network upgrades and satellite moves
Tuesday, 2 December 2025, 1:16 pm | Bill Bennett
One NZ mobile network upgrades, a widening gap between how businesses and customers see online engagement, Amazon’s enterprise satellite plans, AST’s manufacturing boost and forecasts showing Apple set to overtake Samsung. More >>
