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.

Contact Bill Bennett

Website - billbennett.co.nz
Linkedin
Email - bill@billbennett.co.nz
Mobile - 0275082740

Bill Bennett - Latest News [Page 1]

SpaceX IPO impact, Golden Bay resilience, fibre review

Friday, 29 May 2026, 8:19 pm | Bill Bennett

SpaceX IPO impact on NZ telecoms Last week SpaceX launched what it hopes will be the largest stock market listing in history. The company aims to raise US$75 billion to fund its rocket and space travel development programme. See this separate analysis ... More >>

Analysis: what Spacex’s IPO means for NZ telecommunications

Friday, 29 May 2026, 8:15 pm | Bill Bennett

SpaceX’s filing targets US$75 billion to expand Starlink. What does this mean for rural NZ broadband providers and local telco economics? More >>

Review: HP OmniBook 7 Laptop AI

Tuesday, 26 May 2026, 10:38 am | Bill Bennett

We don’t often hear the term ‘power users’ any more, but this is the market HP has in its sights with the thin and light OmniBook 7 Laptop AI. It’s a beautiful, highly portable machine, but its focus on everyday office productivity means demanding ... More >>

Download Weekly: Cell site batteries, private 5G, refurbished phones

Saturday, 23 May 2026, 7:07 pm | Bill Bennett

In this week's newsletter: National Infrastructure Funding and Financing behind cell site resilience upgrades. Spark builds a private 5G network at Port Nelson. One NZ sells second hand phones. More >>

Wireless carriers push back on fibre-first rural broadband

Saturday, 16 May 2026, 7:07 pm | Bill Bennett

New Zealand's mobile sector challenges the idea that fibre should be the first choice for rural broadband. Overseas telcos operating in New Zealand will now be subject to local laws and regulations. Submarine cable safety. More >>

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 >>