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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]
Oppo Find X8 Pro review: Zoom, zoom, zoom
Saturday, 14 December 2024, 11:19 am | Bill Bennett
Oppo’s Find X8 Pro is a flagship Android phone which shows the Chinese handset maker can go head-to-head with Samsung. While it could be more phone than you need or have a budget for, it does wonders for promoting Oppo’s brand. More >>
Download Weekly: Spark raises $314m selling remaining tower stake
Saturday, 14 December 2024, 11:14 am | Bill Bennett
Spark sells remaining mobile tower network stake for $314m. 2degrees gets external validation of its greenery. Microsoft opens its NZ data centre. More >>
Chorus, DataGrid Team For 540 Tbps Tasman Ring Network
Friday, 6 December 2024, 11:13 am | Bill Bennett
Datagrid has joined forces with Chorus to build an extensive Trans-Tasman submarine cable network. It's a departure for the fibre wholesale business, but wholly in keeping with its core business. The Commerce Commission wants Contact Energy and Nova Energy ... More >>
Living With An 8-Year-Old IPhone, Some Surprises
Friday, 6 December 2024, 11:10 am | Bill Bennett
In September I sent the review iPhone 15 Plus back to Apple and retrieved an eight-year old iPhone 7 Plus from the cupboard. How did that work out? More >>
Download Weekly: Starlink direct-to-mobile passes US regulatory hurdle
Friday, 29 November 2024, 10:59 am | Bill Bennett
The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has granted conditional authorisation for Starlink to provide direct-to-mobile services in the United States. Google adding regional submarine capacity without stating NZ plans. Devoli tops Deloitte’s Masters ... More >>
Download Weekly: How would NZ telecoms cope with another cyclone
Friday, 22 November 2024, 2:52 pm | Bill Bennett
Would the telecommunications sector fare better if there was another extreme weather event like Cyclone Gabrielle? The Download Weekly put the questions to TCF CEO Paul Brislen. More >>
Download Weekly: 100% claim lands One New Zealand in criminal court action
Friday, 15 November 2024, 5:57 pm | Bill Bennett
In this week's newsletter: One New Zealand vows to defend criminal charges over its 100% coverage marketing. Chorus wants 5G fixed wireless held to same marketing standard as other broadband technologies. Mobile termination rate regulation could be on the ... More >>
Spark looks to bigger phone bundles for ARPU refresh
Sunday, 10 November 2024, 1:07 pm | Bill Bennett
In this week's Download Weekly newsletter: Spark has announced new mobile plans which have the potential to improve its average revenue per user (ARPU). Apple enters LEO satellite sector. More >>
I didn’t leave WordPress, WordPress left me
Tuesday, 5 November 2024, 6:31 pm | Bill Bennett
WordPress was great until about a decade ago. It was open source, which meant it could be free. It was simple and straightforward to use. It was customisable to the point where even non-technical users could build websites that didn’t look like ... More >>
Spark lowers FY2025 forecast, plans Connexa stake sale
Saturday, 2 November 2024, 6:08 pm | Bill Bennett
Spark considered selling the family silver as it downgrades FY25 guidance and reduces the dividend. Australia's 3G shutdown could be a problem for travellers. Ex One NZ-Vodafone executive Tony Baird has a new Australian job. More >>
Deloitte report makes powerful case for more fibre
Saturday, 26 October 2024, 9:10 am | Bill Bennett
Deloitte's Unleashing the power of digital fibre infrastructure in New Zealand makes the case for greater investment in fibre. One NZ gets closer to 100 percent coverage. Starlink set to contribute to telecommunications development levy. More >>
Broadband marketing rules to cut confusion
Monday, 21 October 2024, 7:39 pm | Bill Bennett
Recently updated broadband guidelines clarify speed and exit options; 2degrees gains mobile market share as Skinny declines; One NZ tests Starlink satellite service for nationwide mobile coverage. More >>
A Better Way Of Getting Google To Support NZ Media
Monday, 14 October 2024, 1:24 pm | Bill Bennett
New Zealand Government's Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill plans to make Google and others pay what amounts to a ‘link tax’. It’s a simple sounding solution, but it’s not the best answer. More >>
Download Weekly: Transitions dominate TCF annual report
Friday, 11 October 2024, 7:58 pm | Bill Bennett
In this week's newsletter - The New Zealand Telecommunications Forum’s annual report shows an industry in transition. 2degrees pairs with Palo Alto Networks to displace Spark from key education contract. Datacom notes a big rise in the number of NZ companies ... More >>
Starlink’s Growing Pains
Saturday, 5 October 2024, 1:01 pm | Bill Bennett
In this week's Download Weekly newsletter: Starlink is growing fast, but expanding subscribers numbers means more network congestion. Smishing comes to New Zealand. We don't look great in the GSMA digital transformation report. More >>
Spark top for reliability in opensignal report
Friday, 27 September 2024, 7:24 pm | Bill Bennett
Spark tops table for reliability experience, 2degrees sweeps the board for 5G experience in 2024 Opensignal report. Chorus looks to Wireless IoT to expand its business. More >>
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 >>
