2degrees

Infrastructure Partners, known as the Rural Connectivity Group (RCG), with shared mobile coverage and wireless broadband using Multi Operator Radio Access Network (MoRAN) technology.

Standards and technologies

The company provides mobile services on its own cellular network. With support for 3G (UMTS 900 MHz and 2100 MHz) and 4G (LTE 700 MHz, 900 MHz and 1800 MHz). Wi-Fi Calling is also supported (handset dependent).

New features

2degrees has a few features not found on other New Zealand mobile service providers.

The ability to get settings from the SIM menu

2degrees was the first mobile provider in New Zealand to offer Voice over WLAN/Wi-Fi calling.

MNC and dialing codes

2degrees' mobile network code is 530–24. The native STD prefix for the network is 022. New Zealand has mobile number portability, so customers switching from other networks may keep their existing mobile number.

Roaming

2degrees customers are able to roam on international networks in over 100 countries, including all three Australian networks (Telstra, Optus and Vodafone AU). Customers with handsets from some foreign networks, such as Three UK, can roam on 2degrees' network.

Expansion

In February 2011, 2degrees announced that they had obtained financing for a further $100 million network expansion.

2degrees has an ongoing network expansion in place, having recently secured financing to further expand its network and roll out a 5G network. Rangiaho Everton claimed that the auction breached the Treaty of Waitangi because she believed radio spectrum is taonga and the government has no right to sell it. Everton lodged a claim with the Waitangi Tribunal, which was upheld. It was not until Labour won the 1999 election that Māori were allocated one of the four 2 GHz 3G spectrum licences at a "discounted price" - it was given, and they were paid $5 million to "develop" it. In February 2001, Simon "Tex" Edwards, a former banker, established NZ Communications Limited. Later in 2001, NZ Communications received further financial backing from Strive Masiyiwa's Econet Wireless, which Edwards also owns shares, and then a 30% stake from the Hautaki Trust, which is the trading arm of the pan-Maori trust Te Hauarahi Tika. In 2007, NZ Communications Ltd began building towers for New Zealand's third mobile network. Customers reported seeing "NZ-24" listed in their network settings in areas with towers.

In June 2008, Trilogy International Partners, which was established in 2005 by Strive Masiyiwa, John Stanton, Bradley Horwitz and others, purchased the 26% stake from Econet Wireless in NZ Communications Ltd.

In 2009, NZ Communications changed its name to 2degrees and began a roaming deal with Vodafone New Zealand. The deal allowed NZ Communications' customers to automatically roam onto Vodafone's 2G network. At the time the deal was announced, it was suggested the deal might also be expanded to include roaming on Vodafone's 3G network too, at NZ Communications' request. Also in 2009, Trilogy increased its stake from 26% to 52% while the Hautaki Trust stake was reduced from 20% to 13%, and Eric Hertz replaced Mike Reynolds as CEO in July.

In mid-2009, 2degrees was owned by Trilogy International Partners, a US venture capital firm specializing in mobile networks (58.66%), Communication Venture Partners, a London-based company that invests in telecommunications and related software businesses (27.13%), Te Huarahi Tika Trust (10.17%) and KLR Hong Kong (0.50%). In July 2009, General Enterprise Management Services, a Hong Kong-based private equity fund, sold its 25.76 percent shares to Trilogy.

In 2012 when Tex Edwards stepped down as strategist, Trilogy owned a 58% stake in 2degrees, the Netherlands' Tesbrit BV owned a 32%, and the Hautaki Trust owned a 10% stake.

On 30 March 2013, 2degrees CEO Eric Hertz and his wife Kathy were killed when their twin-engine Beechcraft Baron, which was flying from Auckland to Timaru, ditched in the sea near Raglan at about 12:30pm after reporting engine failure. The plane was found at the bottom of the sea off the coast of Kawhia, 56 metres underwater, on 2 April. In a statement, Hertz' family thanked New Zealanders for their support. Hertz was succeeded as CEO of 2degrees by chairman Stewart Sherriff and Bradley Horwitz became chairman.

In 2016, Tex Edwards sold his remaining stake in 2degrees.

In early 2017, Trilogy International Partners owned a 73.2% stake in 2degrees. Then, Canada's Trilogy International Partners sold its 63% stake to a new entity in which Trilogy International owns a 51% stake. Later, in mid-2017, Tesbrit BV was allowed to purchase up to a 49.9% stake in 2degrees.

In August 2018, CEO Stewart Sherriff announced his retirement from 2degrees. The Commerce Commission's Telecommunications Monitoring Report from December 2018, shows 2degrees mobile market share at 21%, with Vodafone at 41% and Spark at 32%. The remainder of the market is made up of MVNO operators, Skinny with 5% and the rest with 1%.

In 2019, 2degrees' chief financial officer Mark Aue became the company's chief executive.e. 120 staff), stop recruitment, and reduce spending on capital projects in response to declining turnover caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

The company is part of New Zealand Telecommunications Forum.

2degrees along with One NZ and Spark New Zealand plan to end their 2G and 3G mobile services by 31 December 2025.

Retail

2degrees has over 50 retail stores. The company also runs several smaller kiosk stores, which are usually in shopping centres. They also offer their products at supermarkets, petrol stations and convenience stores.

Services

2degrees halved the prevalent pricing for prepay mobile in the New Zealand market, with voice calls costing 44 cents. SMS messages are charged at 9 cents. Customers will receive 300 to 500 free SMS messages per $30–$50 prepay top-up. Also, customers will receive a special rate of 22 cents for on-network and landline calls, as well as 2 cents per on-network SMS, provided they have topped up within the last 30 days.

Mobile Zone Data became available after 3G coverage was turned on. In regards to SIM swapping, it is worth noting that the customer must have a blank SIM card which may only be purchased from the following retailers: 2degrees Mobile (walk-in & online purchases), Harvey Norman, Noel Leeming, Warehouse Stationery and JB Hifi. 2degrees SIM cards purchased from stores such as supermarkets are not blank. 2degrees previously provided an online SIM swap option, however this was removed, and now SIM swaps must be completed at one of 2degrees' retail stores.

Phone numbers

2degrees auctioned 85 special numbers on New Zealand auction website TradeMe for charity, raising over $65,000. The highest selling number was 022 888 8888, likely due to the number eight being considered lucky in some Asian cultures. New customers can choose their own number, on the 2degrees website.

Marketing

2degrees has run commercials featuring Rhys Darby, a comedian known for making jokes and sketches about New Zealand life. They were filmed on location by Film Construction Ltd, a television commercial and digital content production house in Auckland.