Cell site batteries, private 5G, refurbished phones

In this edition:National Infrastructure Funding and Financing money for cell site resilienceSpark and Ericsson build private 5G networkOne NZ runs second hand phone pilotNew Zealand top user of satellite direct-to-deviceGovernment funds Spark tower battery upgradesNational Infrastructure Funding and Financing (NIFF) has awarded Spark a contract to upgrade battery back-up capacity at 295 cell towers. The upgrades mean towers will have 24 hours of battery back-up in the event of a power outage.Spark is working with Connexa, which acquired the telco’s mobile tower network in 2022. Connexa also owns the towers formerly owned by 2degrees.The upgrades will start later in 2026 and are expected to be completed by June 2027.Connexa, Spark and the government are co-funding the increased battery capacity. Of the $6.4 million allocated by the government to this fund, $4 million has been contracted to support the upgrades for the 295 sites.Access during long outagesMike Paranihi, Spark’s general…