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*As awarded by Opensignal in the September 2024 NZ Mobile Network Mobile Experience Report.

What award-winning coverage means for you 
 

Spark has claimed the top spot as New Zealand’s most reliable mobile network with the widest coverage experience in the country. 
 
The Reliable Experience award means that compared to competitors, the ability of users to connect to and successfully complete basic tasks on a mobile network such as stream video, browse the internet, and use applications is better with Spark than any other network. 
 
The Coverage Experience award means that Spark has the widest and largest footprint of coverage nationally out of all mobile operators in New Zealand. 

About Opensignal 
 

Opensignal is the leading global provider of independent insights into consumers' connectivity experiences and choice of carrier. 

Opensignal is committed to delivering accurate and actionable insights into network performance, helping consumers and operators alike to understand and improve the digital experience. Its data-driven approach ensures that network experience metrics are truly reflective of everyday usage, supporting meaningful improvements in mobile connectivity. 
View Opensignal New Zealand Mobile Network Experience Report: September 2024 

Network coverage map

Are you covered?

Coverage Options

Note: Unless otherwise indicated, signal strength shown is indicative of the Spark network and outdoor coverage. Actual coverage will vary based on device and other environmental factors. Factors that may affect your signal include your device capabilities, your location, whether you are moving and even the weather. If you are indoors then the building construction and your location within the building may affect performance.

The Spark network also powers Skinny. Learn more about Skinny NZ

What our mobile network means for New Zealanders

  • 5G is faster and carries more data than previous generations (4G, 3G, 2G and so on). 5G has the potential to reach download speeds of up to 100 times faster than 4G. It has the potential to bring super-fast downloads, minimal latency, massive connectivity and outstanding reliability.
  • 4.5G: Up to 3–5 times faster than 4G with some compatible high-end devices
  • 4G: Super fast speeds for data browsing. To maximise coverage, we recommend a phone that supports 4G 700MHz. 4G HD Calling is also available in these areas for eligible customers. Check if you're eligible for 4G HD Calling
  • 3G: World class 3G speeds covering 98% of New Zealanders

The map indicates where we estimate our network coverage is available. Your experience may vary from the coverage shown depending on mobile capability, how it's used, and the local environment.

Check your phone compatibility

Check whether your phone will run on the Spark NZ network.

If you got your phone from us, it'll work fine. If not, we can run a quick check for you now. Enter your phone's IMEI number below.

Enter your IMEI Number below:

Enter digits only, for example, 123456789012345

Cool. Your phone likes our network.

What's next

As your mobile's good to go, you just need to get a new SIM card. And one of our Pay Monthly plans or prepaid packs. Don't worry about your number: you can bring that too. We'll take care of it when you check out.

Grab a SIM card

All good. Your mobile will run on our mobile networks.

What's next

Your mobile's good to go on the Spark network, you just need a new SIM card, and one of our Pay Monthly plans or Prepaid packs. Don't worry about your number: you can bring that too. We'll take care of it when you check out.

Grab a SIM card

Not good news, sorry. Your phone won't run on our network.

But don't fret! We've got a great selection of phones for all tastes and budgets.

Check out the range

Please enter a valid IMEI number. The IMEI number should be 14 digits long. You can find it by dialing *#06# on most phones. If that doesn't work, open up your phone, pop out the battery and look on the label beneath it, in the battery compartment, or look on the label on the box your phone came in. You can also look in your phone settings.

Check if your device will work with Spark

Spark’s mobile network uses multiple technologies including 3G, 4G and 5G across a range of frequency bands. To use Spark’s mobile network, your device will need to be unlocked and be compatible with our frequency bands.

Check that your phone is unlocked

Some devices are locked to a specific carrier. If this is the case, it will need to be unlocked before it can be used with a Spark SIM. To determine if your device is locked, check with your current provider or the place you bought it.

Frequency bands

To use a device on Spark’s mobile network, your device needs to be compatible with Spark’s frequency bands. You may need to check your device’s specifications to confirm which frequency bands your device supports.

Spark’s mobile network uses the following frequency bands:

3G Band 5
4G Band 1
4G Band 3
4G  Band 7
4G Band 28
4G Band 40
5G n78
5G n40

For the best coverage, your device should support at least 4G Band 3 and Band 28.

For the best performance, your device should support all of Spark’s frequency bands.

Calling

To make calls using Spark’s 3G network, devices should support 3G Band 5.

To make calls using Spark’s 4G network, devices should support the 4G bands mentioned above and be compatible with VoLTE (Voice over LTE). Learn more about VoLTE

Note: devices require specific software support to use Spark’s VoLTE network.

Your device might also support WiFi calling. More information about WiFi Calling

Messaging and data

For messaging and data, devices should support Spark’s frequency bands.

To enable MMS and Data services, you might need to enter Spark’s APN settings. View APN settings

Note: devices require specific software support to use Spark’s 5G network. Get more info about 5G

Important things to know about our network reliability and coverage

 

Opensignal’s Reliability Experience measures the ability of Opensignal users to connect to and successfully complete basic tasks on a mobile network such as streaming video, browsing the internet, and using applications. It also analyses user experience and connectivity issues.

A reliable mobile network ensures that customers using that network have consistent, uninterrupted communication (calling and texts), as well as internet access, to keep them connected in as many places as possible. Spark invests significantly in our mobile network each year to expand coverage and capacity across Aotearoa while further strengthening resilience, to ensure that customers on our network can remain connected whenever they need, no matter where they are.

Spark has emerged as a clear leader in New Zealand for providing its customers with a reliable mobile experience, with an impressive 853 points on a 100–1000-point scale. This places Spark 21 points ahead of its nearest rivals, One NZ and 2degrees.

Spark continues to lead in New Zealand for Coverage Experience outright with a score of nine points on a 10-point scale — beating One NZ by one point. This means Spark has the widest and largest footprint of coverage nationally out of all mobile operators in New Zealand.

Coverage of a mobile network is important because it ensures you stay connected no matter where you are – whether you’re in a city, a rural area, or travelling around the country. Spark has an extensive mobile network, with its 4G network reaching almost 98% of New Zealanders, and its 5G roll-out continuing at pace. To support this large coverage footprint, Spark has active connectivity on 2,176 mobile sites connected by 9,400kms of Fibre backhaul across New Zealand.

Opensignal is the leading global provider of independent insights into consumers' connectivity experiences and choice of carrier. It's committed to delivering accurate and actionable insights into network performance, helping consumers and operators alike to understand and improve the digital experience. Their data-driven approach ensures that network performance metrics are truly reflective of everyday usage, supporting meaningful improvements in mobile connectivity.

Opensignal’s unique measurements are designed so that network operators cannot optimise their networks to treat Opensignal’s traffic differently, and therefore impact the results without actually improving their service. As a result Opensignal’s approach offers consumers real insights into how networks perform and provides network operators with insights to make improvements to their networks, based on how people actually use their devices.

Go to Opensignal research

Spark has an extensive mobile network, with its 4G network reaching around 99% of New Zealanders, and its 5G roll-out continuing at pace, with 5G now in 103 locations across the country. To support this large coverage footprint, Spark has active connectivity on 2,176 mobile sites connected by 9,400kms of fibre backhaul across New Zealand.

We can’t comment on our competitor’s claims, but Spark’s claim is based on Opensignal’s September 2024 mobile experience research.

View Opensignal's September 2024 mobile experience research

Spark’s 5G experience score is less than four points lower than 2degrees, which is a small margin, but we are always focused on improving performance and the experience for our customers. To date we have been focused on bringing this technology to as many places around New Zealand as possible, with more than 100 locations now live. We are now enhancing performance across these locations, and we just announced a new partnership with Nokia that will enable us to do this.