Telecom New Zealand is launching 4G LTE network across parts of Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch today.  Telecom announced last month that access to its 4G network would be free for customers with 4G-capable devices. It has also made 4G available to its prepaid customers as well for no extra cost. 

Telecom New Zealand will launch 4G network on 12 November in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. 4G service will be available to both prepaid and pay-monthly customers at no additional cost on Telecom’s current plans. 

Telecom New Zealand will begin 4G LTE trial in parts of Wellington and Auckland from Friday this week. The Auckland trial will take place in parts of the North Shore on the 2600MHz spectrum and will be conducted by Huawei. Alcatel-Lucent will run the trial in the Lower Hutt area of Wellington, also on the 2600MHz spectrum.

Telecom New Zealand will be conducting live customer trials of LTE technology later this year in preparation for the evolution of its XT network to 4G. Operator is currently conducting a technology selection process, with the aim to have the trial service operational with selected business and consumer customers before the end of 2012