By Dan Satherley
Mobile operator 2degrees launched its 3G network this morning, announcing plans it says are “simply the best value in the market today”.
2degrees CEO Eric Hertz and chief sales and marketing officer Larry Moore told media gathered in downtown Auckland that the year-old network had a great first year, but they were just getting started.
The company’s new 3G and mobile broadband network, active today, will cover at least 97 percent of places “New Zealanders live, work and play”.
The cheapest option, at $6, will buy 50mb of data, last for up to 30 days, and can be used anywhere on the network.
“That’s enough for 1500 plain text emails, 500 webpages or 500 Facebook photos,” says Mr Moore.
Beefier options include a package for $20 that wll buy 512mb of data for 30 days; a $50 package that will get 2GB of data for 60 days; and for the heavy user there’s a $150 package that buys 10gb of data and lasts for 90 days.
Until October 31, $20 will buy 1gb instead of 512mb, and $50 will buy 3gb, up from 2gb.
These larger plans only apply in areas covered where the company has its own network infrastructure built - Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.
Outside of these areas, customers can use mobile broadband by contacting 2degrees and arranging access for 50c a megabyte.
In comparison, 500mb of prepaid coverage from Telecom costs $29.95, and it expires inside the calendar month; as do their 2gb ($59.95) and 4gb ($79.95) plans.
A low-cost 3G phone was also announced, at $199.
“For so long 3G handsets have only been available to those who could afford it,” says Mr Moore.
Anyone with a 3G handset already only needs to buy a 2degrees simcard to start using 2degrees’ 3G network.
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