General

The government is in the process of privatising and deregulating the telecommunications sector. In 1990, Telecom Corp, which runs the country's telephone services, was sold to a consortium led by American Information Technologies Corp and Bell Atlantic. The number of mainline telephones as of 2004 was at 1.8 million. In 2005, there were 3.53 million cellular phones in use nationwide.

After undergoing decentralisation in the early 1970s, the national broadcasting system was again reorganised in the latter half of the decade, and united under one central board, the Broadcasting Corp. of New Zealand. Under its authority are the Radio New Zealand network, a unified television service operating the two formerly competing national networks, TV1 and TV2, and one privately owned channel. As of 1998 there were 124 AM and 290 FM radio stations and 41 television broadcast stations. Colour television was introduced in October 1973, and most households now have colour sets. In 2000, there were 997 radios and 522 television sets for every 1,000 people. The same year, there were 360 personal computers for every 1,000 people and Internet access was available through 36 service providers. In 2005, there were 3.2 million internet users.

Overview

Telephones - main lines in use :
1.8 million (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular :
3.53 million (2005)

Telephone system :
general assessment: excellent domestic and international systems
domestic: NA
international: country code - 64; submarine cables to Australia and Fiji; satellite earth stations - 1 InMarSat (Pacific Ocean), 7 other

Radio broadcast stations :
AM 124, FM 290, shortwave 4 (1998)

Radios :
3.75 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations :
41 (plus about 700 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions :
1.926 million (1997)

Internet country code :
.nz

Internet hosts :
1.05 million (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs) :
36 (2000)

Internet users :
3.2 million (2005)