IoT connectivity in New Zealand
Updated
In New Zealand, permanent roaming of foreign IoT SIMs is allowed with conditions. Of the 3 mobile operators we track there, 2 have switched off 2G and 3 3G, as of 26 October 2026. Sources are listed below each table.
Permanent roaming
Allowed with conditions. Regulatory analysts report that New Zealand permits roaming-based IoT models under certain conditions, with no local licence needed unless the provider contracts directly with local end users or runs its own infrastructure.
Sources: cullen-international.com, cullen-international.com, thingsdata.com. Confidence: medium.
2G and 3G shutdowns by operator
| Operator | Network | Status | Date | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2degrees | 2G | Switched off | March 2018 | 2degrees.nz, stuff.co.nz Announced Sept 2017 for March 2018; FutureFive (8 Feb 2018) gave 15 Mar 2018 as the cut-off; Stuff headline confirms the shutdown. |
| 2degrees | 3G | Switched off | 2 February 2026 | 2degrees.nz, tcf.org.nz Staged shutdown from Dec 2025; final stage (rest of network) on 2 Feb 2026; 3G no longer available as of Feb 2026. |
| One NZ | 2G | Switched off | 23 March 2026 | one.nz, media.one.nz One NZ (formerly Vodafone NZ). 2G was first scheduled for 31 Dec 2025 (Apr 2024 release); it was switched off with 3G in the phased Jan-Mar 2026 programme; nationwide 2G calling ended in the last stage, 23 Mar 2026. |
| One NZ | 3G | Switched off | 23 March 2026 | one.nz, media.one.nz Formerly Vodafone NZ. Postponed from 31 Aug 2024 to 31 Mar 2025 (Apr 2024 release), then replaced by a phased switch-off from 20 Jan 2026 (Dunedin first); all stages complete 23 Mar 2026. |
| Spark | 2G | Planned | 31 July 2012 | futurefive.co.nz, sunlive.co.nz Spark (formerly Telecom NZ) never ran GSM; its 2G-era network was CDMA. Closure announced in 2011 for 31 Jul 2012; a same-day report (SunLive, 31 Jul 2012) said it would close at midnight. No post-closure confirmation found, so kept as planned (date passed). |
| Spark | 3G | Switched off | 31 March 2026 | tcf.org.nz, 1news.co.nz TCF (NZ telecom industry forum) says Spark completed its 3G shutdown on 31 Mar 2026, the last NZ operator to do so. |
What it means for IoT devices in New Zealand
- 2G still runs on some networks, but plan new devices on 4G-based technologies (LTE Cat-1bis, LTE-M or NB-IoT where available): 2G is being closed across the region.
- 3G is already gone on 3 networks: devices that fall back to 3G will lose service there.
- Private delivery works the same from New Zealand: device data reaches your cloud over private links. See private delivery.
Other countries in Asia-Pacific
Full tables: permanent roaming rules by country and 2G and 3G shutdown dates.
Frequently asked questions
Is permanent roaming allowed for IoT SIMs in New Zealand?
Regulatory analysts report that New Zealand permits roaming-based IoT models under certain conditions, with no local licence needed unless the provider contracts directly with local end users or runs its own infrastructure.
When is 2G switched off in New Zealand?
Status by operator, as of 26 October 2026. 2degrees: switched off (2018-03); One NZ: switched off (2026-03-23); Spark: planned for 2012-07-31.
When is 3G switched off in New Zealand?
Status by operator, as of 26 October 2026. 2degrees: switched off (2026-02-02); One NZ: switched off (2026-03-23); Spark: switched off (2026-03-31).