Vodafone will shift its consumer customers with fixed network phone services to VoIP services and for business customers is launching what it says is a refreshed voice calling and internet service designed to future-proof their communications in a simple, all in-one-bundle.
Vodafone consumer director, Matt Williams, said the move was being taken well ahead of Spark’s plan to shut down the PSTN by 2022.
“Over time, home and business customers will be able to get richer features and functionality from voice over broadband. For example, you’ll have the ability to transfer calls from your phone to your laptop, or even your watch while on the go,” he said.
In April 2017 Spark unveiled a five-year plan to scrap its aging circuit-switched public telephone network and replace it with IP technology. It said the new network would underpin fixed and mobile voice services, video services and what Spark called ‘data based’ communications.
Spark will replace its 482 exchanges and intelligent network nodes with just three network nodes mdash; two in the North Island and one in the South Island.
Vodafone said home landline customers would receive detailed information and support in advance of the upgrade. “Most will need to do nothing more than plug their phone into the back of their modem,” it said.
It said businesses would be able to upgrade to the new, voice calling over broadband and internet services by switching to one of its Office Net plans, including two new plans.
For businesses, Vodafone is now offering its unlimited calling and internet plans over fibre and VDSL for $99.85 on a 24 month contract.
On 7 November it will launch two new capped calling and internet plans over fibre of VDSL for $109.85 on 24 month contracts. These will include 200GB of data and 500 minutes of calls to domestic and overseas destinations.