The Rural Connectivity Group (RCG) was established in 2017 when the New Zealand Government appointed us as the infrastructure provider for the Rural Broadband Initiative 2 (RBI2) and the Mobile Black Spot Fund (MBSF). Our role has been to deliver reliable 4G wireless broadband, 4G voice calling (VoLTE), data and text to rural and remote parts of New Zealand.

RCG is an independent entity, set up to acquire sites, build, operate and maintain a new nationwide rural mobile network.

A Unique Partnership Model

This world-first project was funded through the Government’s Telecommunications Development Levy, with additional investment from New Zealand’s three mobile network operators – Spark, One NZ and 2degrees. The National Infrastructure Funding and Financing (NIFF) agency manages the distribution of these funds to RCG.

Alongside the funding, Spark, One NZ and 2degrees provide the radio spectrum for the network and share the radio access network (RAN) equipment and antennae on each site. This shared model is the first of its kind anywhere in the world and the only way to deliver modern digital services to New Zealand’s most isolated communities.

Delivering for Rural New Zealand

Since 2017, RCG has built over 570 cell sites across the country, creating the world’s first multi-operator cellular network. By December 2023, the RBI2 and MBSF programmes were completed, surpassing targets of:

• Coverage to 30,000+ rural homes and businesses
• Coverage along 1,000+ kms of rural state highways
• Coverage at 100+ key tourist hotspots

Looking Ahead

RCG is proud to partner with NIFF and our MNO shareholders to deliver lasting benefits for rural communities. We continue to advocate for future investment so that every rural New Zealander can access the connectivity they need to live, work and thrive.

Expanding into Indoor Connectivity

Building on the success of our rural network, RCG is now applying its expertise to tackle one of the most common challenges in connectivity, poor mobile coverage inside buildings. Thick walls, steel structures, and modern glass often block or weaken mobile signals, leaving businesses and communities frustrated by dropped calls and unreliable service.

To solve this, RCG has developed iConn – a flexible in-building connectivity solution designed to deliver seamless, high-quality mobile coverage indoors. iConn uses advanced distributed antenna system (DAS) technology to extend coverage inside commercial, retail, lifestyle villages, hospitals and transport hubs. The solution can work across all three mobile operators ensuring everyone in the building can connect reliably, no matter which network they use.

With iConn, RCG brings the same spirit of collaboration and innovation that transformed rural connectivity to the enterprise and urban environments, enabling productivity, safety, and customer experience where mobile connectivity matters most.