One NZ Satellite Data is here, offering you an exciting opportunity to launch your mobile app into orbit and extend its reach further than ever before!
Until now, app use has been restricted by mobile coverage. But not anymore, with apps now able to use mobile data via satellite. This opens up around 40% more of New Zealand's land mass to mobile apps, reaching areas outside of traditional cell tower coverage, and creating new use cases that might never have seemed possible before.
Mobile apps for both iOS and Android require some relatively straightforward development to take advantage of satellite data. There are a number of global apps like WhatsApp and Google Maps that have already embraced this leading-edge new technology. They, and many others, are now satellite-enabled, meaning they can be used on an eligible phone over a satellite network like One NZ Satellite when someone is out of traditional coverage.
Now you too can enable your mobile app, allowing your staff or customers to connect with you in moments – and places – you didn't think possible. The impact on your business and for your teams or customers could be huge.
App access in the middle of nowhere: Mission complete. Now all you need to do is prepare for take-off.
Until now, app use has been restricted by mobile coverage. But not anymore, with apps now able to use mobile data via satellite. This opens up around 40% more of New Zealand's land mass to mobile apps, reaching areas outside of traditional cell tower coverage, and creating new use cases that might never have seemed possible before.
Mobile apps for both iOS and Android require some relatively straightforward development to take advantage of satellite data. There are a number of global apps like WhatsApp and Google Maps that have already embraced this leading-edge new technology. They, and many others, are now satellite-enabled, meaning they can be used on an eligible phone over a satellite network like One NZ Satellite when someone is out of traditional coverage.
Now you too can enable your mobile app, allowing your staff or customers to connect with you in moments – and places – you didn't think possible. The impact on your business and for your teams or customers could be huge.
App access in the middle of nowhere: Mission complete. Now all you need to do is prepare for take-off.
Why enable my app?
Stay safer in the back blocks
Mike and Wendy are farmers in the Waikato. There’s some repair work needed on one of the far paddocks but the weather’s looking a bit dodgy. Still, they head out, knowing they can keep an eye on the latest weather updates using satellite data on their mobile phones.
Get info in the middle of nowhere
Toni is out hiking with a friend and spots an unusual plant on the trail. As a keen horticulturist she’s keen to know more, so she snaps a photo on her phone and uses the search function in WhatsApp to find out what it is.
How do I enable my app?
The satellite network is low bandwidth, so simple, lightweight apps will work best.
- We've worked with our app development partners Smudge to make satellite enablement as simple as possible. Follow the step-by-step guide in the video.
- For examples that demonstrate these steps in action, check our sample projects for both Apple and Android.
- Here are the API's for Apple and Android that you will need.
Descriptive transcript from video
Descriptive transcript from video
| Audio | Visual |
| (SUNIL SANJAY) Kia Ora everyone. I'm Sunil Sanjay, product manager here at One New Zealand. | One NZ employee standing in an office space in front of a One NZ logo. |
| (SUNIL SANJAY) Launching One New Zealand satellite in December 2024 was a game changer for mobile coverage. | Wide view of a SpaceX rocket launching. |
| (SUNIL SANJAY) If you are New Zealand and you can see the sky, you're covered. | One NZ employee standing in an office space in front of a One NZ logo. |
| (SUNIL SANJAY) Starlink satellites operate as cell towers in space, out of reach of weather events, | A Starlink satellite floating in space, with a view of the earth in the background. |
| (SUNIL SANJAY) providing a safety net for connectivity. | One NZ employee standing in an office space in front of a One NZ logo. |
| (SUNIL SANJAY) We launched with TXT, and over 4 million have been sent already. | A DOC ranger on a remote bush track pulling out a phone, and sending a TXT saying ‘Checking in. All good here.’ |
| (SUNIL SANJAY) And now we are announcing apps coming this summer. This means any app, including yours, can be satellite ready, enhancing its reach and its value. | One NZ employee standing in an office space in front of a One NZ logo. |
| (SUNIL SANJAY) For example, a tramping app could let you check live weather updates in the middle of Fiordland | A man on top of a mountain pulling out a phone from his pocket. |
| (SUNIL SANJAY) Or a banking app that could help farmers in remote valleys manage payments without having to go back into town. Now, of course, apps would need to be designed for satellite conditions. The network is low bandwidth, so the best apps will be simple, lightweight and focused on the essentials. | One NZ employee standing in an office space in front of a One NZ logo. |
| (SUNIL SANJAY) Both Android and Apple have already enabled the framework, making it simple for app developers. | Man on top of the mountain sends a TXT ‘Knocked another milestone off! Made it up safe.’ He is identified as George Hillary, grandson of Sir Edmund Hillary. He receives a reply from his brother ‘Summit! Wish I was there.’ The phone signal reads ‘One NZ SpaceX’. |
| (SUNIL SANJAY) I'm here with our partners Smudge to talk through the opportunities. One New Zealand satellite opens up for app development. | One NZ employee standing in an office space in front of a One NZ logo. |
| (REUBEN BIJL) Thanks Sunil, we're really excited about the opportunities that this unlocks. (SUNIL SUNJAY) What kind of practical benefits do you see this technology enabling? (REUBEN BIJL) So for me, it changes the way I even think about creating apps. | One NZ employee and Smudge employee shaking hands. |
| (REUBEN BIJL) Normally, I've had to accept that there are parts of New Zealand, but you can't use what we make with online functionality. And now those same places hills, valleys, Bush with Sonic come back into play. | A DOC ranger hikes up onto a remote hilltop and sends a TXT ‘Job done. Ready for pickup.’ |
| (REUBEN BIJL) It doesn't mean we can try and cram everything we do online, but it does mean we can design with a bit more freedom. There's widespread connectivity available. So for performance reasons, I think it's still really important to consider what an offline experience looks like an app, but you can rethink workflows that might require syncing at various work points. The capability will roll out on iPhones running iOS 26 and progressively across Android devices as they adopt Android 16. (SUNIL SANJAY) Yeah, and we are already seeing several global apps being satellite enabled for things like weather, navigation, outdoor adventure, and even social media. It’s an exciting time! | One NZ employee and Smudge employee standing talking together. |
| (REUBEN BIJL) So you and I ventured out to Kaituna Valley yesterday just outside of Christchurch, an area with no traditional cell tower coverage. | Photos show Reuben and Sunil in the remote Kaituna Valley holding phones. |
| (REUBEN BIJL) With my iPhone and no one answered some I can already see and receive messages and attachments like photos and videos. Being able to use apps is going to be a massive step forward in the capability and usefulness of the service. (SUNIL SANJAY) Yeah, and we can't wait to see how developers are going to put one New Zealand satellite to use. (REUBEN BIJL) So to help you get your apps now or for satellite data, there are some key things that you need to know. And we've put together some sample projects to support you. | One NZ employee and Smudge employee standing talking together. |
| (JUSTIN THORBY) Hi, I'm Justin, a developer at Smudge. We've created some sample projects for iOS and Android, demonstrating the basic implementation across each platform, as a reference point for your own development. The sample project allows you to check for a Warriors score when you're connected via satellite, but not be able to stream video. | Smudge developer sitting behind a computer screen. |
| (JUSTIN THORBY) I'll start with the iOS project in Xcode and run you through some key details. Apple has added a new entitlements configuration to declare the type of app you're building. Hit the carrier constraint at category entitlement and choose the category or categories which match you're app. This is a self-select entitlement that allows carriers to configure what capability is enabled for their customers. | Over the shoulder view of a computer screen. |
| (JUSTIN THORBY) To respond to changing network conditions, our app will monitor the current network path. When the current network path is ultra constrained. This is a strong indication that the device is connected to a satellite network. In this case, we will report our connectivity state as limited and update our apps behavior accordingly, limiting access to the highlights video stream. | Smudge developer sitting behind a computer screen. |
| (JUSTIN THORBY) Running a request on satellite networks is supported from the url session class, as well as the low level network framework, With the url session, ensure it allows constrained network access and allows expensive network access properties are both true on your url session configuration. If you're using the network framework set from network parameters, allow to ultra constrained paths property to be true when configuring the parameters for your connection. | Over the shoulder view of a computer screen. |
| (JUSTIN THORBY) At launch, satellite data is all about sending and receiving small amounts of data traffic, so it's worth considering what parts of your app you need to enable for satellite. So that's it for the iOS project. You can download it from One NZ’s web page. For Android, the networking stack already supports satellite once the entitlements are added, and the same considerations apply to get your app working well on constrained satellite networks. | Smudge developer sitting behind a computer screen. |
| (JUSTIN THORBY) You opt in by updating the manifest file with a metadata tag that tells the system your app is optimized for constrained networks. This allows it to use satellite when it's the only network available. Once you've opted in, then you need to think about what you're app should do on a satellite network. Apps that constantly strain or sync large files are unlikely to give a good user experience, but apps that can work in bursts, like sending messages, pushing small updates, or checking scores, are well suited. You can detect when your on a constrained network using network capabilities by checking whether net capability not bandwidth constrained is missing or if the transport type of satellite, you can adapt your apps behaviour. | Over the shoulder view of a computer screen. |
| (JUSTIN THORBY) You can also download the Android Sample project alongside the iOS one from the One NZ web page. Back to you Sunil. | Smudge developer sitting behind a computer screen. |
| (SUNIL SANJAY) Thanks to Ruben and Justin from Smudge for joining me today and creating these sample projects, showcasing how simple it is to get an app satellite enabled. We hope you can see the benefits within your own apps or businesses. If you want to chat further about your specific use case or for any development support, please get in touch. | One NZ employee standing in an office space in front of a One NZ logo. |
How can I test my app?
For Android apps, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7, Flip7 FE and Fold7 can be used today.
If you are a One NZ customer, your Account Manager can help if you’d like to loan one of these phones or if you want to test your iOS app.
Testing your apps will become easier as more phones are enabled in the coming months. Keep checking back to see when other devices are enabled for satellite data.
If you are a business or developer and want more information on enabling your app for satellite, please provide your details below and one of our team will be in touch.