Ann: JOINTV: SPK: Spark NZ announces joint venture with Vocus Communications

• Release Date: 04/02/15 17:04
• Summary: JOINTV: SPK: Spark NZ announces joint venture with Vocus Communications
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					SPK
04/02/2015 17:04
JOINTV
PRICE SENSITIVE
REL: 1704 HRS Spark New Zealand Limited

JOINTV: SPK: Spark NZ announces joint venture with Vocus Communications

MARKET RELEASE
4 February 2015

Spark New Zealand announces joint venture with Vocus Communications to help
deliver New Zealand's fibre future

Spark New Zealand has announced it will form a fibre construction joint
venture with Vocus Communications called Connect 8 to further safeguard New
Zealand's fibre future.

The move confirms Spark's commitment to being the leader in data network
capability and data services for New Zealanders. It comes at a time when the
telecommunications market is rapidly changing. Both business and consumer
customers are increasingly demanding faster speeds with better resiliency in
response to an increased demand for digital services.

David Havercroft, Chief Operating Officer for Spark New Zealand, says the
joint venture puts Spark in an even better position to help New Zealand
businesses navigate a digital future in which fibre will become increasingly
important. Customers have the assurance that Spark New Zealand can deliver
fibre to them in a range of different ways and with greater flexibility.

"Spark New Zealand already has 8000 kilometres of fibre cable in New Zealand.
 This, paired with the Optical Transmission Network (OTN) - the core data
transport network - connects more cities, exchanges and data centres than any
other network provider in the country."

"Spark New Zealand is investing hundreds of millions of dollars every year to
provide customers with better services, strengthening and expanding our
integrated network, including the rolling out of world-class 4G services
using more of the latest 700 MHz spectrum than any other provider," adds
Havercroft.

"We've now got New Zealand's leading data network integrating 3G, 4G, WiFi,
ADSL, VDSL and Fibre, backed up by a nationwide optical transport network and
a growing number of data centres- all of which is underpinning excellent
connectivity and capability for business customers."

Chief Executive of Spark Digital, Tim Miles, says that Connect 8 will benefit
the business division of the company as it continues to reposition its focus
to Cloud Infrastructure, mobility, managed ICT and platform-as-a-service.

"We know that the potential benefits of fibre are still largely untapped by
New Zealand businesses, and that flexibility of construction and delivery can
be one of the challenges in making the most of that opportunity.

"The joint venture will allow Spark Digital to add Vocus Communications
leadership and construction capability to our network delivery options. It
also gives us more flexibility, supplier-capacity, and control over delivery
time frames - therefore enabling more businesses to get on with unleashing
their digital potential."

Under the joint venture agreement, Spark New Zealand will acquire 50% of the
Vocus Communications construction business. Connect 8 will continue to
construct fibre and telecommunications assets for Vocus Communications, Spark
New Zealand and other telecommunication providers in New Zealand.  Vocus
Communications and Spark New Zealand will be equally represented on the
Connect 8 board and receive equal distributions of profits.

- ENDS -

For media queries, please contact:

Richard Llewellyn
Head of Corporate Communications
+64 27 523 2362

For investor relations queries, please contact:

Mark Laing
General Manager Corporate Finance
+64 27 227 5890
End CA:00260322 For:SPK    Type:JOINTV     Time:2015-02-04 17:04:27