Telecommunications spectrum set aside for purchase by Maori a decade ago in response to a Treaty of Waitangi claim is finally being used.
2Degrees chief executive Eric Hertz says a 3G network launched on Tuesday uses the block allocated to Te Huarahi Tika Maori spectrum trust and its subsidiary Hautaki, which owns about 12% of the mobile phone company.
He told Waatea News that customers will be able to connect to the internet through their smartphone, or USB modem, at lower prices than competing network operators Vodafone or Telecom have offered so far.
Mr Hertz said the 2Degrees network won't suffer the kind of problems experienced by Telecom XT users, because handsets will automatically switch back to the company's 2G network in the event of any outage.
