Fry Up: Breaking news

All Black tribute in blackcurrant jelly

New Plymouth to receive world first SuperG mobile service

By Fry Up staff

Lucien Lye is launching a trial of what he describes as “the world’s fastest mobile network ever” in New Plymouth in time for the Rugby World Cup.

Lye, who claims to be the great, great nephew of artist Len Lye, says he chose the capital of Taranaki to launch the network because his famous relative gifted his greatest work to the city. His company Lye Networks will provide a ‘SuperG’ service which leapfrogs the current upgrade path to 4G services being touted by traditional telco providers.

"SuperG will provide speeds of 1Gbps, which will enable subscribers in the New Plymouth area to download an entire series of Dr Who onto their smartphone in 20 seconds,” Lye told Fry Up.

Lye says that he has acquired “bits and bobs” of spectrum in different bands including 1800MHz, 2100MHz and 2.6GHz and joined them altogether to enable the rollout. Fry Up understands the most significant block has been leased from a major telecommunications provider who once upon a time planned a rollout in another provincial New Zealand city.

The initial rollout will cost $125,000, and Lye says he has engaged a prominent technology partner, although he would not name the company. Lye Networks plans to offer services to pre-pay customers first. He wouldn’t comment on pricing or whether the offering will include data caps.

Lye says the network will be trialled internally by Lye Networks staff for the Rugby World Cup games at the Taranaki Stadium this week.

“We plan to be up and running for paid subscribers in time for the big game in New Plymouth, Wales versus Namibia, on Monday September 26,” he says.

COMMENTS

2.36am
Awesome News! Worth moving to the Naki for.
Telco watcher

7.50am
It's news like this that makes me proud to be Kiwi.
Proud Kiwi

7.51am
Are you kidding me? Who is this cowboy? $125,000 to launch a network, you can’t be serious.
Get real

7.55am
Are you aware that if someone downloads the entire series of Dr Who they will be in breach of the Copyright (Infringing File-Sharing) Act, which came into effect on September 1 and is a gross infringement of New Zealanders rights.
Anti-bill

8.15am
Go the Namibians
Naki rugby nut

8.10am
I am heartily sick of all the hype around 4G. It is about how voice is delivered (over IP, like data is), it is not about speed, and yet it continually gets reported as if the next evolution of mobile capability – 3G, 4G etc – is a p**ing contest over which networks will deliver the fastest speeds.
(please note this comment has been moderated)
Enough already

8.18am
Epic Fail! This whole article is PR spin.
Anonymous

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All Black tribute in blackcurrant jelly
In recognition of the first day of the Rugby World Cup, morning tea at the Fry Up offices was a rugby-themed bake-off.

Here is team Fry Up’s contribution of blackcurrant jelly topped with whipped cream, licorice and jelly beans placed on the record cover of classic rugby commentary:



To view all the competitors go to the Computerworld Facebook page.


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