Cellular Priority
Available for eligible organisations
Priority access for calls and data when there’s cellular network congestion or degradation.
Check eligibility
- Service
- Cellular services
- Delivered by
- SafetyNet
- Powered by
- One NZ + Spark
Public Safety Network
About the Public Safety Network Te Kupenga Marutau
The Public Safety Network (PSN) is a significant infrastructure project for New Zealand’s wellbeing and safety. It was approved in 2022, investing $1.7 billion over 10 years to build and operate the network and services, and roll out new devices to Fire and Emergency New Zealand, Hato Hone St John, Wellington Free Ambulance and Police staff, stations and vehicles.
Originally delivered by Next Generation Critical Communications, and now by SafetyNet, the PSN consists of three complementary elements: a 550 site digital Land Mobile Radio network now under construction; Cellular Roaming, Priority and Network Visibility Services now live, and the ongoing provision of personal alerting.
SafetyNet continues to prioritise delivery of the 500 site PSN Land Mobile Radio Network for the emergency services. From 1 July, we began to onboard new public safety sector customers to the PSN Cellular Services on a commercial basis. SafetyNet will evolve to add new products and services to the Public Safety Network's ecosystem. This increases communications resilience and reliability for the people who protect our communities, property and land.
Key features
Keep your community safe with priority access during large scale events or disasters
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Priority access when it matters most
Ensures authorised users are prioritised on the network during times of congestion or high demand. This helps maintain critical communications when public networks are under strain, supporting faster coordination and safer outcomes.
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First in line during critical moments
Your data and voice traffic takes precedence over general network users during network degradation or large-scale incidents. This helps teams stay connected in the field, enabling better decision-making when every second counts.
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Supports safer operational decisions
By maintaining communication when networks are congested, teams can receive and share real-time information without delay. This improves situational awareness and helps support more informed decisions that protect both staff and the public.
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Designed for frontline resilience
Built for critical operational environments, Cellular Priority helps ensure communications remain stable during unpredictable and high-pressure situations. This added resilience supports continuity of operations during emergencies and major events.
How it works
How Cellular Priority keeps you connected when networks are busy
Product details
What’s included and how it performs
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Priority access
Receive access to cellular networks ahead of public users during network congestion or degradation.
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Network coverage
Operates across Spark and One NZ cellular networks within the Public Safety Network ecosystem.
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Communication types
Applies to voice, data, messaging, video and image transmission.
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Traffic prioritisation
In critical moments other devices can be temporarily held back to ensure PSN Cellular Priority users are 'first in line' for available coverage.
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SIM card
A Public Safety Network SIM enables our Roaming and Priority Services on a phone or device.
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Integration
Works alongside Cellular Roaming to increase communications reliability and resilience with the power of two networks behind you.
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Device compatibility
Any smartphones or tablets that accept Spark or One NZ SIM cards.
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Security
Designed alongside Spark and One NZ for emergency grade communications and security.
Get in touch with us
Send an enquiry to get support from our team and see how our products can help your organisation
Strong, reliable communications keep our teams safe and ensure patients receive the right care at the right time.
Head of Emergency Ambulance Services ■ Wellington Free Ambulance
FAQs
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When PSN Cellular Priority is activated on a mobile or wireless device, it means users receive preferential access to cellular networks over other users during network congestion or degradation. This means they get preferential access to available coverage and in critical moments, the devices of other users can be temporarily held back to ensure PSN Cellular Priority users can communicate.
Prioritised access applies to voice, data, messaging, video, and image transmission services.
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111 calls continue to get first access to cellular networks but during times of network congestion or degradation, Public Safety Network phones and devices get sent to the ‘front of the queue’ for the next best available coverage ahead of all other users.
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No, the service will be automatically activated on a PSN enabled phone or device when network congestion or degradation meets the threshold for activation.
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During high-demand situations like a natural disaster or when large crowds gather, cellular networks can get congested making it harder for people like emergency responders to call, use an app or share information – often at times when the public needs their help most.
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SafetyNet is working with a small group of new customers to perfect the onboarding, billing and service management experience for new customers.
When we are satisfied the offering and experience is simple, robust and effective for new customers we will begin onboarding new customers in larger volumes. This is likely to be from early 2027.
Please get in touch if you are interested in PSN Cellular Services and being kept up to date on new customer onboarding timeframes.