TelstraClear will release a tender this week for the possible construction of a new mobile phone network in New Zealand.
The number two telco presently provides mobile services by reselling Vodafone's services. TelstraClear spokesman Matthew Bolland says the agreement with Vodafone "will continue for another 15 months, but after that things will change".
TelstraClear will release an RFI (request for information) this week.
One of the attractions of having a mobile network is that once it covers 10% of the country, roaming agreements with other mobile network operators become feasible, Bolland says.
The RFI is about "seeing what's possible," and is separate from an agreement with Siemens to build wireless base stations using 3.5GHz frequency, he says.
"That will come from our regular capital expenditure this year and next year."