Mobile Penetration Kills Payphone

It looks like payphones are going to be removed in New Zealand because nearly ninety percent of the people living there have a mobile phone. This year Telecom New Zealand is going to remove 400 of their 5000 payphones across the country. They will start with the older models and the lesser used one, but don’t expect to keep many of their phones since even tourists are now bringing their mobile phone with them when they travel.

In the last three years Telecom New Zealand has noticed a 24% drop in payphone call volumes, some phones only being used only a few times a year.

National Payphones Manager Sheridan Broadbent said changing social trends and predominantly the rise in popularity of mobiles has meant that payphones are not being used as much as they used to be.

“There was a time when payphones were one of the only ways that New Zealanders could access the telephone when they were away from home or the office.

Today, there are nearly as many mobile phones in New Zealand as there are people and the number of New Zealanders using payphones has dropped off significantly.”

Telecom New Zealand say they will keep some of the more commonly used phones around, as well as a limited amount in various locations for emergency use.

October 20th, 2005 Posted by David in News at 2:37 pm Comment Now! »
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