Telecom XT compatibility

Mobile phones use two types of technology for their signals. GSM technology has been used by Vodafone since it arrived in New Zealand, and newcomer 2degrees also uses this technology. For newer 3G phones, Vodafone and 2degrees also use UCDMA technology on the UCDMA  2100MHz frequency, but they also work on the older GSM system where 3G signals are not available.

Telecom’s XT network uses UCDMA technology as well, primarily on the 850MHz frequency that’s not used by either Vodafone or 2degrees – but in some areas Telecom XT also uses 2100MHz!

Although phones from all networks now have SIM cards, swapping a phone across networks is not always a matter of buying a new SIM card and loading it up. Most Vodafone models easily swap over to 2degrees and vice versa. However, swapping from Vodafone to Telecom XT is not so easy. Telecom has a web page where you can check compatibility of Vodafone and 2degrees models by entering the phone’s International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number. Swapping from XT to Vodafone or 2degrees is usually much easier, but it still may pay to check.

If you plan to buy a new phone and want it to work on a specific network, it’s essential to check the network compatibility of the phone before you buy. It’s safer to buy the phone from the network you plan to use. Check the compatibility of parallel imported phones for any of the 3 networks before buying.

Note: we've separately tested 17 phones specifically for rural use. All are compatible with Telecom XT. See our Mobile phones for rural use report for more information.