Spark keeps fire evacuees near Nelson connected with extra data, free calling

Spark is advising all its home broadband and landline customers who have been evacuated from their homes near Nelson due to fire risk, that they are eligible for extra data and - for landline customers - free calling on their Spark mobiles over the next seven days.

Spark is activating its “Connection Promise” for Spark broadband customers who have been evacuated from their homes due to the fires. This means 438 Spark customers on fibre, VDSL or ADSL broadband who have registered for Connection Promise are entitled to 20GB of free data on their primary Spark mobile, and 5GB on up to three additional Spark mobile phones, over the next seven days. If they have a landline connected to their Spark home account, they are entitled to unlimited free national calling from their Spark mobile for the seven-day period.

Spark Consumer and SME Channels Lead Grant McBeath said Spark people all over the country were watching the frightening situation near Nelson and wanted to do what they could to help those affected.

“We know how stressful it must be having to leave your home like this. We want to take away at least one cause of the stress by giving people a way to stay in touch with family and friends without racking up a big phone bill,” said McBeath.

“We usually use our Connection Promise when there has been a broadband network outage. In this case, Spark services are all still available but we’re activating it in recognition that, while people are unable to return to their homes, they don’t have access to their home broadband and landline services.”

Eligible customers who have registered for Connection Promise do not need to do anything – the free calling and extra data will be deployed to their Spark mobile phones automatically and they will be notified by text message that this has occurred.

The text message will say there has been a Spark outage – however, McBeath emphasised this is a standard notification, and customers shouldn’t take it as an indication of damage to the network or property in the area.

Customers who have been evacuated and have Spark mobile and home broadband and/or landline accounts, but who not previously registered for Connection Promise, can still access the free calling and extra data by calling Spark on 123.