Discover Waitomo, one of New Zealand’s iconic tourism operators, has partnered with Spark for a new satellite internet connectivity upgrade across its remote sites.
Using Starlink’s high-speed satellite internet, the collaboration has transformed operations across Discover Waitomo’s remote sites, delivering enhanced customer experiences and bolstered safety measures.
The change has enabled everything from seamless visitor Wi-Fi and cashless payments to vastly improved safety communications for staff operating underground or in rugged environments.
Operating in rugged and remote areas, Discover Waitomo welcomes a large volume of global visitors annually to its world-renowned attractions, including the Waitomo Glowworm Caves, The Legendary Blackwater Rafting Co and the iconic Waitomo Homestead.
Historically, the business relied on outdated and damage-prone VDSL (Very high-speed Digital Subscriber Line) connections that were frequently disrupted.
As a result of this transition, Daniel Thorne, General Manager of Discover Waitomo, says the improvements to connectivity have been transformative for the business. “Our remote location has always posed connectivity challenges, impacting everything from customer experience to our ability to manage health and safety. Starlink has fundamentally changed that. Now, we can confidently deliver cashless transactions, provide reliable Wi-Fi for visitors, and ensure that staff can communicate effectively even in areas that were once complete dark zones.”
David Goldman, IT Operations Manager at Discover Waitomo, says the improved connectivity has been invaluable. “Before Starlink, connectivity issues meant frequent disruptions to our systems, from ticketing to communication. With Starlink’s high speeds and reliability, even in extreme weather, we’ve been able to not only meet but exceed visitor expectations. It’s also allowed us to improve the safety and efficiency of our operations, which is critical given the remote and sometimes challenging environments we operate in.”
Spark’s field services team played a critical role in ensuring the success of the Starlink deployment. This collaboration has paved the way for potential future innovations, such as real-time monitoring of cave environments and stream levels.
