TelcoNews New Zealand - Telecommunications news for ICT decision-makers
New Zealand

Digital Exclusion Stories

Kiwi Stories

Digital Exclusion stories

TUANZ calls for connectivity to be essential infrastructure
Broadband

TUANZ calls for connectivity to be essential infrastructure

Gaps in access and affordability are leaving one in 10 New Zealand households offline, prompting calls for stronger public investment and resilience.

By Mark Tarre • 4 min read • Thu, 23rd Jul 2026

Global Stories

Digital Exclusion stories

Ecommpay warns AI checkout could exclude vulnerable users
Fintech

Ecommpay warns AI checkout could exclude vulnerable users

More than half of consumers are vulnerable to some degree, raising fears that AI-led checkout could leave many unable to complete payments.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 4 min read • Last month
DXC recovers 2,055kg of e-waste in UK recycling drive
Data centers

DXC recovers 2,055kg of e-waste in UK recycling drive

More than 1,000 discarded devices were diverted from landfill as the company expanded donations to community groups and digital inclusion projects.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 3 min read • Last month
RAMaggedon: Why the memory crisis is a digital inclusion crisis
Fintech

RAMaggedon: Why the memory crisis is a digital inclusion crisis

Rising memory chip costs are forcing handset makers to lift prices, risking wider digital exclusion in emerging markets and pushing budget phones out of reach.

By Dion Price • 7 min read • Fri, 12th Jun 2026
Bitget extends UNICEF game coalition with AI lessons
Gaming

Bitget extends UNICEF game coalition with AI lessons

More than 642,000 young people in eight countries will gain AI and financial literacy lessons as the partnership enters its second year.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Fri, 22nd May 2026

Stories from Other Regions

Digital Exclusion stories

Virgin Media O2 launches GBP £3m device reuse fund
IT Industry

Virgin Media O2 launches GBP £3m device reuse fund

Millions of unused phones and laptops could be redirected to people without kit as the telecoms group backs local reuse schemes until 2030.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 5 min read • Last month
Oxford study probes trust barriers to finance in Colombia
Fintech

Oxford study probes trust barriers to finance in Colombia

Low-income Colombians may still shun digital payments because fees, risks and confusing terms undermine confidence in the systems they use.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Last month
Virgin Media O2 renews partnership to tackle data poverty
Broadband

Virgin Media O2 renews partnership to tackle data poverty

More than 550,000 people in hardship have already received free mobile data as the renewed scheme seeks to connect 500,000 low-income households.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 4 min read • Tue, 18th Aug 2026
Half of consumers mistrust AI agents with card details
Data Protection

Half of consumers mistrust AI agents with card details

Trust at the point of payment is the key hurdle, with 50.1% of European consumers unwilling to share card details with AI agents.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 4 min read • Thu, 11th Jun 2026
HMRC picks Capgemini, NiCE & Route 101 for overhaul
Digital Transformation

HMRC picks Capgemini, NiCE & Route 101 for overhaul

Millions of taxpayers should see faster, more consistent support as HMRC moves contact services onto a single cloud platform with AI tools.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Wed, 3rd Jun 2026
Financial leaders fear AI could harm vulnerable customers
Fintech

Financial leaders fear AI could harm vulnerable customers

Most firms have expanded customer-facing AI even as a survey found 77% fear their strategies could harm vulnerable customers.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 5 min read • Wed, 3rd Jun 2026
Disabled shoppers face widespread barriers, study finds
Customer Experience

Disabled shoppers face widespread barriers, study finds

Widespread access failures are driving disabled shoppers away, with 38% abandoning purchases and most avoiding brands after bad experiences.

By Mark Tarre • 4 min read • Tue, 26th May 2026
MobileMuster backs phone donations for abuse survivors
Cybersecurity

MobileMuster backs phone donations for abuse survivors

Survivors of domestic abuse could get safer access to communication as donated handsets are refurbished and recycled across Australia.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 4 min read • Tue, 26th May 2026
UK outlines cyber & AI regulatory overhaul in King's Speech
Data Protection

UK outlines cyber & AI regulatory overhaul in King's Speech

Businesses face tighter reporting and new rules as ministers move to overhaul cyber security, AI oversight and digital identity regulation.

By Mark Tarre • 9 min read • Thu, 14th May 2026
Digital inclusion groups to tailor training for charities
Digital Transformation

Digital inclusion groups to tailor training for charities

Charities could get training better suited to limited budgets and low digital confidence as AI reshapes service delivery.

By Catherine Knowles • 4 min read • Fri, 1st May 2026
BT urges analogue landline users to switch to digital
Customer Experience

BT urges analogue landline users to switch to digital

Thousands of households could lose familiar phone service if they ignore BT’s notices before the UK’s analogue landline switch-off in 2027.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 4 min read • Fri, 1st May 2026
Scotland Women in Technology backs charity board pilot
Digital Transformation

Scotland Women in Technology backs charity board pilot

More charities could gain digital expertise as up to 30 women are trained for trustee roles under a new board-matching pilot.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 4 min read • Wed, 15th Apr 2026