ISP New Zealand * Getting Online * Internet Connection * Dial-up * Broadband * ADSL * Fibre *
Internet Connections – The Choices
1. Broadband / ADSL
The table below lists broadband prices from several companies. Most broadband plans in New Zealand traditionally have a data cap, however a few are now uncapped.
Telecom’s network delivers broadband to most New Zealanders. Smaller companies compete with Telecom but they still use Telecom’s network to carry their service. Many of Telecom’s rural lines can’t carry broadband.
You can test whether broadband is available in any location using this tool on Telecom’s website. You need to know a phone number in the area you are interested in. Enter a phone number to discover if Broadband is available in that area.
The average peak connection speed is 11.5 Mbps for fixed line (ADSL) internet, according to a survey by Truenet in January 2013.
The average user’s monthly data usage for broadband in New Zealand was 16 GB in June 2012, a 50% increase on the previous year (1).
2013 Typical Landline ADSL / Broadband Prices
| Provider | Monthly Traffic Allowed | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Inspire | 10 GB | $40 per month (maximums: 16Mbit/s download speed and 1000Kbit/s upload speed) |
| Inspire | 50 GB | $60 per month (maximums: 16Mbit/s download speed and 1000Kbit/s upload speed) |
| Orcon | 30 GB | $75 per month for 12 months contract plus unlimited national landline calling. |
| Vodafone | 30 GB | $75 per month (includes Vodafone fixed line home phone and free local calls, free wireless modem and connection). |
| Vodafone | 100 GB | $95 per month (includes Vodafone fixed line home phone and free local calls, free calls to 5 NZ landlines or mobiles, free wireless modem and connection). |
| TelstraClear | 40 GB | $105 per month (includes home phone line and free local calls.) 12 months contract. |
| TelstraClear | 60 GB | $155 per month (includes home phone line and unlimited national calls) |
| Telecom | 150 GB | $99 a month for 12 month contract (includes Telecom fixed line home phone and free local calls, free wireless modem and connection). |
| Orcon | unlimited | $99 per month for 12 months contract plus unlimited national landline calling. |
Notes:
• New Zealand is currently upgrading to ultra-fast broadband (UFB) in its towns and cities. This upgrade is expected to be complete in 2019. You can check on this map to see if UFB is available in your area. UFB will allow download speeds of at least 100 Mbps and upload speeds of at least 50 Mbps.
• If you are close to your data maximum, most ISP’s will send you a reminder and give you the option to increase your date allowance.
• TelstraClear automatically supplies an additional usage pack for which you will be charged $2 per GB of extra use for 2 GB / 10 GB / 20 GB & 40 GB plans or $2 per 2 GB of extra use for 60 GB / 100 GB & 150 GB plans.
• Inspire give you an option to either throttle your connection back to 64 Kbps (slightly faster than dial-up) for the remainder of the month or to pay for extra data at $10 per 5 GB of usage over your cap.
2. Naked Broadband / DSL
With Naked Broadband you do not need to purchase a traditional land-line phone package.
2013 Typical Naked ADSL / Broadband Prices
| Provider | Monthly Traffic Allowed | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Inspire | 10 GB | $75 |
| Inspire | 50 GB | $95 |
| Compass Communications | 25 GB | $51.95 with free connection for a 12 month sign up. |
| Vodafone | 50 GB | $55 per month with ON Mobile Account (plus free wireless modem). |
| Vodafone | 100 GB | $65 per month with ON Mobile Account (plus free wireless modem). |
| Woosh | 80 GB | $84 |
3. Fibre Broadband / Cable
Cable Internet uses fibre-optic cable to carry data. Cable is faster than the fastest broadband – 15 Mbps or greater.
TelstraClear offer cable connections in and around Wellington, the Kapati coast and parts of Christchurch.
2013 Fibre / Cable Prices
| Provider | Monthly Traffic Allowed | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|
| TelstraClear | 20 GB | $133 plus phoneline, TV with T-Box and Sky |
| TelstraClear | 40 GB | $65.95 plus TV with T-Box and Freeview |
4. Wireless / Mobile Broadband
You don’t need a telephone line for wireless Internet, but you do need to be close to a transmitter. Several wireless companies operate in New Zealand. Some examples of 2013 prices are:
Vodafone offers mobile broadband. In a recent Epitiro survey of mobile broadband providers in Auckland and Wellington, Vodaphone had the fastest average download speed at 4.1 Mbps. The Vodem stick costs $69 and allows 2 GB of data with 2 months to use it. Further monthly extra 2 GB add-on bundles can be purchased for $50.
Woosh currently covers Southland and parts of Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington. They charge $49.99 for 7 GB of traffic or $69.99 for 20 GB. The Woosh router costs an additional $5 a month to hire. If you exceed your data allowance, you can either top up your data package or your connection speed will be slowed down.
Telecom also has pay monthly mobile broadband. Prices start from $30 a month for 750 MB of data and a monthly allowance of 2 GB of data costs $60. There are prepaid options as well starting with 500 MB for $25 (one month expiry).
More than half the New Zealand population now uses mobile broadband (1).
Wireless broadband is gradually being installed in rural New Zealand. When completed, it will bring wireless broadband to 86% of rural houses and businesses at speeds of at least 5Mbps. The roll out began in 2011.
2013 Wireless / Mobile Broadband Prices
| Provider | Speed (Downstream/Upstream)* | Monthly Traffic Allowed | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vodafone | 4.1 Mbps / 1.5 Mbps | 2 GB | $69 with 2 months to use data allowance |
| Woosh | - | 2 GB | $44.99 |
| Woosh | - | 20 GB | $69.99 |
| Telecom | 3.3 Mbps / 0.9 Mbps | 750 MB | $30 |
| Telecom | 3.3 Mbps / 0.9 Mbps | 2 GB | $60 |
* data from Epitiro 2011 survey. (pdf)
5. Satellite Internet
If you need a connection in a remote area, Satellite Internet is the usual solution. In 2012, about half of NZ’s rural dwellers were still limited to dial-up speeds (2). To avoid this, if you live in a more remote area, you may need to consider satellite internet, which is more expensive than broadband.
Installation costs are higher than standard broadband (approx. $200 – $300) and you will need a satellite dish. Farmside and Wirelessnation offer satellite services. To increase data allowance Farmside also have data booster and off-peak data booster packages.
2013 Satellite Prices
| Provider | Speed (Downstream/Upstream) | Monthly Traffic Allowed | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Farmside | 1Mbps download / 512Kbps upload | 1 GB | $56 |
| Farmside | 2Mbps download / 1Mbps upload | 2 GB | $91 |
| Wirelessnation | 1Mbps download / 500Kbps upload (max) | 3 GB | $86 |
| Farmside | 3Mbps download /1Mbps upload | 4 GB | $114 |
| Wirelessnation | 4Mbps download / 1Mbps upload (max) | 5 GB | $155 |
6. Dial-up Internet
A standard speed dial-up connection costs from NZ$15 per month.
Only seven percent of internet users now use dial up in New Zealand (1).
Dial-up Internet speed in urban areas is 52 Kbps. This is the norm for most countries. Dial-up Internet connections are available everywhere in New Zealand.
Typical Dial-up Prices in 2013
| Provider | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|
| Orcon | $15 flat rate or $10.50 for 30 hours a month (additional hours $1.50 an hour). |
| Vodafone | $20.45 flat rate or $10.45 when bundled with a phone and calling plan. |
| TelstraClear | $16.95 flat rate or $12.95 (must be bundled with a phone and calling plan) for 150 hours a month (additional hours $2.50 an hour). Minimum 6 months subscription with each plan. |
| Inspire | $20 per 28 days or $10.00 for 20 hours each 28 days (additional hours $1.20 an hour). |
| Kiwi Online | $9.95 flat rate |
(1) Statistics New Zealand 2012 Internet Survey
(2) Rural Broadband Initiative
I am traveling to NZ leaving on Frtiday for 2 weeks and will have an Ipod and or iphone with me
I would like to have internet access while there on the ipad and or phone data eg for maps etc.
What is the best way to get this?
presently I have a card in the ipad. Would this work in NZ and if so at what cosT?
Hi Franke,
I would suggest prepay mobile broadband could be an option for you. Below are the current options for Vodaphone and Telecom NZ.
Vodaphone sells a prepaid Vodem stick for $49 NZ which comes with 2GB of data preloaded to use within two months .
After that, you could then choose between purchasing a monthly allowance or using the daily casual rate.
Monthly allowances range from $10 for a further 100 MB up to $50 for a further 2GB. Alternatively you could choose to pay at the casual daily rate ranging from $1 for less than 0.2MB usage to $3 a day for 10MB usage.
Telecom NZ also offer prepaid mobile broadband. The Telecom T stick costs $79 and is ‘plug and play – no set up and includes a SIM card to connect to the XT network. It also comes with 2GB data allowance.
Once your initial 2GB has expired you will be charged at the casual rate of $1 day for your 1st 10MB and then $1 per MB thereafter.
Or you could subscribe to a Telecom prepaid monthly plan.
hello
i am an indian and will be traveling to new zealand for ten days in the month of february.
i am looking for internet plans while there and for that need help.
my requirements are
mobile internet preferrable and stick if mobile not available.
data requirement upto 10 gb
speed upto 1mbps
coverage in auckland rotorua wellington queenstown
Hi Hemant,
Telecom New Zealand offer 2GB of prepaid mobile broadband which lasts up to 30 days for $50. You can purchase online on their website. If you use more than 2GB of data you’ll automatically revert to the casual data rate of $1 a day for your first 10MB, then $1 per MB thereafter on the days you use more than 10MB. Alternatively you could easily subscribe to another 2GB option online.
Other companies such as Vodaphone and 2degrees may offer similar deals. You can check exact coverage on their websites.
According to a survey by Epitiro in 2011 the average download speed for mobile broadband in Auckland and Wellington for Telecom was 3.3 MBps. This compares to 2degrees at 2.7Mbps and Vodaphone at 4.1Mbps.
You can get 12GB at 2degrees with a download speed of 6-12 mbps for $99
Hi
Am moving into a house next week in Ross on the west coast.
It doesn’t seem to have a phone line into the property and as I only plan to be there for 4 months, am reluctant to pay to have one dug in. Internet however is quite important to us.
Any advice would be appreciated as I am unfamiliar with the NZ ISP system – Thanks
Hi Dan, the most cost effective solution would probably be mobile broadband. We don’t know anyone in the Ross area to ask about conditions there. Perhaps you could ask the person you’ll be renting from what the mobile coverage is like. The 3G mobile coverage maps from Telecom and Vodafone indicate that there’s no 3G at all:
http://www.telecom.co.nz/mobile/mobile/ournetwork/newzealandxtmobilecoverage/
http://www.vodafone.co.nz/coverage/
Coverage maps don’t look encouraging, even for 2G!
You could ask the question to a much broader selection of people on our forum, some of whom might have experience of internet in more remote areas. http://www.enz.org/forum/
Hi, is it possible to get an unlimited Internet connection here in New Zealand? Or is there always a maximum traffic limit?
Hi Fitra, Im American and I’ve lived and traveled around NZ for the past 2 years off and on. As far as I know, theres no unlimited connection. You have to subscribe/pay by usage. Also when you check into a hotel, always ask how much internet access they give free. Even in higher end hotels (over $ 250 per day) you get barely enough to check your e-mails (20 Mb/day is considered generous). However, if you ask for more when you book a room, you could get enough to at least check your news etc.
Hi, don’t know if this is still relevant, but Orcon now do an unlimited package for around $100NZ including their VOIP phone set up. Free upgrade to the ‘ultrafast’ network whenever Chorus & Co pull their fingers out and get digging!
Hi there,
I’m planning on coming to New Zealand for a month in February. I will be staying in Christchurch with my father who is currently working there. I teach online and will need to continue to do so while in Christchurch therefore will need reliable internet service.
My father uses the internet to Skype but says that it cuts out a lot during calls. He seems to think that this is something that is unavoidable in the area and that upgrading to a faster dial-up will not help. Some advice on the matter would be gratefully received
I don’t know which internet provider and package he has, but can find out if it helps in giving an answer.
Kind Regards,
Kirsty.
You probably don’t need to know this any more, but others may find the info. useful. I found Skype useless for conference calls by 3G, or landline ADSL. I nw use a co called all conference calls now. You have to pay, but it works.
Hi
Does anyone know if it is possible select a date for Telecom to connect phone and Internet service? We only need the service for 4 months but I can’t see any more cost effective way of getting a decent amount of Internet service, any other suggestions?
If you are staying in Rotorua : Internet is very erratic. I had NZ Telecom and got disconnected several times in an hour (making skype almost impossible). In Hastings/Taradale I had a fast and un-interrupted connection with Telecom in my Hotel, but the hotel owner said that it is impossible to get any tech-support from them.
Is there anyone besides FARMSIDE who provide satellite internet connections in the South Island – near Lake Coleridge?
Thanks
Hi Andrew,
Wirelessnation also have a satellite internet service. They offer various data packages and have three levels of pricing depending on the maximum upload/ download speed you choose.
I’ve updated the satellite internet table above with 2013 prices and a couple of their plans.
hi
iam a international student studying in auckland ,
1. i would like to know if there is any broadband services which is giving me 30 to 50 gb, my budget is less than $50.
2. i need a data plan for 1gb for my mobile for using internet, my budget is less than $ $50
Thank You
Hi,
These are the best I could find at the moment for broadband for around $50 a month:
Telstraclear has a 20GB package that costs $55 a month for Naked Broadband+ . This gives you maximum speed broadband and a phone line, without having to pay a fee for phone line rental.
Inspire offers a broadband ‘Bitstream’ plan at $50 a month for 20 GB of data.
For a mobile plan, Vodafone has a 2GB prepay stick for $69 with up to 2 months to use the data allowance. After that you can top up with 2GB more data for $50 per month.
Hi,
I am moving into a flat in auckland and need to find the best and cheapest deal for a landline, internet and freeview. I dont mind using separate if its cheaper that way.
Iv been searching the interenet but have had no luck so far understanding the details.
Hey Melissa – if your mobile phone is a Vodafone one, go with them for an extra discount on broadband. – I do that with a Vodafone Naked Broadband deal, but they do it for normal Broadband and phone packages too. http://www.vodafone.co.nz/broadband/
I had a M8 tell me the other day about something called VLP or VLS internet .. its meant to be 2-3 x faster than ADSL, Do you know anything about this and if so where i could get it . my M8 didn’t know to much about it..
Hi my name is Ronald and i will hopefully be immigrating to NZ in 4 months time, at home in Holland im used to a unlimited data transfer for the internet, complete plan for tv and telephone and I pay aprox €60.00 which is around $90.00 a month. what is the price for a equivelent plan in NZ? Who can advise me which providers there are that offer unlimited data in Auckland.
Hi Ronald,
Orcon have an unlimited broadband plan (12 month plan) which also includes national telephone calls for $99 a month. It is available in Auckland and they have an address checker on their website.
TV can be free with freeview or you can pay for packages from Sky TV.
Hello, awesome page mate, really informative.
Im hoping to move into a new place in rural Raglan soon (Whale Bay), and its imperative that I have internet access as im finishing a PhD. However the landlord wont put a phoneline in coz it will cost $1000 to install. Furthermore, there is only a tiny spot in the backyard that picks up vodafone coverage. As such, are those Farmside and Wireless Nation providers my only option? Cheers
Hi Jordan,
Farmside and Wireless Nation are the only satellite providers that we are aware of. You could ask in the forum at http://www.enz.org/forum and see if our members know of any other solutions.
HI
I will be based in New Zealand in Hawkes Bay. I require a high speed internet connection with download at 100mbps. Is it available in New Zealand.
Thanks
Hi there!
I’m from Argentina, about to go to NZ. I don’t understand about all theese internet plans.
If my plan is to move around the country, which type of connection do you recomend for laptops (I work online).
Thanks!
Hi Laura,
If you are moving around New Zealand then you would be best with a mobile broadband plan. Vodafone and Telecom are two internet providers who offer mobile. Prices will vary depending on usage, Telecom had a plan that starts at $30 a month for 750 MB of data.