Broadband internet: the best ways to get connected

For each connection type, we’ve indicated what you can expect from a typical plan under normal circumstances, but speeds vary considerably depending on several factors.

Speed

Data speed is measured in Mbps (megabits per second).

Usually, download speeds are faster than upload speeds. If you’re streaming video, a slow download speed can mean grainy pictures or the dreaded loading circle. You only need about 6Mbps to stream in 1080p HD and 25Mbps to stream in 4K. However, that speed needs to remain consistent, even when it’s competing with other internet demands in your home.

A 150Mbps connection can download about 1 gigabyte (GB) per minute (a GB is 8,000Mb).

• Movies: An HD movie is usually about 5GB, while a 4K movie is more like 20GB.
  
• Video games: Games vary wildly in file size, but the biggest are about 100GB.

Upload speed is most important if you’re doing video calling or playing online games.

If you’re curious about the speed you might get while streaming, there are websites that give good estimates. Popular choices include Fast.com and Speedtest.net.

Broadband types

Fibre

Named for the fibre-optic cable that delivers the signal, this tech is the fastest and most common broadband technology used throughout the country. It’s also called ultra-fast broadband (UFB).

Switch to fibre if you can. If the cable has been laid in your street but not connected to your home, you’ll need to sort that first. You can request connection either through your internet provider or directly from the network owner (Chorus in most cases).

Any house with a boundary within 200m of the road can get a free installation. The 200m is applied pro rata for residences with shared access. For example, three houses sharing a driveway can all be up to 600m from the road. Connections are usually free for residents of a multi-unit complex as well.

Because data moves through fibre-optic cables in the form of light, fibre broadband doesn’t suffer from network congestion. So, unlike with most competing technologies, it doesn’t matter if your neighbours use the internet at the same time you do. Your distance from the exchange also matters less, because fibre-optic cables only suffer from minor signal degradation.

Even the most basic fibre plan is twice as fast as the old copper-based internet, but for most households, it’s worth spending a bit more for a faster connection.

Typical plans

• Basic (50Mbps down,10Mbps up): $60/month
• Standard (300Mbps down, 100Mbps up): $80/month
• Max (900Mbps down, 500Mbps up): $100/month
• Super high-speed “Hyperfibre” plans are available at a premium price.

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Fixed wireless

The further you are from an urban area, the harder it is to connect to a physical network. Wireless broadband uses receivers and transmitters on hilltops to send data to and from homes.

Speeds vary greatly, from the speed of old copper-based internet to that of a regular fibre plan. However, wireless broadband suffers from network congestion if a lot of users are connected to the same transmitter.

Many wireless broadband plans come with data caps, so if you stream a lot of video or download video games, make sure you get a plan with unlimited data.

4G and 5G

The biggest wireless broadband providers are the mobile operators, who use their network of 4G and 5G cell towers to provide home broadband.

However, this kind of broadband can suffer the same coverage and connection issues as your mobile phone. If you get poor phone reception where you are, there’s a good chance 4G/5G broadband coverage will also be poor.

Prices for 4G and 5G broadband plans are low, partially because internet companies don’t have to pay a middleman to maintain a physical network of cables.

Local wireless (WISPs)

In sparsely populated regions, small local companies called wireless internet service providers (WISPs) offer local internet services that can perform better than cellular wireless from the major players.

Because each transmitter likely only services a handful of customers, rural broadband from a WISP can cost a bit more than 4G. However, WISPs tend to be much better at working with you on the ground to make sure you get a good service.

Setting up your home for non-cellular wireless broadband will likely cost you several hundred dollars because it requires an aerial on your roof and new wiring.

Typical plans

• 4G (50Mbps down, 15Mbps up): $50/month with 300GB data cap
• 5G (300Mbps down, 50Mbps up): $80/month
• WISP (100Mbps down, 10Mbps up): $120/month.

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Satellite broadband

Internet by satellite is an innovative and reasonably straightforward solution for remote households, but it’s not cheap.

Satellite broadband is mostly used to service rural customers who aren’t hooked up to the copper or fibre networks and don’t get good cellular coverage. Some service providers that advertise “rural broadband” are using satellite technology.

Starlink is the new player that has grabbed all the attention – it’s the first truly high-speed satellite broadband provider in New Zealand. It performs better than 4G wireless and is comparable with basic fibre.

Satellite has high latency delays while information travels to and from the satellite, which can cause issues with video calls or gaming. It can also be sensitive to congestion. Currently, the low number of customers means congestion isn’t a big problem. However, if more customers join Starlink over time, speeds could drop for everyone. Finally, set-up costs can be significant.

Residential plans

• Rural satellite (40Mbps down, 10Mbps up): $129/month
• Starlink Standard (200Mbps down, 30Mbps up): $159/month
• Starlink Lite (decreased speeds during busy times): $79/month.
  

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Cable (HFC)

Coaxial cable is a high-speed technology that competes with fibre. It’s only available in parts of the Canterbury and Wellington regions.

One NZ is the only company that offers cable plans, referring to them as HFC (hybrid fibre coaxial).

In optimal conditions, cable transfers data as quickly as high-speed fibre. However, it can suffer from congestion, so if a lot of people use cable in your area, speeds may decline at peak times.

On the other hand, HFC is extremely well priced.

Typical plan

• HFC (900Mbps down, 100Mbps up): $73/month.

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Copper (ADSL or VDSL)

DSL (digital subscriber line) uses copper lines. It’s the oldest form of broadband, essentially piggybacking on our old phone network.

Asymmetric DSL (ADSL) is slow and expensive, but its wide coverage means it can service rural areas that other broadband technologies cannot reach.

VDSL (very high bit-rate DSL) is faster than ADSL. However, because it has narrower coverage, it has become obsolete as customers can usually get better performance from either fibre or wireless internet.

The copper network is being retired so it’s challenging to get a new connection.

Typical plans

• ADSL (10Mbps down, 1Mbps up): $95/month
• VDSL (45Mbps down, 10Mbps up): $95/month.