Back to blog categoriesContact Energy Broadband Review - Everything You Need to Know Before Switching
Aug 02, 2023
Broadband
Contact Energy is one of New Zealand's top broadband and power providers. They're famous for their internet and power plans which are bundled into one utility bill, saving Kiwis time and money!
However, Contact Energy isn't for everyone. Before switching to this broadband provider, take a look at all the plans, pros, and cons covered in this Contact Energy review.
We'll go over everything you need to know, from pricing to customer service hours, so you can make an informed decision!
Contact Energy Broadband Overview
Contact Energy offers several broadband plans with different connections, speeds, and affordable prices. They give you the option to bundle your broadband and power, which gets you an NZ $10 discount on your internet plan.
All of their plans are open-term contracts, meaning you can pay month-by-month and don't have to worry about long-term commitment. You can also cancel anytime you want without having to pay early exit fees, unlike with other NZ broadband providers.
Contact Broadband Plans
Contract Energy offers only wireless and fibre broadband plans. Here's a breakdown of their broadband deals.
Wireless Broadband Plans
Contact Energy offers two wireless broadband plans over their 4G wireless network. They have cell towers throughout New Zealand, providing a powerful Wi-Fi signal even in remote parts of the country.
Contact Energy's wireless plans don't allow you to bring your own modem and don't come with a VoIP service, unlike their fibre broadband service.
However, the great thing about a wireless broadband connection is that you don't need to wait for a technician to visit your home. There's no complicated installation process. All you have to do is plug in your modem, download the Contact Energy app, and connect your devices to the internet.
Here are the two Contact Energy wireless plans:
4G Wireless 300GB
The first Contact broadband plan is the 4G Wireless 300GB, which offers 4G speeds of up to 37/18 Mbps. It's perfect for small households that don't have too many devices connected simultaneously.
With this 4G internet speed, you can do basic web browsing and stream movies and videos in HD quality without worrying about lag or buffering. However, you won't be able to stream as much as you'd like because of the 300 GB data cap.
This plan costs NZ $65/month, and when you sign up, you get a free modem (you only pay NZ $14.99 for shipping and handling).
4G Wireless Unlimited
The 4G Wireless Unlimited Plan gives you the same upload and download speeds as the previous plan (37/18 Mbps). However, the main difference is that this plan comes with unlimited data allowances, meaning you don't have to worry about conserving your usage.
It can accommodate small to medium households, and you'll be able to download medium-sized files relatively quickly.
The 4G Wireless Unlimited plan costs NZ $75/month, which is just NZ $10 more than the 300 GB plan. You'll also get a free modem, and you'll only pay the NZ $14.99 shipping fee.
Fibre Broadband Plans
If you're looking for faster download and upload speeds and a stable connection that doesn't rely on cell towers, check out Contact Energy fibre broadband plans. Contact offers two fibre broadband plans: Fast Fibre and Max Fibre.
With both plans, you can bring your own modem, or you can opt for a free one and pay $14.99 for shipping. You can also sign up for their VoIP service for an additional NZ $10/month.
Fast Fibre
The Fast Fibre plan is one of Contact Energy's most popular broadband plans. It offers unlimited download and upload speeds of 315/109 Mbps, which is perfect for medium to large households with several devices online simultaneously. You can stream videos in 4K quality, game online, and download large files in minutes!
The Fast Fibre plan costs NZ $80/month, which is just NZ $5 more than the unlimited wireless plan but about 8.5 times faster!
Max Fibre
If you want even faster fibre speeds, check out Contact Energy's Max Fibre plan. It gives you unlimited broadband speeds of up to 877/496 Mbps, which is fast enough to power large households and even small businesses!
You'll be able to enjoy multiplayer online gaming with virtually no lag or latency and stream live videos in 4K.
The Max Fibre plan costs NZ $95/month, making it the most expensive Contact Energy plan but also the fastest!
Contact Energy Broadband Pros and Cons
Pros
- Excellent cell tower coverage for 4G networks
- Offers lightning-fast fibre broadband services
- Excellent broadband and power reviews online
- Offers bundled discounts for broadband and power
Cons
- Only offers wireless and fibre broadband (no satellite or copper-based connections)
- Doesn't allow you to use your own router with wireless plans
Contact Energy Broadband Customer Service
Contact Energy has a top-notch NZ-based customer service team. They're available on weekends and weekdays to answer questions and resolve issues. They also have a free phone number you can call if your network ever goes out.
They are available from 7 AM to 7 PM on weekdays and from 8 AM to 5 PM on weekends. You can also check out their comprehensive FAQs page, which covers most inquiries you might have.
Is Contact Energy Broadband Right for You?
Source: DepositPhotos
It depends on cell tower coverage and fibre availability in your area. If you live in a remote part of NZ where you don't get decent 4G cell reception, Contact Energy's wireless plans might not be for you.
Similarly, if your address doesn't have the necessary fibre infrastructure, you won't be able to join any fibre broadband plans, even by other broadband providers.
Before choosing between plans, check if you can get fibre at your location. You can also test your current internet speed to get a sense of how well your wireless broadband coverage will be.
If you feel Contact Energy isn't for you, use Glimp's broadband-compare tool to see the top broadband deals in NZ.
Conclusion
Contact Energy offers affordable, top-notch broadband services that beat most internet providers in New Zealand. However, they only specialise in wireless and fibre connections.
So if that's what you're looking for, Contact Energy is definitely worth checking out!
