How to Choose Your Internet Provider: Comparing NZ Broadband Providers

Choosing a broadband provider can be overwhelming, especially if you enjoy online gaming or work remotely. Online reviews are usually contradicting, and it's hard to find the best broadband deal that'll save you money in the long run.

Luckily, at Glimp, we've done your research for you. We'll share the top broadband providers in New Zealand that offer the best internet deals, and we'll give you tips on how to pick the right one for you.

Top NZ Internet Providers

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Here are some of the best broadband deals and broadband providers in New Zealand:

NOW

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NOW is one of New Zealand's oldest and most popular broadband service providers. It offers a wide range of broadband plans with different types of connections, including mobile, copper, wireless, and fibre connections.

They're also a popular rural broadband provider with award-winning service in remote areas that have trouble getting a strong broadband connection. This includes Hawke's Bay, Tauranga, Wellington and Rotorua.

One of NOW's best broadband deals is the Fibre 300 plan. This unlimited data broadband plan gives you fibre broadband speeds of up to 300/100 Mbps without data limits. NOW is currently offering a 50% discount on your monthly fees when you sign up for a fixed contract of 12 months.

When you compare broadband providers' annual costs, this is one of the cheapest broadband plans in New Zealand.

Spark

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Spark is another Kiwi-favourite broadband provider with excellent unlimited data broadband plans. They offer fixed and open-term contract deals, but fixed contracts have the most benefits.

Most of Spark's unlimited broadband plans come with free Standard Netflix and McAfee Security Standard subscriptions when you sign up for 12 months. Their Fibre 300 plan offers unlimited fibre broadband speed of 300/100 Mbps along with a free standard connection.

With Spark's Fibre 300 plan, you can connect multiple devices to your Wi-Fi simultaneously and enjoy gaming, streaming services, and video calls without having to worry about lag, latency, or speed fluctuations.

That's the great thing about a fibre connection, although not everyone has access to fibre yet, so you should check fibre availability in your area first.

Skinny

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Skinny is one of the best internet providers when it comes to naked broadband plans. They allow you to choose between fibre and wireless broadband plans without needing a home phone line.

They also offer one month free, zero connection fees, and a free modem (except shipping fees) when you sign up for a 12-month contract. However, as with most internet providers, you'll need to pay early termination fees if you decide to cancel your fixed-term contract.

Skinny offers $10 off of your broadband if you own an active mobile plan, so if you're thinking of getting one, it could save you more money.

Orcon

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If you're looking for fibre plans with average broadband speeds of 2,000 Mbps or more, you should check out Orcon's internet plans. They offer a hyper-fibre plan that reaches 7,700/7,200 Mbps data speeds without data caps. You also get a free router (you only pay for modem shipping).

It's perfect for power users that need a lightning-fast connection for video streaming, multiplayer online gaming, web browsing, and more!

However, bear in mind that hyper-fibre plans are much more expensive than wireless or regular fibre plans, so keep your budget in mind.

How to Choose Your Broadband Provider

Choosing a broadband provider is as easy as three simple steps. All you have to do is ask yourself three questions:

1. What Download and Upload Speeds Do You Need?

The first thing you need to know is what kind of broadband speed you need, which depends on your online activities.

For example, if all you do is basic video streaming, web browsing, and emailing, a simple ADSL broadband connection will do. ADSL connections will typically give you speeds of up to 24 Mbps.

If you need more juice for video conferencing and light online gaming, consider a wireless 4G or a regular fibre connection. This usually covers speeds of up to 50 Mbps.

However, if you choose a wireless connection, test your internet speed since it's affected by cell tower coverage in your area.

If you're regularly downloading large files or doing heavy multiplayer online gaming, you should consider ultra-fibre, fibre-max, or hyper-fibre connections, which give you speeds from 300 Mbps to over 8,000 Mbps.

2. What Kind of Internet Connection Do You Prefer?

Once you've decided what kind of speeds you need, the next step is to choose the type of connection you prefer.

For example, wireless and ADSL broadband plans give roughly the same speed, but wireless connections rarely require installation and messy wiring; you only plug in your router and go online.

Another example is fibre broadband. It's much faster and more reliable than most connections, but you'll need to schedule a visit from your local fibre company to have it installed. Depending on your provider, this can take days to a couple of weeks.

Also, if you live in a remote part of New Zealand, you'll likely have limited options and won't be able to get fibre. You must choose between rural broadband plans and satellite internet plans to get a fast, stable connection.

3. Which Broadband Provider Currently Has the Best Deal?

Once you've decided between broadband speeds and connection types, you'll need to compare broadband plans to find the best one that saves you time and money.

Some providers offer affordable unlimited broadband plans, while others are more expensive but give you free subscriptions and add-ons. You can use Glimp's broadband comparison tool to compare different offers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Average Broadband Speed in NZ?

New Zealand has the 20th fastest internet speed worldwide, with an average broadband speed of 214.47 Mbps.

Which NZ Internet Provider Is the Fastest?

It depends on the type of connection you choose, but Orcon and MyRepublic are generally considered the fastest, being among the top providers of hyper-fibre in NZ.

Conclusion

Choosing the right internet provider means understanding your internet needs and the connections available in your area. With the tips in this article, you can find the perfect provider and broadband deal to suit your needs and budget.

If you're still uncertain, check out broadband deals by any of the top providers mentioned above. You can't go wrong with them!