Top Tips On Comparing Broadband Plans

With so much jargon associated with different broadband deals, it can be difficult to know which one is best for you. You might already know that broadband is sold on the basis of the speed at which its services are delivered, measured in megabits per second (Mbps). There is a wide range of broadband deals available, and the choice you make will largely depend on your household’s individual needs. Before you make a decision, you need to understand the specifics and compare broadband providers that offer the best broadband deal for your needs.

The best broadband deals are not always either the fastest or the cheapest, and you have to balance out the needs in your household with speed, reliability, data caps, term, and pricing of different plans offered by various providers.

Needs and wants

Let’s first talk about your household’s broadband needs. Does every family member enjoy streaming TV shows and movies? Do people stream at the same time or different times (peak periods)? How often do you contact loved ones using video calling? Or do you mainly use the internet for emails or working from home?

Broadband Connection Types*

1. Standard ADSL broadband is delivered over legacy Chorus copper networks, and is sufficient for those who mainly use the internet to check emails and watch the odd movie. ADSL may not be suitable if you live in a more rural area, or live with users who stream a lot of online content and games simultaneously. Compare ADSL broadband plans.
2. VDSL is delivered over the Chorus copper network, and is now available to 80% of New Zealand homes. VDSL offers a faster and more reliable internet experience than ADSL, supporting HD video streaming, video calling with apps like Skype and uploading large files. Compare VDSL broadband plans.
3. Fibre is delivered over newly built fibre optic cables, and comfortably supports a range of online activities with added capacity and reliability. It’s great for households with multiple people using the internet at the same time. It is currently available in many urban areas around New Zealand, however a planned completion of the fibre rollout is targeting the end of 2022. Compare Fibre broadband plans.
   1. Fibre+/Hyperfibre/UltrafastHFC are all different brand names by different providers, and this connection is delivered over the fibre network but with technology that enables even faster speeds. This connection supports all online activities that standard fibre broadband does but offers upto 40x faster speeds and with much more data capacity. It’s great for businesses and households with very high data use.
4. Wireless is delivered over 4G mobile networks, and the router comes with a pre-installed SIM card that’s ready to go without any digging and cabling. However, depending on the number of people in your area using the network, internet use can be affected by mobile network congestion due to the shared connection.
5. Naked Broadband refers to an internet connection without a home phone, and is available with most connection types.

Compare Broadband Plans in NZ

Once you have identified your household’s broadband needs, PocketWise makes it easy to compare broadband providers and their plans, as well as any specials that are on offer. To find out more about a specific package for your needs, compare the best NZ broadband plans on PocketWise, where you’ll find all the information you need. The choice you make largely depends on your budget and your individual needs, and there are a number of options available to you in terms of speed, prices and services.

* https://www.chorus.co.nz/

Happy comparing,

The PocketWise Team