Which mobile company for remote areas and best deal with them

Sickman on 07/12/2016 - 08:15
Last edited 07/12/2016 - 08:16

Hi,
I am moving from Oz to Wanaka, NZ. I have not been back in for 7 years so out of touch with all things NZ mobile.
Does Telecom (Spark) still have the best remote areas coverage in NZ as I am a tramper/kayaker. What is the best deal to get on their network, use Skinny or Slingshot? I might go prepaid for a while and then maybe go on to plan later.

Who do you recommend for house internet. I see Slingshot have a $59/month unlimited fibre 100 deal going at the moment which seems pretty good as I have fibre to my house in Wanaka

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  • [Deactivated] on 07/12/2016 - 09:20
    +1

    Spark's coverage is generally better then Vodafone's in my understanding. I think 2Degrees still hangs off vodafone + has it's own towers so it might be better (and cheaper). I'm with Warehouse Mobile which hangs of 2Degrees so I think I can connect to both vodafone and 2 Degrees towers. https://warehousemobile.co.nz/coverage/ reckon they cover wanaka.

    For house internet, Bigpipe with one of those 1 month free + no connection free promotions.

  • Kiwi on 07/12/2016 - 08:40

    Welcome back. You seem like you've done a pretty thorough search for what is available.

    One thing I might suggest as far as mobile providers go could be to just grab a sim from each of the bigger 3 and test out coverage where you are. Telecom used to have the best coverage, but it's hard to say now, they all seem pretty on par. The benefit of 2Degrees is being able to use their own network plus free roaming on the Vodafone network. Skinny Mobile uses the Telecom network, can grab a sim from there pretty cheap to test it out. 2Degrees currently have a promo where you can get a free sim delivered: https://www.cheapies.nz/node/9260 and Vodafone will probably sell you one for $5. Have found that 'coverage checkers' aren't always accurate either, hence recommending some real world testing to find what works.

    As for the internet, the Slingshot deal is currently the best available, as long as you meet this:

    Address must have an existing fibre connection.

    • [Deactivated] on 07/12/2016 - 09:22

      The benefit of 2Degrees is being able to use their own network

      They used to (might still do) also use Spark's network for some coverage. Just googled and it appears I'm getting confused with Vodafone.

    • wearnes on 07/12/2016 - 09:40

      Agreed, although worth noting that the slingshot deal has an extra charge -$35 i think- for contract+modem that is unavoidable.

      Personally i have had 2degrees and changed networks because of signal loss while traveling around the country. My presonal preference solely based on network coverage is spark.

      Also Slighshot has some pretty good monthly bundle mobile deals that can be had, and they use the spark network.

  • Wellington on 08/12/2016 - 12:07

    In my personal experience Spark (and by connection Skinny) have the best remote "useable" coverage. Not tested it in Wanka before though so wouldn't be able to say regarding down there.

  • Michelle on 09/12/2016 - 09:23

    Last time I rolled through Wanaka they had Gigatown internet. I'm an hour away and I'm stuck on rural vodaphone. If I were you i'd take advantage of that amazing internet.
    2Degrees for my cellphone 19dollar carry over prepaid, don't have any reception issues even going bush. Other than the odd cutout in Dipton or through the mountains. 2degrees have a coverage map you plug your address in Here

  • Sickman on 09/12/2016 - 23:31

    Thanks for your help everyone. That confirms that I should get a mobile plan that uses the Spark network so I get the best coverage.
    I am moderate internet user so that Slingshot unlimited fibre is probably a bit more than I need but great deal for me since I have fibre.

    • Rowjo on 10/12/2016 - 00:27

      I was looking at wanaka on chorus and it showed none of the places I checked had fibre (all close to cbd).. Maybe it doesn't show available if they don't have the cable installed?

      • Sickman on 10/12/2016 - 10:29

        Strange, my house in Wanaka has fibre as my renters have been using it and there is chorus star box in the garage. In a new sub division thou

    • Jeffcan on 09/12/2016 - 23:56
      -3

      Good to hear you are getting some good advice. Amazing you found this site too.
      There is a really good internet offer from FLIP @ https://www.cheapies.nz/node/9285
      They offer a Adsl speed but you also get a Homeline AND it gives you free National NZ calling -$59.95 p/m amazing eh?

      Unless you really need Fibre for business downloads and large uploads ADSL speed does me fine and the 100GB per month is carry over..

      All the best.

      • Wellington on 10/12/2016 - 15:10
        +1

        Really wouldn't get ADSL if you had the choice of Fibre….

        • Rowjo on 10/12/2016 - 20:51

          I still wouldn't go with ADSL, even if there was no fibre. If the copper line is half decent VDSL can achieve speeds greater than fibre 30 (they're the same price, ~$10 more than ADSL/month). I mean who can be bothered with streams buffering (even on the lowest quality sometimes) and downloads taking forever, then then the speed being even more abysmal with any more than two people connected. Oh, great memory of ADSL.

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