For many New Zealand households, fibre is now the default choice for broadband. But with the rollout of 5G continuing across the country, fixed wireless broadband is becoming an increasingly useful alternative, especially for homes where fibre isn't available or for people whose internet needs don't necessarily require a fixed fibre connection.
New Zealand has also moved firmly beyond the old generations of mobile technology. The country's 3G networks have now been shut down, while 4G has become the established standard for mobile and wireless connectivity. At the same time, 5G coverage continues to expand, with 5G fixed wireless broadband now available from several providers in parts of towns and cities across the country. Spark, One NZ and 2degrees all offer fixed wireless services using their 4G and/or 5G networks.
Fixed wireless broadband uses a mobile network to deliver your home internet connection rather than a physical fibre or copper cable running to your property.
Instead of connecting your home to the fibre network, a wireless modem connects to a nearby mobile network using 4G or 5G. The modem then provides Wi-Fi throughout your home, just like a conventional broadband connection.
The important distinction is that this isn't simply using your phone as a hotspot. A fixed wireless broadband service uses a dedicated home modem and is generally tied to a particular address.
5G was initially concentrated in larger centres, but availability has continued to expand. One NZ, for example, currently lists 5G broadband availability across parts of Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Tauranga, Whangārei, Hamilton, Queenstown, Rotoruaand a number of smaller centres. Availability is address-specific, however, so seeing 5G coverage in your town doesn't necessarily mean a 5G broadband plan is available at your home.
Providers are also increasingly combining 4G and 5G technology within their wireless broadband offerings. Spark, for example, currently offers wireless plans using its 4G and 5G networks, with availability and the technology used determined by the customer's address.
This means that 4G and 5G fixed wireless are no longer niche technologies. They are now established broadband options worth considering alongside fibre, particularly where fibre isn't available.
At Broadband Compare, we continue to regard fibre as the best form of broadband connectivity for most households where it is available.
Fibre provides a dedicated physical connection to your property and generally offers the best combination of speed, capacity and consistency. If fibre is available at your address and you're looking for a high-performance connection for a busy household, gaming, large downloads, streaming or multiple simultaneous users, we'd generally recommend comparing fibre plans first.
But "best" doesn't mean "best for everyone."
There are plenty of circumstances where 4G or 5G wireless broadband can make sense.
Wireless broadband can also be particularly convenient because installation can be very simple. Providers such as One NZ and 2degrees describe their wireless services as essentially plug-and-play, although the actual experience depends on the network coverage and signal available at your address.
One thing worth remembering is that 5G on the label doesn't guarantee a particular speed.
Wireless performance depends on factors including your location, distance from the cell site, buildings and terrain, the capability of the network and how busy the cell site is. The Commerce Commission notes that these factors can create localised coverage differences, while providers also caution that actual speeds can vary.
So don't choose a plan simply because it says "5G".
Look at the actual advertised or expected speeds, data allowance, fair-use conditions, price and availability at your address.
Don't write off 4G.
For many households, a good 4G fixed wireless connection can provide perfectly adequate broadband for everyday activities such as browsing, social media, video calls and streaming.
Some providers now offer wireless plans where the technology used depends on what's available at your address, meaning you may not necessarily need to make a choice between 4G and 5G yourself.
The important thing is whether the service meets your requirements.
The biggest difference between fibre and wireless broadband is that availability and performance are particularly address-dependent for wireless services.
Two houses a few streets apart could potentially have very different wireless options depending on their relationship to the local mobile network.
That's why it's worth checking your specific address rather than relying on a general coverage map.
At Broadband Compare, you can enter your address and compare the broadband options available to you, including fibre and fixed wireless plans. We can then match the plans against factors such as speed, data requirements, contract terms and price.
Fibre remains our preferred choice where it's available, but broadband is increasingly about having more than one option.
4G fixed wireless is an established alternative, while 5G is bringing higher-capacity wireless broadband to more parts of New Zealand. If fibre isn't available at your property, or you simply don't need a fixed fibre connection, 5G or 4G fixed wireless could be a perfectly good broadband solution.
The key is not choosing the technology with the biggest number on the box. Choose the connection that provides the right combination of speed, data, reliability and price for the way you actually use the internet.
