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Farmside Broadband Review

​We review Farmside broadband's plans and outline the pros and cons of each, benefits and how to get the best price
Updated 28 March 2024

Summary: 
  • Farmside in a Nutshell: Farmside is a broadband provider that specializes in serving rural and hard-to-reach areas in New Zealand. To do this, it is supported by the telecommunications network of its parent company, One NZ, as well as specialized satellite services.
  • Coverage: Farmside provides broadband services to rural and remote areas of New Zealand.
  • Plans: Farmside have several plans. In this guide we have included their ADSL/VDSL Broadband Plans, RBI Wireless Broadband Plans and Fibre Broadband Plans , but they also offer Satellite Broadband/Phone Plans and plans dedicated to motorhomes and to people who live in Haast and the Chatham islands.

How to get the best price on Farmside broadband plan: 
  1. New Customers: Plans with Farmside are cheapest when you bundle the broadband service with a phone line, sign up for 24-months and don't plan to change providers for at least 24 months (therefore avoiding the early exit fee).
  2. Renewing: If you're happy with Farmside and would like to continue, the best approach is to compare the pricing when your contract comes up for renewal. If Farmside is offering a better deal than the renew rate, contact their support team and ask for them to apply it to your account.
 
Our review: 
In this guide, we detail the pros and cons of all Farmside plans, compare the plans side-by-side, and outline how to choose the right Farmside broadband plan for you. We cover:

Christopher Walsh, Founder of MoneyHub, shares his views on comparing broadband providers:

  • Broadband plans have never been cheaper or faster, thanks to a nationwide fibre rollout, more competition and better technology.
  • That being said, we believe what matters is reliability, speed, price and support.
  • Our best broadband providers guide and this review help you make an informed choice. Our research team is committed to keeping everything up to date so you can easily find the best deal. 
  • We don't publish complicated tables or tools for comparing broadband. Instead, we focus on making you aware of the best deals where the pricing is fixed for at least 12 months.
  • If you have something we need to know about, please contact our research team - we would love to hear from you.
  • Unlike other broadband comparison websites, we have no relationship with any broadband company, and we're proud that our guides are 100% independent.
Christopher Walsh
MoneyHub Founder

Farmside Broadband Plans, Setup Charges and Add-ons

Plan
Monthly Cost
Download Speed (Mbps)
Contract type
ADSL/VDSL Broadband ^Unlimited
$92
ADSL: 9.8 / VDSL: 42
Fixed
ADSL/VDSL Broadband
& Phone 80GB
$97
ADSL: 9.8 / VDSL: 42
Fixed
ADSL/VDSL Broadband
& Phone ^Unlimited
$107
ADSL: 9.8 / VDSL: 42
Fixed
RBI Wireless Broadband
200GB
$95.99
4G
Fixed
RBI Wireless Broadband
400GB
$125.99
4G
Fixed
RBI Wireless Broadband
& Phone 200GB
$105.99
4G
Fixed
RBI Wireless Broadband
& Phone 400GB
$135.99
4G
Fixed
Fibre Broadband
^Unlimited
$86
314
Fixed
Fibre Broadband
& Phone 110GB
$86
314
Fixed
Fibre Broadband
& Phone ^Unlimited
$96
314
Fixed
Know this first: All the prices quoted above are for 24-month plans. When comparing broadband providers, service setup charges are an essential part of the deal. In the case of Farmside, the installation cost will depend on the type of broadband technology used – the four choices are ADSL/VDSL, RBI (3G/4G wireless), Fibre, and Satellite. The differences in cost are quite significant: 
  1. Connection cost: The connection cost depends on the type of broadband you select. There is no cost for 4G wireless (other than the postage of the router), a standard installation costs $99, non-standard installation costs $199 and satellite installation costs $799, all of them plus travel costs. This page lists all of Farmside’s fees.  
  2. Modem cost: There is no cost for the modem in ADSL plans, you just need to pay a postage fee of $20.
  3. Exit Fees:  An early disconnection fee applies, depending on when you exit the contract. It can range from $20 to $265, as outlined in Farmside’s Broadband T&C’s.
  4. Discounts: You can save $10 when you bundle a Farmside Mobile Plan with your Farmside broadband.
  5. Data Cap: If your are on an ADSL, VDSL or Fibre capped plan, you will have to pay $2.00 per each additional GB consumed. If you are on a capped wireless plan and have reached your limit, you can purchase a data booster.
  6. Add-ons: If you are on a plan that includes a homeline, you can purchase national and international calling packs and additional features, the prices depend on your broadband plan. You can check the prices for the corresponding plan: ADSL plan, VDSL Plan, Fibre plan, Rural Wireless Plan.
Important: 

Farmside Broadband Customer Service and Outage Support

  • Farmside Customer Care Hours are 8 am -  7 pm, during weekdays and 9 am to 5:30 pm on weekends and public holidays. There's a free phone number as well as remote support designed to help you in case your internet is not working.

Comparing Farmside Plans - ADSL/VDSL vs RBI vs Fibre vs Satellite Plan

Farmside offers several plans, that for your convenience we have grouped in ADSL/VDSL Broadband/Phone Plans, RBI Wireless Broadband/Phone Plans, Fibre Broadband/Phone Plans, and Satellite Broadband/Phone Plans. We outline the offering of each, as well as the pros and cons. 

FarmSide ADSL/VDSL Broadband Plans Review

Summary: This plan offers the cheapest alternative to enjoying high-speed broadband internet in rural New Zealand households. It is ideal for light video streaming and basic/moderate web usage. 
  • Learn more: For more details regarding the ADSL/VDSL plans visit Farmside's ADSL and VDSL pages
 
The Pros: 
  1. Unlimited data transfer plans are available
  2. Phone landline plans are available
  3. You can add purchase additional phone functionality
  4. Cost-efficient high-speed broadband good for basic/moderate internet usage
  5. Free modem (you only the postage and handling fee)
 
The Cons: 
  1. By default, all ADSL/VDSL plans require signing up to a fixed-term contract. If you are interested in an open term contract then you will have to contact Farmside's sales team to discuss the conditions and rates of such a plan
  2. The capped plan could be somewhat limiting for large households
  3. If you cancel the contract before it ends, you will have to return the modem in addition to paying an early termination fee proportional to how early you terminated the contract, as outlined in Farmside’s Broadband T&C’s.
  4. ADSL/VDSL plans are not available in all areas. You can check availability by visiting Farmside's ADSL/VDSL page.

Farmside RBI Wireless Broadband Plans Review

Summary: Farmside's RBI Wireless Broadband plans give New Zealand households located in rural or hard-to-reach areas the opportunity to enjoy high-speed internet at a reasonable price.  
The Pros:
  1. Phone plans are available
  2. Cost-efficient high-speed broadband good for basic/moderate internet usage
  3. You can purchase additional data with their data booster packages. Special conditions and schedules apply.
  4. Free modem (you only pay a postage and handling fee)
 
The Cons:
  1. All RBI Broadband plans require signing up either a fixed-term contract. If you are interested in an open term contract then you will have to contact Farmside sales team to discuss the conditions and rates of such plan.
  2. If you cancel the fixed-term contract before it ends you will have to pay an early termination fee that depends on the months remaining on your fixed term agreement. For more details read Farmside Terms & Conditions.
  3. RBI Wireless Broadband plans are not available in all areas. You can check availability by visiting Farmside RBI Wireless Broadband page.

Farmside Fibre Broadband Plans Review

Summary: Where available, FarmSide’s Fibre Broadband Plans offer the fastest connection speed ideal for audio/video streaming, content creation, gaming, and other bandwidth-intensive applications.   
The Pros: 
  1. Unlimited data transfer plans are available
  2. Fast and reliable fibre broadband, excellent for all types of users
  3. Offers the best price/value ratio within Farmside plans
  4. Cost-efficient high-speed broadband excellent for moderate/heavy internet usage
  5. Free modem (you only pay the postage and handling fee)
  6. Free standard installation
 
The Cons: 
  1. By default, all Fibre broadband plans require signing up to a fixed-term contract. If you are interested in an open term contract then you will have to contact FarmSide sales team to discuss the conditions and rates of such plan
  2. The capped plan could be somewhat limiting for large households
  3. If you cancel the fixed contract before it ends you will have to pay an early termination fee, read Farmside Terms & Conditions
  4. Fibre broadband plans are not available in all areas. You can check availability by visiting Farmside Fibre Broadband page

Farmside Satellite Broadband Plans Review

Summary: This plan is ideal for Kiwis living in remote areas of New Zealand who require reliable broadband service for leisure or work.

Farmside Haast Broadband Plans Review

Summary: This special plan developed by Farmside gives Haast residents the opportunity to enjoy rural broadband connections at home. 

FarmSide Motorhome Broadband Plan Review

Summary: Developed for motorhomes, this plan provides motorhomes and boats with an adequate amount of data for basic internet functions.

Which Farmside Broadband Plan is the Best?

Not all plans offered by Farmside are available throughout New Zealand. However, it is our opinion that the plan that offers the best price/value ratio is the Fibre Broadband Unlimited plan. If a fibre connection is not available at your location, then our suggestion is opting for the RBI Wireless Broadband 200GB, and if that’s not suitable then you could go for the ADSL/VDSL Broadband Unlimited plan. If you need a homeline, all of those plans have an "& phone" option.

Choosing the Right Farmside Plan - ADSL/VDSL vs RBI vs Fibre vs Satellite Plan

To determine which plan best suits your needs, consider the following specifications and features:
 
1. Connection Speed: In general terms:
  • ADSL/VDSL Plans offer adequate connection speed for families, couples, and individuals with basic/moderate needs including checking email, reading news, watching YouTube videos, light video streaming from services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+ etc and browsing the web.
  • RBI Wireless (4G) Plans overall, these plans offer similar speeds than their ADSL/VDSL counterparts but their setup is much easier. So, depending on the strength of the wireless signal, you can expect similar results when streaming videos and browsing the web.
  • Fibre Plans hands downs, this is the go-to option for enjoying 4k video streaming, high-quality audio streaming, VoIP services, content creation, gaming, and more.
  • Satellite Plans given its high cost and limits on data transmission, this plan should be used only for basic tasks such as browsing news, checking email, and perhaps occasionally watching YouTube videos.

2. Flexibility:
  • Given the nature of the plans offered by Farmside, most of them require contracting the service for a minimum period of 12 or 24 months. This greatly limits flexibility, although this should not be an issue for homes in the most remote parts of New Zealand.
 
3. Set-Up Charges:
  • The total cost for equipment and installation of broadband service depends largely on the type of technology used. Thus, this cost can vary from hundreds of dollars (in the case of ADSL/VDSL and Fibre connections) to thousands of dollars (in the case of satellite services). Unfortunately, if you live in hard-to-reach areas, your options in this regard will be quite limited.
 
4. Monthly Costs: If you live in a remote area of New Zealand you may not have much control over which plan to join, as you will have to choose from the options available at your location. However, as a general rule, you should favour plans in the following order: fibre, RBI (wireless), ADSL/VDSL and satellite as the last option.

Farmside Broadband Frequently Asked Questions

To help you decide if Farmside is right for your home, we've included several frequently asked questions to help you know more about the service.​

Is Farmside available at my address?

Farmside specializes in providing broadband and phone services to rural areas of NZ - you'll need to type in your address to see if you're covered. You can do that here under See Availability.

​Does Farmside offer a free modem?

Yes, FarmSide offers a free modem with its Fibre, RBI Wireless and ADSL/VDSL plans. However, you will have to pay equipment and installation fees for satellite, and special broadband plans.

Does Farmside offer additional perks?

There are no benefits in kind, but you have the option to add a phoneline to your plan.

Does Farmside offer an open term contract?

FarmSide's broadband plans require you to sign up a fixed-term contract. However, some plans (like ADSL/VDSL, fibre, and RBI plans) allow you to discuss a possible open term contract with FarmSide’s sales team.

Does Farmside offer discounts for broadband plans?

Yes - you can save money when you bundle a Farmside Mobile Plan with your Farmside broadband

Who owns Farmside?

FarmSide is owned and partially operated by One NZ.

Does Farmside offer a home phone add-on with its broadband plans?

Yes – Farmside provides the option to include phone voice services, either wired or wireless, in all its plans.
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