Gravity Broadband Review
We review Gravity broadband's four plans and outline the pros and cons of each, benefits and how to get the best price
Updated 6 June 2021
Summary:
How to get the best price on Gravity broadband plan:
Our review:
In this guide, we detail the pros and cons of all Gravity plans, compare the plans side-by-side, and outline those most suitable for Gravity for broadband. We cover:
- Gravity in a Nutshell: Gravity is a broadband provider that specializes in offering satellite services for Kiwis living off-the-grid
- Coverage: Thanks to its cutting-edge satellite technology, Gravity is able to offer its internet services even in the most remote places in New Zealand.
- Plans and Pricing: Gravity offers a total of 16 satellite broadband plans, however for your convenience we have grouped then according to their speed in 4 plans
- 5/0.5 Mbps Broadband Plans (starting from $79/month)
- 10/1 Mbps Broadband Plans (starting from $129/month)
- 20/2 Mbps Broadband Plans (starting from $179/month)
- 30/5 Mbps Broadband Plans (starting from $249/month)
How to get the best price on Gravity broadband plan:
- New Customers: Plans with Gravity are cheapest when you sign up for a 24-month contract and don't plan to change providers for at least 24 months (therefore saving on the installation fees as well as avoiding the early exit fee).
- Renewing: If you're happy with Gravity and would like to continue, the best approach is to compare the pricing when your contract comes up for renewal. If Gravity 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 Gravity plans, compare the plans side-by-side, and outline those most suitable for Gravity for broadband. We cover:
Christopher Walsh, Founder of MoneyHub, shares his views on comparing broadband providers:
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Gravity Broadband Set Up and Installation Charges
Know this first: When comparing broadband providers, service setup charges are an essential part of the deal. In the case of Gravity, the installation cost will depend on the type of contract you choose – the two contract choices are open term and 24-month fixed term. The differences in cost are significant:
Important:
- Open Term: When you select an open term plan, you must pay the full cost associated with installing the satellite dish and the modem/router. The standard cost is $1,999, however, you won’t have to pay any lease fee.
- Fixed Term (24 months): On the contrary, when you opt for the 24-month contract, you will only have to pay $495 for the installation, but you will also have to pay a lease fee of $19/month.
Important:
- Regardless of the type of contract, you will have to pay for the travel charges to your household
- The fixed-term contract has an early termination fee that can vary depending on the number of months remaining in your contract. For more information visit Gravity Terms and Conditions page.
Gravity Broadband Customer Service and Outage Support
- Gravity Customer Care Hours are 9 am - 7 pm, during weekdays and 11 am to 4:00 pm on weekends and public holidays. There's a free phone number as well as Helpdesk designed to assist you in case your internet is not working.
How fast is a Gravity broadband connection?
All the broadband plans offered by Gravity use the same satellite technology, however, the speed of the connection will depend on the plan you choose. In this sense, Gravity offers a "Premium Speed" which refers to the maximum download speed your premium data will be delivered at. Once you reach your data cap limit, the connection speed changes to what Gravity calls "Standard Speed", which offers unlimited data but 90% slower.
Premium Speeds:
Premium Speeds:
- Gravity’s 5/0.5: Up to 5Mbps download speed / 0.5Mbps upload speed (up to 0.5Mbps download speed once you reach your premium data cap)
- Gravity’s 10/1: Up to 10Mbps download speed / 1Mbps upload speed (up to 1Mbps download speed once you reach your premium data cap)
- Gravity’s 20/2: Up to 20Mbps download speed / 2Mbps upload speed (up to 2Mbps download speed once you reach your premium data cap)
- Gravity’s 30/5: Up to 30Mbps download speed / 5Mbps upload speed (up to 3Mbps download speed once you reach your premium data cap)
Comparing Gravity Plans - 5Mbps vs 10Mbps vs 20Mbps vs 30Mbps Satellite Plan
Gravity offers you a wide variety of data transfer and connection speed combinations. In total there are 16 combinations, however, to facilitate the selection process we have grouped them based on the connection speed in 4 plans, 5Mbps Plan, 10Mbps Plan, 20Mbps Plan, and 30Mbps Plan.
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Gravity 5Mbps Broadband Plans ReviewSummary: 5Mbps plans are the cheapest alternative to access Gravity's Satellite Internet. These plans offer adequate speed to meet the most basic needs in homes that do not require streaming video services or other activities that consume a lot of bandwidth.
The Pros:
The Cons:
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Gravity 10Mbps Broadband Plans ReviewSummary: 10Mbps plans offer a much better price/value ratio than 5Mbps plans, making them an ideal choice for Kiwis in need of ADSL-like connection speeds for basic/moderate online tasks
The Pros:
The Cons:
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Gravity 20Mbps Broadband Plans ReviewSummary: Gravity's 20Mbps plans provide adequate bandwidth for the most common online activities, including streaming services, light online gaming, video conferencing, and more. In short, these plans are ideal for families of all sizes, with moderate Internet usage needs.
The Pros:
The Cons:
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Gravity 30Mbps Broadband Plans ReviewSummary: 30Mbps plans offer higher speed than ADSL connections, which makes them a good alternative for both New Zealand families and professionals who constantly use online services that require high bandwidth
The Pros:
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Which Gravity Broadband Plan is the Best?
- Satellite broadband technology is notably more expensive than its fibre or DSL peers. That said, for many New Zealand households located in rural or remote areas, satellite broadband is a solution that allows them to stay connected.
- In our opinion, the 10Mbps/50GB plan ($89/month) offers the best price/value ratio for families and individuals who have a limited budget and do not need a lot of bandwidth.
- On the other hand, the 20Mbps/250GB plan ($199/month) provides a balance between speed and data for homes looking for a service that allows them to enjoy streaming services, online games, and other applications that demand more bandwidth.
Choosing the Right Gravity Plan - 5Mbps vs 10Mbps vs 20Mbps vs 30Mbps Satellite Plan
To determine which plan best suits your needs, consider the following specifications and features:
1. Connection Speed: In general terms:
2. Flexibility:
3. Set-Up Charges:
4. Monthly Costs: Gravity has many plans available, ranging from $79 to $319 per month. The final cost of the service will be determined by the amount of Premium Data and the Premium Speed you choose. In that regard, our opinion is that you should carefully evaluate your requirements for both bandwidth (speed) and data usage. For your reference, a service like Netflix can consume an average of 180GB/month (high-definition) or 420GB/month (ultra-high definition 4K).
1. Connection Speed: In general terms:
- 5Mbps Plans offer adequate bandwidth for families, couples, and individuals with basic needs including checking email, reading news, and watching occasional YouTube videos
- 10Mbps Plans these plans offer enough speed and bandwidth to enjoy video streaming services, as well as browsing the web and other moderate online tasks
- 20Mbps Plans These plans definitely provide the best performance/value ratio. Ideal for households looking for a service capable of handling bandwidth-hungry applications such as 4k video streaming, high-quality audio streaming, VoIP services, online gaming and more.
- 30Mbps Plans Although expensive, these plans are ideal for professionals who need the maximum connection speed available for their work.
2. Flexibility:
- As mentioned at the beginning of the guide, Gravity gives you 16 different premium speed/data combinations to choose from. Additionally, Gravity also allows you to choose between a 24-month plan or an open-term contract. All this flexibility allows you to create a "custom plan" that fits both your budget and your bandwidth needs.
3. Set-Up Charges:
- The setup charges used by Gravity clearly favours the 24-month fixed term contract.
- If you decide to opt for an open term contract, you will have to pay for everything from the satellite dish installation to the modem/router, all in all, $1,899.
- On the other hand, if you decide to sign up for the 24-month contract you only have to pay $495 for installation plus a fee of $19 per month for equipment leasing.
- However, If you sign up for a fixed term and terminate the contract before the agreed 24 month period, you will have to pay an early termination fee ranging from $1,000 to $250 depending on the number of months remaining in your fixed term contract
- Our view is simple - opting for the open term contract only makes sense if you are willing to use your own modem and don’t plan to be a customer within 24 months.
4. Monthly Costs: Gravity has many plans available, ranging from $79 to $319 per month. The final cost of the service will be determined by the amount of Premium Data and the Premium Speed you choose. In that regard, our opinion is that you should carefully evaluate your requirements for both bandwidth (speed) and data usage. For your reference, a service like Netflix can consume an average of 180GB/month (high-definition) or 420GB/month (ultra-high definition 4K).
Gravity Broadband Frequently Asked Questions
To help you decide if Gravity is right for your home, we've included several frequently asked questions to help you know more about the service.
Is Gravity available at my address?
Since Gravity offers a satellite broadband service, it has coverage throughout New Zealand without any problem.
Does Gravity offer a free modem?
No, Gravity does not offer a free modem. You can either lease it (along with the satellite dish) for $19 per month or buy the entire broadband satellite kit for $1,899
Does Gravity offer additional perks?
The only option available with Gravity broadband plans is adding a home phone line ($59 installation fee plus $29 per month)
Does Gravity offer an open term contract?
Yes, Gravity offers an open term contract, however, you will have to pay a hefty setup fee of $1,899
Who owns Gravity?
Gravity is owned by Gravity Internet Limited, an NZ Limited Company directed by its co-founder Timothy Johnson.
Does Gravity offer a home phone add-on with its broadband plans?
Yes – Gravity provides the option to include phone voice services in all its plans.
