Skinny Broadband & Fibre Plans

​We review Skinny Broadband's 4G plans and weigh up the pros and cons of the service

Updated 6 April 2020

Owned by Spark, Skinny Broadband offers the best aspects of a full-service provider with the benefits of being low-cost service.

Offering both 4G plans (capped) and unlimited fibre (with download speeds as fast as 900 Mbps), Skinny Broadband has something to suit the needs and budgets of many New Zealanders. Best of all, there are a number of no-term options making Skinny Broadband more affordable. 

We review the price and benefits offered to find where Skinny Broadband shines. 
 
Our review covers:

• Prices and Plans
• Advantages and Disadvantages of Skinny Broadband's 4G and Fibre Plans
• Skinny Broadband 4G and Fibre Review - Our Verdict

Skinny Broadband and Fibre Review: Prices and Plans

Skinny's Fibre Plans

• Skinny offers four Fibre plans, known as Skinny Unlimited. Coverage includes Auckland, the greater Hamilton area, Palmerston North, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin and many other regional towns and cities.
• For each plan you have the choice to pay monthly or lock yourself into a 12-month term.
• Both options charge the same monthly fee and offer a free installation, but there are some differences:

1. 12-month term - you won't pay a connection fee, and the modem is free, but if you cancel before your term ends (or even switch to another Skinny plan), you'll pay a $199 termination fee.

Skinny Broadband 4G Plan Comparison

Skinny Direct Plan	Cost Per Month
Unlimited Fibre 30 (12 month plan)	$73
300 GB	$59
120 GB	$49
60 GB	$39

1. Prices correct as at 6 April 2020 per Skinny​

Skinny's Wireless 4G Broadband Plans

The Skinny Wireless 4G Broadband plans use Spark's 4G network. In general, depending on where you live, the speed should be higher than ADSL broadband but, in most situations, slower than Fibre. 

Skinny 4G Plans:

• Fixed data: Each plan has a fixed amount of data, as outlined in the table above.
• No contracts: There are no contracts; Skinny 4G customers pay monthly, and there is no connection or disconnection fee.
• Skinny's 4G connection is simple: Customers plug in the modem and turn it on for instant 4G connection. There are no wires, connect fees or technicians, and there delivery of the modem is free of charge. If you switch from Skinny, you get to keep the modem.

Broadband, TV, Phone and Mobile Bundles

Unlike most ISP and telco companies, Skinny doesn't offer any add-on items like phone or TV. The maximum you can pay is the plan price. 

Our view: Packages tying in Sky TV, phone services or other add-on products have not offered worthwhile discounts in the cases of Spark (Sky TV) and Stuff Fibre (phone). Skinny's focus on a no-frills broadband and fibre service means what you sign up for is what you'll pay. Unless you need a 24/7 sports channel or a home phone with unlimited calls, Skinny offers some of the best broadband and fibre deals within New Zealand. 

Skinny 4G Broadband and Fibre Review: Coverage

Fibre is progressively being rolled out around New Zealand, and currently is in every city. To find out if you can access Skinny's Fibre service, click on the broadband map and enter your address. Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch are extensively covered, but there are instances where fibre cables are yet to be laid in some neighbourhoods. If you don't yet have Fibre, then the 4G plans are the next-best-thing. 

Skinny 4G Broadband and Fibre Review: Performance

Skinny claims that its fibre can go as fast as up to 900Mbps (download) and up to 500Mbps (upload). As outlined above, fibre plans dictate what speed you'll get. 

When it comes to 4G, the speed depends on a few factors:

• Proximity to the closest Spark 4G tower - the closer you are, generally, the faster the speed
• The time of day - during heavy-use time, such as evenings, it may be slower than off-peak times (2am etc)
• Weather conditions - if it's raining, you'll likely lose some speed
• Where your modem is located - by a window, for example, is better than in a basement

We cited reviews online, where Skinny customers said that download speeds varied from 5 Mbps to 85 Mbps on any given day, but there are cases where it can be 2 Mbps if the network is congested. Skinny doesn't publish its 4G broadband speeds, so we have published the above information for guidance purposes only.

Skinny 4G Broadband and Fibre Review: Customer Support and Satisfaction

• Despite its comparative low pricing with other broadband and fibre providers, Skinny offers a 24/7 chat service (via its website) or a call centre (8am to 7pm, Monday to Friday, and 9am to 5:30pm Saturday and Sunday). 
• In the recent reviews MoneyHub cited, our research team noted positives such as instant connectivity (4G) and friendly customer service. However, there are continuous reports of frustration concerning the requirement for all Skinny 4G customers to use the Skinny modem.

 
Some complaints also concerned the process of getting connected. A lot of the issues are, in fairness, outside of Skinny’s control. We believe the same problems would arise regardless of who the fibre ISP was. We explain the process below. 
 
Getting Connected – What You Need to Know to Avoid Frustration

• If your property doesn’t have Fibre connected, Skinny, like all fibre ISPs, relies on working with the local fibre provider in your area.
• Once the fibre provider confirms and appointment, Skinny arranges to send their router so your technician has it on hand when they make the connection.
• If there is a limitation in local fibre technicians, which Skinny has no control over, your connection may be delayed. This would be the same whatever ISP you selected to sign up to.
• Be aware that the installation process will depend on the type of property you live in.

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Advantages and Disadvantages of Skinny 4G Broadband and Fibre

Advantages

1. Attractive Pricing - Skinny positions itself as value-for-money provider. With 60 GB for $39/month, and unlimited fibre plans starting from around $70, Skinny delivers value with reliability.
2. Phone Support - Despite no-frills pricing, Skinny's 0800 number answers between 8am and 7pm; Monday to Friday, and 9am to 5:30pm Saturday and Sunday. It also offers a 24/7 chat support service..
3. No risk of big bills - If you exceed your data on a 4G plan, there are no overage rates or charges on the account either so you will not be charged any extra. You can top up or re-purchase the plan to get back online. All fibre plans are unlimited, so there's no issue with additional bills.
4. 4G alternative to fibre - If your location isn't fibre ready, you can  are unable to  living outside of an area with fibre, Skinny offers fixed-price 4G data plans that are affordable and operate from the (reliable) Spark 4G network.

Disadvantages:

1. 4G broadband isn't portable - once you've registered your modem at an address, you won't be able to use it in another location. 
2. ​4G broadband requires you to use the Skinny modem - you won't be able to bring your own modem,  as Skinny 4G modems are made specially for Skinny (wireless) Broadband. This means you'll need to pay $99 upfront.

Skinny Broadband and Fibre Review: Verdict

1. Skinny Broadband brings a competitive 4G broadband and fibre connection with the unique selling point of offering a no-contract fibre plan.
2. With unlimited data and up to 900 Mbps speeds for less than $75/month, Skinny Broadband competes alongside Stuff Fibre when it comes to value for money.
3. While you can't choose unlimited data for a 4G package, 300 GB is a significant amount and should satisfy the demands of most households. 
4. Skinny Broadband keeps things simple - there are no TV add-ons, no music packages, no contracts. 
5. We believe the technical support offered is reasonable given the no-frills pricing. It's arguable that, alongside Stuff Fibre, Skinny Broadband offers some of the best-value fibre plans in New Zealand.

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