Spark Broadband Review
We review Spark broadband's six plans and outline the pros and cons of each, benefits and how to get the best price.
Updated 18 July 2021
Summary:
How to get the best price on Spark broadband plan:
Our review:
In this guide, we detail the pros and cons of all Spark plans, compare the plans side-by-side, and outline how to choose the right Spark broadband plan for you. We cover:
- Spark in a Nutshell: Spark is the largest broadband provider in New Zealand with over 41% market share. As such, it specializes in providing all kind of broadband solutions to kiwis, ranging from traditional ADSL/VDSL to HyperFibre to cutting-edge 5G wireless broadband.
- Coverage: Spark provides broadband services nationwide, including some rural and remote areas of New Zealand.
- Plans and Pricing: Spark offers a total of 18 plans, which we have grouped according to the broadband technology used:
- ADSL/VDSL Broadband Plans (starting from $99.99/month)
- Standard Fibre Broadband Plans (starting from $66/month)
- Fibre Max Broadband (starting from $90/month)
- 4G Wireless Broadband Plans (starting from $65/month)
- 5G Wireless Broadband Plans (starting from $75/month)
- Spark also offers special Rural Wireless Broadband Plans (starting from $95.99/month)
How to get the best price on Spark broadband plan:
- New Customers: Plans with Spark are cheapest when you sign up for open-term and have a low/moderate bandwidth usage; that way, you can get the most out of Spark’s flexible pricing structure.
- Renewing: If you're happy with Spark and would like to continue, the best approach is to compare the pricing when your contract comes up for renewal. If Spark offers 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 Spark plans, compare the plans side-by-side, and outline how to choose the right Spark broadband plan for you. We cover:
Christopher Walsh, Founder of MoneyHub, shares his views on comparing broadband providers:
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Spark Broadband Set Up and Installation Charges
Know this first: When comparing broadband providers, service setup charges are an essential part of the deal. In Spark’s case, the installation cost will depend on the type of contract you choose – the two contract choices are open term and 12-month fixed term. The differences in cost are significant:
Important:
- Open Term: When you select an open term plan, you must bring your own modem (BYO) or purchase one from Spark at an additional cost.
- Fixed Term (12 months): On the contrary, when you opt for the 12-month contract, you will only have to pay a small modem postage and handling fee since the modem rent is completely free.
- Installation fees: Most Spark ADSL, VDSL, Fibre, and Wireless plans have no set up fees. However, if your household does not have a copper/fibre connection or you live in a remote area that requires an antenna, additional fees will apply.
Important:
- Spark broadband availability varies depending on New Zealand’s area where you live; you can check broadband availability by visiting the Spark website.
Spark Broadband Customer Service and Outage Support
- You can contact Spark Tech Wizards from 7 am - 8 pm, any day of the week. There is a Live Chat and free phone number designed to help you if your internet is not working. Outside of those hours, you can contact Spark via Tech Wizard email.
- It is worth mentioning that Spark also offers a special membership called Tech Wizard Support ($15/month for 12 months) that includes services such as helping you set up Smart TVs, install your own modem, storing information online, playing videos, setting up your home network, enhancing network security & performance, and more.
How Fast is a Spark Broadband Connection?
The speed of your internet connection will be determined by the type of line available in your area. Depending on your location, Spark may have ADSL, VDSL, Fibre, HyperFibre, or 4G/5G Wireless broadband available. Below is a reference of what to expect from each line:
- Spark’s ADSL Speed: Up to 24Mbps download speed / 1Mbps upload speed
- Spark’s VDSL Speed: Up to 70Mbps download speed / 10Mbps upload speed
- Spark’s 4G/5G Wireless Speed: Depending on the signal strength and other limiting factors 4G/5G is typically faster than ADSL/VDSL connections
- Spark’s Standard Fibre Speed: Up to 100Mbps download speed / 20Mbps upload speed
- Spark’s HyperFibre Speed: Up to 900Mbps download speed / 400Mbps upload speed
Comparing Spark Plans - ADSL/VDSL vs Standard Fibre vs Fibre Max vs 4G Wireless vs 5G Wireless vs Rural Broadband Plan
Spark offers 3 fixed-line broadband plans and 3 wireless broadband plans that we have grouped into Naked ADSL/VDSL Unlimited Broadband Plans, Unplan Fibre Broadband Plans, Unplan Fibre Max Broadband Plans, Unplan (4G) Wireless Broadband Plans, 5G Discover Wireless Broadband Plans, and Rural Wireless Broadband Plans. We outline the offering of each, as well as the pros and cons.
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Spark Naked ADSL/VDSL Unlimited Broadband Plans ReviewSummary: This plan is a good alternative to enjoying unlimited broadband internet without worrying about data cap limits, ideal for light video streaming and basic/moderate web usage.
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Spark Unplan Fibre Basic & Fibre 100 Broadband Plans ReviewSummary: Spark standard fibre plans offer enough speed to please even the most demanding Kiwi household, making them an excellent choice for large families, developers, and content creators
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Spark Unplan Fibre Max Broadband Plans ReviewSummary: Unplan Fiber Max offers ultra-fast broadband, making it an ideal choice for content creators, developers and large families looking for a plan capable of handling large amounts of data regardless of the number of connected devices.
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Spark Unplan Wireless 4G Broadband Plans ReviewSummary: All Wireless plans use Spark's incredible 4G platform, so they offer amazing speeds. In most cases, speeds are much higher than that offered by ADSL plans. For this reason, Wireless 4G plans can be an interesting alternative to have fast and uncomplicated access to high-speed broadband.
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Spark Unplan Wireless 5G Discover Broadband Plans ReviewSummary: Spark's 5G technology promises to deliver speeds that were previously only possible with fibre connections, but with the convenience that only wireless plans can offer. This makes the 5G Discover Plan ideal for families looking for a simple solution to their high-speed broadband needs.
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Spark Naked Rural Wireless Broadband Plans ReviewSummary: As their name suggests, Spark’s Rural Wireless broadband plans offer a straightforward solution for kiwis living in remote areas of New Zealand by providing them with fast 4G connections in their households.
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Which Spark Broadband Plan is the Best?
- Not all plans offered by Spark are available throughout New Zealand. However, our opinion is that the Unplan Fibre 100 Broadband plan offers the best price/value ratio.
- If a fibre connection is not available at your location, our suggestion is to opt for the Unplan Wireless 4G Broadband plan. And ultimately, for remote areas of New Zealand without fibre or ADSL/VDSL lines, we suggest the Rural Wireless Broadband 160GB plan.
Choosing the Right Spark Plan - ADSL/VDSL vs Standard Fibre vs Fibre Max vs 4G Wireless vs 5G Wireless Broadband 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: As mentioned repeatedly, Spark’s pricing structure is one of its biggest advantages. The tiered pricing system offers great savings, even for people who work from home and make extensive use of the internet since it only considers the bandwidth used during the month. This is how Spark can offer really competitive rates, both in fibre plans and in wireless plans, which works to customers' benefit.
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.
- Wireless 4G Plans have the potential to offer much higher speeds than their ADSL/VDSL counterparts. Depending on the wireless signal’s strength, you can expect better results when streaming videos and browsing the web.
- Wireless 5G Plans are the future of telecommunications. Depending on signal strength, they can offer broadband speeds on par with Fibre Max plans meaning they can easily handle multiple Netflix 4K screens, as well as almost any bandwidth-hungry application you throw at it.
- Standard Fibre Plans can offer you the best value for your money depending on your household requirements. The connection speed offered by both, Fibre Basic and Fibre 100, is more than adequate to enjoy video streaming services, gaming, content creation and more.
- Fibre Max Plans offer a step up over standard fibre offering speeds up to 900/400Mbps. These plans are ideal for large families and content creators, developers, or any other use case requiring the fastest connection possible while working from home.
- Rural Wireless Plans offer a cost-effective solution to many kiwi families living in remote areas of New Zealand. The 4G broadband connection offered by this plan is adequate for almost any use case. However, due to data caps, this plan might not be the best option for people working from home or families with huge bandwidth requirements.
2. Flexibility:
- One of the factors that separate Spark from its competitors is the enormous flexibility it offers its customers. Thanks to its creative pricing structure, both families and individuals with low bandwidth requirements pay less than other providers. Moreover, following its recent decision to move a large number of its plans to open term, Spark has further established itself as one of New Zealand's most flexible broadband providers.
3. Set-Up Charges:
- Despite requiring its customers to purchase a modem on many of its plans, Spark offers one of the lowest entry costs in New Zealand. This is because it does not charge for installation services (except for a few plans) and because it finances the price of its modems to make it easier to acquire.
4. Monthly Costs: As mentioned repeatedly, Spark’s pricing structure is one of its biggest advantages. The tiered pricing system offers great savings, even for people who work from home and make extensive use of the internet since it only considers the bandwidth used during the month. This is how Spark can offer really competitive rates, both in fibre plans and in wireless plans, which works to customers' benefit.
Spark Broadband Frequently Asked Questions
To help you decide if Spark is right for your home, we've included several frequently asked questions to help you know more about the service.
Is Spark available at my address?
Spark specializes in providing broadband and phone services to kiwis across NZ - you'll need to type in your address to see if any of their broadband services cover you. You can do that here under See Availability.
Does Spark offer a free modem?
Yes, Spark offers a free modem with its 5G Discover and naked ADSL/VDSL plans. For the rest of the plans, you will have to purchase a modem compatible with the Spark network. You can do that by checking Spark’s modem compatibility page.
Does Spark offer additional perks?
Yes, Sparks offers a huge selection of additional perks ranging from landlines to entertainment services, sports networks, premium support service, and more.
Does Spark offer an open term contract?
Yes, currently all fibre and most wireless plans offered by Spark are open-term
Does Spark offer discounts for broadband plans?
Spark does not offer direct discounts on any of its plans; however, it does offer discounted prices for many online services such as Netflix, Spark Sports, Neon, Sky Sports, and more.
Who owns Spark?
Spark New Zealand Limited is listed on the NZX, with the general public owning just over half of its shares. Institutions own most of the remaining shares.
Does Spark offer a home phone add-on with its broadband plans?
Yes – Spark provides the option to include phone voice services, either wired or wireless, in all its plans.
