Checklist: Switching to Fibre Internet in NZ
Switching to fibre internet in New Zealand is simple if you follow these steps:
Check availability: Use tools like Fibredeals to confirm if fibre is available at your address.
Compare plans: Assess speeds, costs, data caps, and extras like free installation or streaming perks. Unlimited data and higher speeds are ideal for heavy internet users.
Understand installation: Fibre installation involves external and internal work. Renters need landlord approval, and shared properties may require neighbour consent.
Check your equipment: Ensure your router supports fibre (look for a WAN port and Gigabit Ethernet). Upgrade to a Wi-Fi 6 router for better performance.
Test your connection: Once installed, confirm everything works as expected.
Fibre offers faster, more reliable internet, perfect for streaming, gaming, and working from home. Visit fibredeals.co.nz to compare plans and get started.
Fibre to the home pre installation process – setting expectations
Step 1: Check Fibre Availability at Your Address
Before diving into plans and providers, it's crucial to confirm whether fibre broadband is available at your address. While fibre is widely accessible across New Zealand, it’s not universal. By 2022, about 87% of New Zealanders could connect to fibre, leaving one in eight addresses without access.
Even if your neighbour has fibre, your address might face unique challenges. Checking availability ensures you’re not caught off guard later in the process.
Regional Coverage and Challenges
Fibre coverage varies widely across New Zealand. Rural or remote areas, in particular, often face limitations. Properties more than 200 metres from the nearest fibre access point may require non-standard installations, which can come with additional costs. Challenging terrain or complex access issues may also necessitate special arrangements.
For renters, getting fibre installed involves extra steps. You’ll need your landlord’s consent before any work can begin. If you live in an apartment or share a driveway, you might also need approval from neighbours or a body corporate, which can slow things down. Discussing the process with neighbours early on can help streamline these approvals.
Local Fibre Companies like Chorus, Northpower, Tuatahi First Fibre, and Enable are responsible for installing fibre infrastructure across the country. They’re working with the government to expand coverage, completing over 10,000 new connections each month. If fibre isn’t available at your address yet, availability tools will highlight the best alternatives while you wait for future upgrades.
Once you’ve confirmed fibre availability and considered any regional or property-specific challenges, you’ll be ready to compare plans and providers.
Step 2: Compare Fibre Plans and Providers
Once you've confirmed fibre is available, the next step is to pick a plan that suits your needs. Comparing speeds, features, and costs will help you find the best deal. Start by understanding how you use the internet to determine the level of performance you’ll need.
Determine Your Internet Needs
Think about how you use the internet daily. Basic plans are perfect for general browsing, video calls, and occasional streaming. But if your household streams in HD or 4K, plays online games, or frequently uploads large files, you’ll need a plan with higher speeds and better performance.
It’s also worth checking for data caps. If you share videos, back up files online, or stream a lot, unlimited data is a must. Similarly, upload speeds can be just as important as download speeds for certain activities, so make sure the plan you choose meets all your requirements.
Compare Plan Features
Look beyond just the monthly price to evaluate what each plan offers. Here are some key features to consider:
Installation fees: These vary between providers. Some may waive the fee as part of a promotion.
Contract terms: Flexible, no-contract plans offer freedom, while longer contracts often come with lower monthly rates.
Extras: Some plans include perks like free access to streaming services, premium Wi-Fi routers, or enhanced tech support.
Customer service: Reliable support is crucial, especially if you’re not tech-savvy or need help troubleshooting.
Here’s a quick comparison of what you can expect from budget versus premium plans:
Use fibredeals.co.nz for Plan Comparisons
Instead of jumping between websites, head to fibredeals.co.nz to compare fibre plans all in one place. The platform gathers the latest deals from major providers in New Zealand, letting you filter options based on your location, speed needs, and budget.
One of the best features is the location-based filtering, which ensures you only see plans available for your address - no more wasting time on irrelevant options. Plus, it highlights the total costs over time, helping you assess long-term value. Once you find a plan that ticks all the boxes, fibredeals.co.nz links you directly to the provider’s sign-up page, so you can lock in promotional prices without any hassle.
Step 3: Know Installation Requirements
Getting familiar with the fibre installation process can save you from unexpected surprises and help you prepare effectively. Your internet service provider (ISP) manages the process in partnership with Local Fibre Companies. While the steps are fairly standard, understanding what happens at each stage ensures a smoother experience. Let’s dive into how to get your property ready for installation.
Installation Process Steps
Fibre installation happens in several stages, each requiring different levels of involvement from you. Once you select a plan, your ISP forwards your order to the Local Fibre Company, setting the installation process in motion.
Scope appointment: A technician visits your property to discuss and finalise the installation plan. This includes deciding where to place the External Termination Point (ETP) on the outside of your home and the Optical Network Terminal (ONT) inside. You’ll need to be home for about an hour to discuss these details and choose a central spot for the ONT and modem - ideally near devices that use a lot of data.
External build work: This step involves running the fibre cable from the street to the ETP on your house. You usually don’t need to be home for this part.
Internal connection appointment: A technician handles the internal wiring, installs the ONT, connects your modem, and ensures everything is working correctly. You’ll need to be present for this appointment, which can take a few hours.
With the process mapped out, the next step is to prepare your property to avoid delays.
Prepare Your Property
Taking a few steps ahead of time can make the installation process hassle-free.
If you’re renting, make sure to get written approval from your landlord before the scope appointment. Technicians won’t proceed without proper consent.
For shared driveways or multi-dwelling units, the Local Fibre Company will manage neighbour or body corporate consent. However, you can speed things up by notifying neighbours or relevant parties yourself.
Ensure there are at least two power points or a power board near the chosen ONT location. This equipment requires a steady power supply, and sorting this out beforehand avoids unnecessary delays.
If you need your existing phone jacks to work with fibre, ask for integrated wiring during your appointments. This will keep your landline phones functional without requiring additional steps later.
Installation Costs
For most residential properties in New Zealand, standard fibre installations are free. This includes running fibre from the street to your home, installing the equipment, and activating your connection.
However, non-standard installations may come with additional costs, depending on the complexity of the work involved.
Distance is often a key factor. Properties with long driveways or those in rural areas far from existing fibre lines may need custom installation quotes. Costs for non-standard installations can range from $2,000 to over $80,000, depending on the specifics.
Custom quotes are provided by your ISP, as Local Fibre Companies don’t deal directly with customers on pricing. You might be able to cut costs by doing some groundwork yourself, such as digging trenches.
Be aware that charges may apply if you cancel fibre services after the Local Fibre Company has started work but before your connection goes live. Careful planning and understanding the details beforehand can help you avoid these unnecessary expenses.
Step 4: Check Device Compatibility
Getting your equipment ready is a key step in making the most of your fibre internet. To fully enjoy fibre's faster speeds, it's important to check that your devices are up to the task. While fibre in New Zealand follows a standard setup, upgrading your router could make a noticeable difference in performance, unlocking fibre's true potential.
Check Your Modem and Router
With fibre, you can say goodbye to the need for a separate modem. Instead, your internet provider will supply an Optical Network Terminal (ONT). This device acts as your modem and connects directly to your router via an Ethernet cable.
Your router must have a dedicated WAN or Internet port designed for Ethernet connections. This is a key difference from older DSL routers, which use phone lines, or cable modems that rely on coaxial cables. As One NZ points out:
"For Fibre broadband, check that the modem is Fibre ready or Fibre capable. This means it has a WAN/Internet port to connect to the Fibre ONT box (Optical Network Terminal or Fibre box) with an Ethernet cable."
Look for a clearly labelled WAN or Internet port on your router - these ports are often marked with a different colour. If your router only supports DSL or coaxial inputs, it won't work with a fibre connection.
Most ISPs in New Zealand allow you to use your own router, but they also offer routers that are guaranteed to work with their service and include technical support. Keep in mind, though, that some ISP-supplied routers may be locked to their network. For example, Vodafone's UltraHub has restrictions that may limit its use with other providers.
Check Device Compatibility
Beyond your router, it's essential to ensure that other connected devices can handle fibre speeds. Older hardware can slow down your connection, creating a bottleneck. To avoid this, make sure your router's WAN and LAN ports support Gigabit Ethernet (1 Gbps or higher), which is necessary to maximise fibre performance.
Modern Wi‑Fi standards also play a big role in delivering the best speeds. If your router still runs on Wi‑Fi 4 or Wi‑Fi 5, you might not get the full benefits of fibre. Upgrading to a Wi‑Fi 6 or 6E router is a smart move - especially for plans offering speeds above 1 Gbps. These newer standards improve speed, efficiency, and the ability to manage multiple devices simultaneously.
For example, routers like the TP-Link Archer AX1500 or AX3000 are popular choices for fibre in New Zealand. They typically cost between $129 and $249. While this is an upfront investment, a modern router ensures reliable performance, even with multiple devices streaming, gaming, or working at the same time.
Before purchasing or setting up your own router, contact your ISP to confirm compatibility and ask about any specific settings you may need. Details like VLAN IDs, connection types (such as PPPoE), or authentication requirements can prevent potential issues and ensure a smooth installation process.
Step 5: Switch and Test Your Connection
Once you've confirmed your equipment, it's time to finalise your fibre switch by scheduling your installation. This step ensures your transition is on track.
Book Installation
Secure your installation appointment as soon as possible to keep the process running smoothly. After signing up, your provider will pass your order to the local fibre team. The Local Fibre Company (LFC) - such as Chorus, Tuatahi First Fibre, Enable, Unison, or Northpower - will then reach out to arrange your installation. Typically, this happens within a few days of placing your order, but the exact timing can vary depending on demand in your area.
You'll need to attend a scope or pre-installation appointment, where a technician will inspect your property and have you sign an Installation Agreement. Sometimes, the technician can complete both the scope and the installation during the same visit.
If your LFC is Chorus, you may have the added convenience of booking your installation appointment online through your Retail Service Provider's (RSP) order tracker, giving you more flexibility with scheduling.
Keep in mind that you'll need to be at home for 4–6 hours on the day of installation.
Conclusion: Your Fibre Switch Checklist Summary
This checklist walks you through the key steps: checking availability, comparing plans, reviewing installation and compatibility, and testing your connection. It's a straightforward process to help you make an informed decision.
Fibre broadband offers ultra-fast speeds and reliable performance, making it ideal for streaming, remote work, and gaming. Unlike traditional copper networks, fibre ensures consistent speeds and remains unaffected by bad weather. As noted by Broadband Compare:
"Fibre is an incredible advancement in the technology of broadband. It is the successor to the copper broadband network, which was the first technology to bring broadband internet to homes in New Zealand and the wider world." – Broadband Compare
Today, most of New Zealand has access to fibre broadband, with infrastructure that often delivers faster speeds and competitive pricing compared to similar networks overseas. Whether you need Fibre 50, Fibre 300, Fibre 900, or the high-performance Hyperfibre, there’s a plan tailored to suit your needs.
Thinking of upgrading? Visit fibredeals.co.nz to compare plans in your area. This platform simplifies the process, helping you evaluate providers and features based on the checklist - from availability to installation - so you can secure the best connection at the best price for your household.