Best Broadband Deals for Students

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As a student, reliable internet is a must-have, whether it's for online classes, research, or streaming your favourite shows.

But with so many broadband plans available, finding the right one can be overwhelming. That's why, at Glimp, we've done the research for you and compiled a list of the best broadband deals for students.

From affordable pricing to fast speeds, these plans are sure to keep you connected all semester long!

Understanding Student Broadband Deals

Student broadband deals are internet plans that suit the specific needs of students.

Some plans are specially tailored for students on a tight budget, while others are made for dorms or large households with multiple students living together.

Many plans offer flexibility and minimal commitment for students on the go.

For example, you might find a fibre or mobile broadband plan that lets you pay month-by-month. This is great for students who go home or travel during summer break since you won't have to pay for three months of unused internet.

Best Student Broadband Deals

Here are some of the best broadband deals for students on a tight budget or living in large, multi-student households.

2Degrees 300GB Wireless Plan: The Best for Limited Usage

2Degrees is a top-rated NZ broadband provider offering a variety of broadband plans with fixed-term and open-term options. You can find almost any broadband connection you need, including wireless, VDSL, ADSL, and fibre.

The 300GB Wireless plan is one of their most popular limited-usage plans. It gives you 4G speeds of around 30 Mbps and comes with a 300GB data cap. It's perfect for students who live alone and don't need that much data every month.

The 300GB Wireless plan is available in both fixed and open-term contracts, although the open-term contract is usually a better broadband deal for students.

However, keep in mind that with an open contract, you'll need to purchase a modem for NZ $199, plus an additional $15 for shipping. Alternatively, you can bring your own modem.

Open-term contracts also come with an installation fee of $99.

The 300GB Wireless plan costs NZ $55/month, which is quite affordable once you get past the initial one-time payments. If you sign up for a 2Degrees monthly mobile plan, you can save an additional $10 off your broadband plan, making it just NZ $45/month!

Main Features of 2Degrees' 300GB Wireless Plan

• Optional fixed and open-term contracts
• 4G internet speeds with a 300GB data cap
• Optional modem with open-term contracts for NZ $199 (+NZ $15 for shipping)
• Installation fees: NZ $99
• Pricing: NZ $55/month

Spark Everyday Wireless Plan: The Best Unlimited Wireless Plan

Spark is another popular broadband provider among students. They offer affordable, open-term broadband plans with minimal commitment.

Spark's Everyday Wireless plan is an excellent choice for students who want affordable, unlimited internet. It gives you 4G speeds of up to 27 Mbps without data usage limits. It might not be the fastest plan, but you'll be able to download, stream, and browse as much as you'd like without paying for extra GBs.

However, opting for an open-term contract means you'll have to pay an installation fee of NZ $99 and also $150 for the modem. Alternatively, you can use your own router.

The Spark Everyday Wireless plan costs NZ $60/month, which is just $5 more than 2Degrees' wireless plan, but without data restrictions.

Main Features of Spark's Everyday Wireless Plan

• Open-term contract
• 4G speeds of up to 27 Mbps
• Unlimited data usage
• Optional modem for a one-time payment of NZ $150
• Installation fees: NZ $99
• Pricing: NZ $60/month

Slingshot 150GB Fibre Plan: The Best Basic Fibre Plan

Slingshot is a reputable broadband provider in New Zealand that offers reliable and ultrafast fibre optic broadband. However, the availability of fibre broadband services may vary depending on your location. You can use Glimp's Fibre Checker Tool to check fibre availability at your address.

Slingshot offers three fibre plans that differ in terms of pricing, speeds, and data transfer limits, but their most popular one is the 150GB Fibre Plan. This plan gives you lightning-fast speeds of up to 321 Mbps with a 150GB data cap.

This kind of speed is more than enough for browsing, video streaming, online gaming, and more. If you're a student who attends lectures online or alternates between on-campus and online courses, this is an excellent fibre plan with a solid connection.

However, keep in mind that you won't be able to stream or download as much as you'd like due to the data cap. It's also not the best plan for households with multiple devices or students since you'll quickly run out of data.

With the 150GB Fibre Plan, you can use your own router or rent one from Slingshot for just NZ $5/month. This plan costs NZ $74.95/month, and if you have an active Skinny mobile plan, you can save an additional $5!

Slingshot also offers the following discounted add-ons and bundle options to save you more money:

• ESET NOD32 Antivirus: NZ $5/month
• Protection Plan: Insurance coverage for any damage to your wiring or broadband hardware at a cost of NZ $3.95 per month
• Free Family Filter: First 12 months without charge, and then costs $5 per month
• Landline: Add a home phone line for $5 per month
• Power: Bundling broadband and power gets you a $20 discount on your internet plan
• Mobile Plan: An active mobile plan gets you a $5 discount per plan (up to four plans)

Main Features of the Skinny 150GB Fibre Plan

• Open or fixed-term contracts
• Ultrafast fibre broadband speeds of up to 321 Mbps
• 150GB data cap
• Optional router rental for $5/month
• Free standard installation
• Several add-ons, bundles, and discount options are available
• Pricing: NZ $74.95/month

Sky Fibre Pro Plan: The Best Plan for Multi-Student Households

Sky first gained popularity with Kiwis thanks to its unique Sky TV entertainment services, such as Sky Sport and Sky Movies. However, they've recently proven themselves to be top-notch providers of high-speed internet as well!

Sky's Fibre Pro Plan is an example of a student-favourite fibre broadband plan. This plan gives you max fibre speeds of up to 865/497 Mbps with unlimited data usage. These download and upload speeds are perfect for heavy gaming, streaming in 4k, and more.

The Sky Fibre Pro Plan is best for large households with multiple students connected to the internet simultaneously.

Unlike the previous plans, the Sky Fibre Pro Plan is only available with a fixed-term contract, which requires commitment. If you decide to cancel early, you'll have to pay early termination fees ranging from NZ $10 to NZ $149.99.

However, after signing up for a 12-month contract, you become eligible to get a $250 upfront credit, so you're actually saving money! You also get the latest high-tech Sky WiFi 6 router, which improves your wall-to-wall coverage. Alternatively, you can use your own modem.

You can avail yourself of the Sky Fibre Pro Plan for a monthly fee of $105, which isn't too expensive if you're splitting your broadband bill with other students.

Sky also offers a bundle featuring unlimited fibre broadband + Sky TV for NZ $110.99. This saves you about $20 on your Sky TV subscription, which means you can get all the exclusive entertainment services for only $5.99!

Main Features of the Sky Fibre Pro Plan

• Fixed, 12-month contract
• Max fibre speed of up to 865/497 Mbps
• Free Sky WiFi 6 router
• Unlimited data plan
• Free Installation
• Pricing: NZ $105/month

How to Choose the Best Student Broadband Deal

Choosing the best student broadband deal can be overwhelming. There are simply too many options available online. However, it can be a lot easier if you know exactly what to look for.

Here are a few things to consider before signing a student broadband contract:

Broadband Speeds and Household Size

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The first thing to consider is what kind of broadband speeds you need, which depends on your online activities and the number of people in your household.

As a student, splitting your broadband bill with other students makes sense to save some money. However, keep in mind that the more people or devices connected to your Wi-Fi, the slower your internet gets because of bandwidth consumption.

You might be unable to stream videos smoothly or attend online lectures without lag or buffering. Before you compare broadband deals, think about who's using your internet and how.

Here's a breakdown of how much broadband speed you need for some common online activities and according to the number of students in your home:

• Up to 25 Mbps: Suitable for sending emails, browsing the web, and basic streaming with 1-2 devices connected at once
• 25-50 Mbps: Ideal for streaming videos in HD, lite gaming, and limited remote work or online lectures for 1-3 users
• 50-100 Mbps: Recommended for streaming in 4K, utilising home security devices, fast downloads of large files ranging from 500 MB to 2 GB, and accommodating between 2-4 users simultaneously
• 100- 500 Mbps: Best-suited for demanding online activities such as heavy 4K streaming, online gaming involving multiple players, full home office setups, fast downloads of 2-30 GB files, and up to five users at once
• 500-1000+ Mbps: Ideal for 4K live streaming and gaming, supporting smart homes with 10 or more devices, creative software, and over 5 users connected at once

You can use Glimp's Internet Speed Checker to gauge your online performance and internet speed.

Type of Broadband Connection

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Once you've decided how fast you want your internet to be, the next thing you should do is decide what type of broadband connection you need.

For example, if you're looking for speeds of 100 Mbps and higher, you probably won't find this kind of speed with ADSL/VDSL or 4G connections.

You'll need to choose between fibre broadband plans, satellite internet, and 5G wireless connections, which are somewhat limited in New Zealand.

Download speeds of 500+ Mbps are only available with fibre broadband plans, so you'll need to check if you can get fibre at your address.

If not, you can use Glimp's Broadband-Compare Tool to find other affordable broadband deals.

Open and Fixed-Term Contracts

When choosing a broadband plan, you should consider the level of commitment you're willing to sign up for. Most broadband providers offer either fixed-term or open-term contracts.

Fixed contracts require you to stay with the provider for six to 24 months, depending on the contract length. If you decide to cancel early, you'll probably have to pay early cancellation fees, which can reach NZ $250!

However, the great thing about a fixed, long-term contract is that it usually comes with benefits such as free installation, a free Wi-Fi unit, and even discounted monthly costs.

Open-term contracts, or no-contract plans, on the other hand, give you more flexibility but without the benefits and freebies. This type of monthly rolling contract lets you pay as long as you need the internet.

If you're going home for the summer or moving, you can easily cancel anytime without worrying about early exit fees.

Set-Up Time

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As a student, attendance is important, especially when it comes to online lectures. Keep in mind that some broadband companies take 1-2 weeks to install your internet, especially if you choose a fibre plan.

When signing up, make sure to ask your internet provider about set-up times and if there's an expected waiting list so you don't miss out on important online lectures or workshops.

If you're in a rush, stick to wireless broadband connections since they usually don't require installation. Once you receive the router, you can just plug it in and go online.

Wrapping up

As a student, a stable, high-speed internet connection is absolutely vital, but it should also be affordable and budget-friendly.

If you're having trouble choosing a plan, you can't go wrong with any of the student broadband plans above. They'll get you online in no time without burning a hole in your wallet!