Best Broadband Plans for Video Conferencing

Video conferencing is an essential part of our lives. It allows us to work from home seamlessly or chat with our friends, whenever and wherever they are.

However, video conferencing requires a strong internet connection if you don't want to spend the call asking if the other party can hear you.

That's why it's important to choose a broadband plan that offers a reliable, consistent connection with minimal lag or issues.

In this article, we'll go over the best broadband plans for video conferencing and a few tips on how to optimize your connection for a smooth, crisp video call!

Best Broadband Plans for Video Conferencing

We've researched and gathered some of the best broadband plans for video conferencing and live streaming. You can opt for any of the plans below or use Glimp's broadband comparison tool to find other deals by top broadband providers.

Orcon Fibre 300 - The Best Video Conferencing Plan with Add-ons

 

Orcon is one of the top broadband service providers in New Zealand. They offer fibre and hyper-fibre broadband connections with speeds ranging from 50 Mbps to over 7,000 Mbps.

Orcon's Fibre 300 plan is one of their most popular internet deals, with broadband speeds of up to 300/100 Mbps with unlimited data allowance. As a high-speed fibre connection, it provides excellent video conferencing performance with minimal latency or lag.

However, the Orcon 300 plan is only available with a fixed, 12-month contract, which means early exit fees apply if you cancel early. If you're not a fan of long-term commitments, you should check out no-contract broadband plans instead.

Orcon's unlimited broadband plans come with a free Wi-Fi Pro Google Nest router, providing excellent wall-to-wall Wi-Fi coverage. Orcon only charges you NZ $14.95 for postage.

Wi-Fi Pro routers are specially designed to enhance the Wi-Fi reception of large households and small companies so you can video conference anywhere in your house.

Orcon also offers optional add-ons such as the Static IP feature, which costs NZ $10/month, and 4G backup for NZ $15/month.

The 4G backup option kicks in if your fibre broadband connection ever goes out or falters. It's a great feature to have especially if you work remotely from home or do regular interviews via Zoom or Microsoft Teams.

Main Features of Orcon's Fibre 300 Plan

• Download/uploads speeds of 300/100 Mbps
• Free Wi-Fi Pro Google Nest Router with robust Wi-Fi coverage
• Available Add-ons: 4G backup and Static IP features
• Pricing: NZ $89.95/month with a 12-month contract

MyRepublic Fibre Max - The Best Fibre Pro Plan

MyRepublic is a leading internet service provider (ISP) in New Zealand that's popular among gamers and heavy power users.

MyRepublic's most popular fibre max broadband plan is the Fibre Pro, which gives you average speeds of 821/497 Mbps. Unlike Orcon's plan, this fibre max plan comes with an open-term contract and no early termination fee.

MyRepublic allows you to use your own compatible modem or upgrade to their ASUS RT-AX3000 modem for free. This router is specially designed to provide stable internet bandwidth and higher performance, which enhances broadband video conferencing performance.

This fibre broadband plan costs NZ $82/month and offers add-ons such as Gamer Support and Static IP, for an additional NZ $10/month. These features are useful for gamers who enjoy live video streaming while gaming.

Main Features of MyRepublic's Fibre Max Plan

• Fibre max speeds of up to 821/497 Mbps with unlimited data usage
• Optional add-ons such as Gamer Support and Static IP for just NZ $10
• Free ASUS RT-AX3000 modem upgrade option
• Pricing: NZ $82/month

Now Fibre 300 Plan - The Money-Saver Plan

 

Now's Fibre 300 broadband plan is a favourite among Kiwis looking to save a few extra bucks. It offers lightning-fast speeds of up to 300/100 Mbps without a data cap for just NZ $89/month.

Now is currently offering 50% off for the first six months when you sign up for a fixed 12-month contract. That means you'll only pay NZ $44.50 for the first six months, making this one of the most affordable fibre broadband plans in NZ.

However, with the fixed-term contract, you'll need to pay NZ $199 in early termination fees if you decide to cancel before the 12 months are over. Another great thing about the Now Fibre 300 plan is that you don't have to pay any installation or connection fees, which saves you a few hundred bucks.

Now also has a powerful NZ-based tech support team. They can quickly resolve any issues or problems you might have, guaranteeing the best internet connection and video conferencing performance possible.

Main Features of Now's Fibre 300 Plan

• Broadband speeds of up to 300/100 Mbps
• No data caps
• Free Installation
• 12-month contract (early exit fees of NZ $199 apply)
• Robust NZ-based tech support team
• Pricing: NZ $44.50/month (first six months), then NZ $89/month

Slingshot Unlimited Gigantic Plan - The Best Fibre Plan with Flexible Payments

Slingshot is another excellent unlimited broadband provider that's been around for over a decade. Most of Slingshot's plans come with a fixed contract of at least six months with early termination fees of NZ $250.

However, unlike other providers, Slingshot offers "No Dramas Contracts," which means they can often waive the NZ $250 or charge you much less depending on the time left in your contract.

The best part about Slingshot plans is that they give you the freedom to pay weekly, fortnightly, or monthly. Of course, when you choose the monthly option, you get the best prices, but the other options are also reasonably priced.

One of their best plans, the Unlimited Gigantic Fibre, gives you unlimited fibre max speeds of up to 896 Mbps for just NZ $89.95/month. They allow you to bring your own router or rent one from them for an additional NZ $5/month!

Slingshot also gives you NZ $100 joining credit as soon as you sign up for a 12-month contract. Also, you can choose from several affordable add-ons and bundled discounts such as the following:

• ESET NOD32 Antivirus: NZ $5/month
• Protection Plan: An insurance plan that covers your wiring and broadband hardware for $3.95/month
• Family Filter: Free of charge for the first 12 months and then NZ $5/month
• Landline: You can add an optional landline without changing to landline broadband plans for an additional NZ $5/month
• Mobile Plan: If you have a monthly mobile plan, you can get an additional NZ $5 discount per plan (up to four plans)
• Broadband and Power: You can get NZ $20 off your broadband plan if you bundle broadband with power plus NZ $250 signing credit with a 12-month contract

Main Features of Slingshot's Unlimited Gigantic Plan:

• Average download speeds of up to 896 Mbps
• Unlimited data
• Flexible payment options
• Joining credit with fixed contracts
• Several bundles, discounts, and add-on options
• Pricing: NZ $89.95/month

Video Conferencing Broadband Plans - Factors to Consider

What Broadband Speeds You Need

The first thing to consider when choosing a broadband plan for video conferencing is the internet speed your software requires. For example, the average broadband speed Zoom needs to function properly ranges from 0.6 to 1.5 Mbps.

Here are a few examples of average speed requirements for different video conferencing apps:

• Zoom: 0.6-1.5/0.8 Mbps
• Skype: 512 Kbps/128 Kbps
• Slack: 600 Kbps/600 Kbps
• BlueJeans: 500 Kbps/128 Kbps
• Cisco Webex: 500 Kbps/500 Kbps
• Google Meet: 1 Mbps/1 Mbps
• Microsoft Teams: 1.5 Mbps/1.5 Mbps

Keep in mind that you'll probably need download and upload speeds that are much higher than the average requirements for uninterrupted video calling.

For example, if you're on a group call where multiple people have their video open simultaneously, you'll need at least 2.5 Mbps. This is theoretical, but from our experience, you should opt for at least 15 Mbps to minimize the chances of buffering, lag, and interruptions during your video conference.

Download and Upload Speed Ratio

In most cases, people only pay attention to download speeds when choosing an internet plan. However, upload speed and the ratio between download and upload speeds is just as important for video conferencing performance.

For example, copper broadband connections (ADSL/VDSL) usually have download speeds that are ten times faster than upload speeds. This means you'll be able to receive audio and video quickly, allowing you to see and hear others clearly during a video conference.

However, poor upload speeds mean you might experience some lag when sending audio and video, so others will have a hard time seeing or hearing you.

Fibre broadband connections, on the other hand, have close upload and download speeds, which means your connection can be much smoother and you won't experience as much lag.

Tips to Improve Broadband Video Conferencing Performance

Sometimes choosing one of the top fibre broadband deals above isn't enough. There are several ways you can optimize your internet connection to get the most out of your broadband plan.

Here are a few methods you can try for a faster broadband connection.

Use a Wired Connection

Using a wired connection instead of Wi-Fi is one of the most effective ways to optimize video conferencing performance with your broadband plan. Wired broadband connections offer more stable and consistent speeds than wireless broadband ones.

They're much less susceptible to interference and signal loss, which can cause issues like stuttering, freezing, and dropped calls. They're also much faster and have lower latency.

For example, fibre broadband and ADSL broadband plans are more reliable than 4G fixed wireless plans. To set up a wired connection, all you need is an ethernet cable. Connect one end to your router and the other end to your PC or device.

Close Unnecessary Apps

Having multiple apps open simultaneously can take up bandwidth, CPU, and memory resources, which can affect the latency of your connection. Make sure to close unnecessary apps and background processes to conserve bandwidth and improve your audio and video quality.

Use Ethernet Cables for Webcams

When using a webcam, connect it to your computer via an ethernet cable instead of a USB cable. This allows faster transfer, giving you a crisper real-time video stream.

Monitor Your Internet Connection

 

By regularly checking your network speed and performance, you can identify and troubleshoot issues that may be affecting your video conferencing experience. You can monitor your internet connection using online tools such as Glimp's Internet Speed Checker.

It will give you valuable insights into your network's bandwidth, latency, packet loss, and download/upload speeds. All of this can help you identify and address issues like congestion, signal interference, and hardware problems that affect your video conferencing.

Upgrade Your Software

Sometimes upgrading to a premium version of your video conferencing software can improve the video and audio quality.

Adjust Zoom Settings

If you're video conferencing over Zoom, there are several ways to improve the quality of your video and audio.

For example, you can try turning off "Enable HD" and "Touch up my appearance" because these features eat up a lot of bandwidth and can affect your connection.

Limit Wi-Fi on Other Devices

Having multiple devices online simultaneously, especially if they're all gaming or video conferencing, can affect the quality of your connection. If you feel your video or audio quality is suboptimal, try turning off the Wi-Fi on your other devices.

This is less common with fibre connections, such as the Fibre 300 and Fibre Max plans above, which can easily handle more than 5-9 devices simultaneously.

Wrapping Up

Choosing the right broadband plan is essential for a smooth, seamless video conferencing experience. Any of the fibre plans above can give you a reliable, consistent connection with minimal lag, latency, and bandwidth problems.

Just don't forget to follow the tips in this article and you'll get crystal-clear audio and video on your next conference calls!