Vodafone Ends Dial-Up Services: Here Are Your Other (Better) Options

• Why is Vodafone’s dial-up internet service ending?
• How does Vodafone support dial-up customers amidst the phase-out?
• Are there any providers that still offer dial-up internet?
  

Dial-up service has been the standard of the internet for over 30 years. It introduced reliable online connectivity in New Zealand and was the only way to connect to the internet until 2007. However, the introduction of DSL and other more advanced broadband tech has seen its steady user-base decline. 

At the end of May 2021, Vodafone is set to fully end its dial-up services. Commercial Director David Redmore said it’s “finally time” to conclude its services after keeping it as long as possible. “Over the past few months, we’ve been contacting the final thousand or so customers who were still using dial-up to explain why we’re about to turn this technology off,” he added.

If you’re still on dial-up internet, there are plenty of better and just as affordable broadband plan offerings. From copper, satellite, to wireless broadband, here are the best alternatives available in New Zealand.

Why is Vodafone’s dial-up internet service ending?

One of the reasons why dial-up internet service has to go is because of its speed. Dial-up's maximum speed reaches only 56Kbps, which is more than a hundred times slower than ADSL broadband at 10Mbps, and almost 18,000 times slower than the standard gigabit fibre broadband. Although, the speed ranges around 40-53Kbps on average. 

Slow speed is the biggest factor as to why Vodafone is ending its dial-up services. There are other faster alternatives like copper connections, which can better cater to the online needs of most Kiwis. Using dial-up internet would take forever to load web pages of today, which are full complex codes. Don’t even think about streaming or gaming — it won’t load at all!

The number of customers also plays a huge role. As of last month, Vodafone only has around 1,000 existing households that still use dial-up. As much as they want to keep them around for their customers, it’s not profitable anymore.

Why is dial-up internet slow?

The emerging technology offers megabits-per-second speed, which has made dial-up internet almost defunct. But, why can’t dial-up internet catch up in the competition and still offer extremely slow kilobits-per-second speeds? It’s the way that it’s designed.

If you can go online during the late ‘90s until the early ‘00s, you may be familiar with the different vibrations and tones whenever your modem starts and connects to the internet. You may also know the struggle of disconnecting to the internet whenever someone takes or receives calls on your telephone.

Dial-up internet requires you not to use your landline while you use your modem. This limits the speed and its ability to receive signals from the provider. When compared to DSL, it runs even while the landline is running, so you should be able to connect to the internet anytime. What’s more, you don’t need a home line just to connect to the internet.

How does Vodafone support dial-up customers amidst the phase-out?

Redmore understands that changing to broadband can be very hard, especially for these households where the residents may not be as knowledgeable about modern internet. To address this, they’ve announced the phase-out to customers months before the disconnection. This way, they can switch to a different broadband plan, or change providers completely.

Plus, they’ve deployed a special team to support customers in their transition to newer tech. They will assist and introduce customers to no fuss and easy-to-install internet. They will also give options, so customers can find a perfect fit for their needs including landline and mobile. 

“Older telecommunications services like dial-up can be less reliable, difficult to support, and are steadily being shut down around Aotearoa, so we need to upgrade people onto future-proofed options either out of necessity or to ensure we can continue to offer the value and reliability our customers expect,” he added. 

What are faster and better broadband options from Vodafone?

As one of the leading providers in New Zealand, they have plenty of fast and reliable broadband options! They also have some of the most advanced technology — from wiring to modem. On top of this, they have a reliable customer service team to assist you in your internet enquiries and concerns.

Check out their list of broadband plan options available throughout NZ.

The availability of these plans still varies per your address. There are also other more specialised plans from Vodafone depending on your location, so make sure to get a quote before switching to another plan. Or, use a comparison tool like the ones we have here at glimp to find the right deal for you.

On top of these plans, you can also take advantage of their add-ons and extras such as:

• Enjoy Vodafone Rewards
• Phone line for $10 per month
• 30-day Network Guarantee
• Upgrade to 5G are available in selected locations
• SuperWifi Eligible (on some plans)

Are there any providers that still offer dial-up internet?

Of course, there are still several smaller providers that offer dial-up services, especially in the most remote parts of the country. When it comes to big broadband providers, Vodafone is one of the only remaining companies to offer dial-up services, before the shutdown. Spark has long shut down its services in 2018.

While you’re free to switch to these dial-up services, they may not last long. Especially with projects like the Ultra-fast Broadband and Rural Broadband Initiative, dial-up may soon be phased out completely for these faster and more reliable services. It’s bound to be the tech of the past, as it can’t keep up with today’s online needs.

What are other alternatives besides Vodafone?

If you want to switch providers completely, you’re in luck! Other providers like Orcon, Stuff Fibre, and MyRepublic offer just as competitive and excellent broadband offerings. Best of all, they offer them at affordable price points for under $50 per month.

Just this month, Orcon released their $15 add-on deal to make their standard fibre broadband business-grade! When you experience hiccups on your connection, you can expect your connection to be fixed within hours!

Otherwise, you may like the six-month half-price deal of Stuff Fibre, as long as you subscribe to their 24-months contract. This is available in all of their broadband packages, so you can always get a plan that matches your needs and budget.

If you want a comprehensive list of your options, use glimp’s broadband comparison tool. Aside from standard broadband offerings, we offer exclusive discount codes and promotional prices that you won’t find anywhere else — even on the provider’s website!

Compare, save, and switch today, right here at glimp.