Wicked Networks Broadband Review

Source: DepositPhotos

When searching for a potential internet provider, it’s natural to want a company that puts the customer first. So when you happen upon one that goes by the name Wicked Internet, it may give you pause. 

However, before you judge the internet service provider by its branding, consider reading this Wicked Networks broadband review. We discuss speed, packages, uptime, and more, getting down to the bottom of whether its name is a reflection of its service.

About Wicked Internet

Wicked Internet is a New Zealand-based internet service provider that believes “everyone deserves wickedly fast internet at a fair price.” The company has offices in the Queenstown and Dunedin areas of New Zealand and offers network coverage in most parts of the country. It caters to individuals and businesses and aims to offer these customers a safe and reliable experience.

Related: Best Broadband Providers

Package Overview

This company provides unlimited fibre broadband plans for residents and capped data plans for businesses. If you’d like to know whether your area is eligible for fibre, use our fibre checker. The highlights of its package are as follows:

Subscription Type

Wicked Internet has open-term and fixed-term contracts. The former plan type is meant for its residential customers, while the latter is for companies. 

If you want to know more about no-term contracts, we’ve rounded up the best internet service providers that offer them in another article.

Installation Process and Fees

Source: DepositPhotos

According to its Terms and Conditions, Wicked Networks usually handles broadband installations. In some instances, it may use a subcontractor. Also, the company is affiliated with Chorus, one of the largest fibre companies and wholesalers in New Zealand. Thus, Chorus may also handle installations. 

Before an install job, Wicked Internet schedules a time that's appropriate for you and a company or company-affiliated technician. If you’re switching from your current provider to the company, you’ll need to provide information related to your former service (e.g., your account number with the old provider). 

In most cases, the company doesn't charge customers to set up a new connection. The exception to this rule is when the setup process is more complicated than expected. Even then, it's the fibre company Chorus that bills you for the extra work.

Wicked Internet will reach out once you’re connected and the service is ready to use. The company owns all equipment and wiring it uses during the installation process (unless you pay for it in full).

Wicked Internet Hardware

Wicked Internet has a bring-your-own-device policy, meaning you can decide whether to use a router supplied by your current provider or buy a new one. The company also has its proprietary router, which you can either buy outright or lease for a monthly fee. 

If you choose the latter option, you’ll have to send the router back upon termination of your contract (as per its Terms and Conditions).

Additional Services

Wicked Internet provides the following add-ons to its service:

• Static IP
• Mesh Wi-Fi
• Ad filtering
• Content filtering
• Monitoring and management

They're available for both business and residential plans.

In addition, you can get a phone line with the company without subscribing to a Wicked broadband plan. The company provides mobile and voice over internet protocol (VoIP) telephone services.

Speed

Source: DepositPhotos

You can expect lightning-fast broadband when you subscribe to Wicked Internet’s plans. The lowest download speed it offers is 300 MBps, which is more than adequate for streaming movies and most online activities. Small households, in particular, will get the most out of its unlimited data plans.

The above notwithstanding, there will be times when the speed dips below advertised levels. The issue could be due to your internet activity or an issue at Wicked Internet. It’s worth using a speed tester to check if you notice a slowdown.

Internet Connectivity (Uptime and Downtime)

This company offers a reliable and stable internet connection. It has a 99.9% uptime and few outages. 

Wicked Internet even provides a means of monitoring its network's reliability through its Network Status page. You can view the company's uptime over the last day, week, month, or quarter (90 days). In addition, the tool can switch to a calendar view to give you a clearer picture of the network’s performance. And the status updates every minute.

The company carries out maintenance on its infrastructure from time to time, so outages from suspended services do occur. Per its Terms of Conditions, Wicked Internet will let you know ahead of time. Still, if you suspect your internet is down, use an internet outage checker as a first resort.

One thing to note is that this company doesn’t guarantee its services will always be available. Also, because its network relies on third parties, Wicked Networks doesn’t guarantee your service will be:

• Free from faults
• Uninterrupted
• Accessible at all times of the day
• Secure or private
• Virus-free

It’s worth keeping the above points in mind when deciding whether to move forward with the company.

Customer Service/Support

Source: Pexels.com

Wicked Internet has support personnel in Tauranga, New Zealand. If you don’t live nearby, you can reach its customer service team through two methods: 

• Email: Send your message to [email protected].
• Telephone: Call 050-8942-5333 (available between 8 am and 8 pm, seven days a week).

Alternatively, fill out the form on the company's website's contact page. There’s also the option of submitting a ticket.

Wicked Internet's technical team aims to provide a lightning-fast response to customer issues. They usually have someone with a technical background on hand, which means you'll get answers to your questions even if the person who answers isn't an IT technician. When they receive a complaint ticket, the team aims to respond within a business day.

This internet provider also has online resources customers can use to troubleshoot most broadband issues they encounter. It provides tutorials that touch on topics like router setup, network troubleshooting, speed testing, relocation, and more. Visit the website's support page for the full collection of resources.

Plans and Pricing

This ISP provides affordable internet services individuals and businesses can rely on. Its prices and packages are as follows:

Residential Plans

Wicked Internet has two residential plans. It doesn't impose a data cap on either of them. Neither do these unlimited data plans have set contract terms. You subscribe monthly or according to your internet needs (e.g., every other month). 

The plans in question are called Wicked Fibre 3000 and Wicked Fibre Max. 

Wicked Fibre 3000

This plan costs $89.95 a month. It provides advertised download and upload speeds of up to 300 MBps and 100 MBps, respectively. 

Wicked Fibre Max

The Wicked Fibre Max plan costs $109.95 per month. Its advertised download and upload speeds are 950 MBps and 500 MBps, respectively.

Business Plans

Wicked Internet has three business plans. All three have a one terabyte data cap and include some of the company’s add-ons free of charge (specifically static IP and monitoring). In addition, its business customers must commit to a 12-month, 24-month, or 36-month contract term.

The plans are called Wicked Business 300, Wicked Business 500, and Wicked Business Max.

Wicked Business 300

This plan costs $91.30 a month. Its advertised download and upload speeds are 300 MBps and 100 MBps, respectively. 

Wicked Business 500

Wicked Business 500 costs $104.30 per month. It has the same download and upload speed: 500 MBps.

Wicked Business Max

Wicked Business Max goes for $139.09 per month. Its advertised download and upload speeds are 950 MBps and 500 MBps, respectively.

Note that terminating any of the above plans before the contract term elapses attracts a penalty, whether you or Wicked Internet terminates. 

Clause 16.3 and 16.3(a) of the company’s Terms and Conditions read:

“Consequences of termination by either party: In the event that the Services or our Agreement are terminated under clause 16.1 (Termination initiated by you) or clause 16.2 (Termination initiated by us), taking into account clause 15.2 (Changes initiated by us):

a. Fixed Term Plan: If you have a Fixed Term Plan, you will be required to pay the relevant early termination fee if the termination becomes effective prior to the completion of the minimum service duration for that Fixed Term Plan. You will continue to be responsible for all Charges accrued up to the termination's effective date.”

The company views the termination fee as compensation for costs and losses it incurs due to early termination (including “charges from our suppliers”). In other words, they’re not meant to be punitive."

Related: Cheapest Broadband Providers

Final Verdict

Wicked Internet doesn't live up to its name, and that's a good thing. On the contrary, this internet service provider has the hallmarks of a company whose mission revolves around satisfying its customers. 

From its wickedly fast internet to its affordable plans and stable network, there's a lot to like about its service. We think it's worth considering Wicked Internet as a potential ISP for your internet needs, and we hope this review will help you make an informed decision.