Econofibre

Econofibre: no-contract internet in New Zealand

Econofibre is a New Zealand-based internet service provider that markets broadband plans on the premise of no fixed-term contract. Its offering targets users seeking unlimited data and the ability to cancel the service at any time before the next payment, without a termination fee.

The company structures its catalogue into three product families: fibre, Hyperfibre and 4G/5G wireless. All plans include unlimited data and online support, and customers can bring their own modem or purchase one through Econofibre. Connection has a one-off cost of 50 New Zealand dollars, as detailed on the website.

Fibre plans

The fibre offering consists of three tiers. The eSTART plan offers download speeds of up to 100 Mbps and upload speeds of 20 Mbps for 60 dollars per month. The e500 plan increases download to 500 Mbps and upload to 100 Mbps for 82 dollars per month. The eMax plan reaches 920 Mbps download and 450 Mbps upload for 97 dollars per month. In all cases, data is unlimited and no fixed-term contract is required.

Hyperfibre: symmetrical speeds up to 8 Gbps

For those requiring maximum performance, Econofibre offers three Hyperfibre plans with symmetrical upload and download speeds. Hyperfibre 2 offers 2000 Mbps for 114 dollars per month; Hyperfibre 4, 4000 Mbps for 150 dollars; and Hyperfibre 8, 8000 Mbps for 280 dollars per month. Hyperfibre availability is subject to confirmation by the network provider, so the order is initially processed as a standard fibre connection and upgraded once technical feasibility is verified, which may take longer in some areas.

4G and 5G wireless plans

The wireless alternative includes two options. The 4G eWireless plan costs 69 dollars per month and offers average download speeds of 30 Mbps and upload speeds of 10 Mbps. The 5G eWireless plan, for 79 dollars per month, increases average speeds to 300 Mbps download and 50 Mbps upload. Both include unlimited data and the option to use your own modem or one purchased from Econofibre. The company notes that eWireless availability is indicative only and must be confirmed with customer service.

Additional phone and connectivity services

Econofibre allows you to add home phone services to your broadband plan. A standard phone line costs 10 dollars per month, with a one-off setup fee of 25 dollars. Additional features are billed separately: alternative number, fax to email and other features have monthly charges ranging from 4 to 10 dollars. A static IP address is also offered for 10 dollars per month, with a free promotion until 31 July 2025 according to the website information.

Sign-up process and address verification

The website describes a five-step sign-up process that begins with verifying the customer's address to determine which services are available. At the time of scanning, the address search tool was temporarily out of service, so the company asked users to email their address or use live chat to confirm availability. Once the plan is chosen, the customer can select additional options, configure hardware and schedule installation.

For fibre installations in buildings, Econofibre requires confirmation from the owner or building manager, with specific consent forms depending on the city. It also warns about possible incompatibility with monitored alarms that use the phone line and recommends checking compatibility with the alarm provider before signing up for fibre service.

Hardware and delivery

Customers can bring their own modem, although Econofibre only provides limited technical support for configuring third-party equipment and does not guarantee it will work to the same standard as the modems it sells. The company sells two router models: TP-Link Archer AX17 for 120 dollars and TP-Link Archer BE230 for 230 dollars. Delivery is by courier at a cost of 15 dollars.