New Zealand coverage
 

I see Vodaphone and Spark are suppose to have the best networks, according to Prepaidwikia, with both carriers having started to roll out 4G.

They all show coverage in the major cities and tourist destinations but how are they generally in less populated areas?

In researching itineraries on the South Island, there are often long drives, 3-5 hours between destinations. As I would be interested in using data for GPS and maybe also to check email and look up things, I'd like to have as much coverage in between the bigger or more well known towns.

4G in NZ
 

We are rolling out 700 4G LTE to the rural areas and a mix of 700 and 1800 lte to the Metro areas . All three networks have reasonable coverage maps via their websites SPARK VODAFONE and 2DEGREES

I run a Samsung J1 on 700 MHz and a Vodafone 890 N on 1800
have had in excess of 100 megabit on speedtest.net

Al networks have data add on bundles some rollover for up to 12 months
depending on the add on

cheers
Steve

After doing some research, I found out that many hotels in even the big cities don't offer free Internet.

So I'm leaning towards Spark since it includes wifi at some pay phones in the cities in addition to comparable data bundles.

Also just ordered an iPad Air 2 which offers more LTE bands than the iPad mini 2which I've been using on my trips.

Also believe NZ may use some unusual 3G bands as well.

NZ
 

I don't stay in NZ Hotels so cant comment on free internet .
If I stay somewhere without fibre or VDSL I tend to use my bundled data .
As for frequencies pretty standard really except for Spark / Skinny
which has 3G on 850 MHz

Vodafone 2g 900Mhz a little 1800mhz in early days
3g 900mhz ( extended ) and 2100mhz
4g 700mhz ( extended ) 1800 and 2600mhz
2 Degrees 2g 900mhz
3g 900mhz ( extended ) 2100mhz
4g 1800 MHz
Spark
Skinny 3g 850mhz / 2100mhz
4g 700mhz ( extended ) 1800Mhz

If you want to use the Spark Network for Data Skinny has some good bundled add ons
I used the Spark Wifi a few times was disappointed in the speed !

Yeah I don't now if I will count on the Spark Wifi or not. There aren't as many Wifi spots in even the bigger cities as one might suspect. Seems they didn't convert all the public phones to Wifi hotspots.

Instead, I'm contemplating buying a 5 GB bundle for around 80 NZD, IIRC and then using it if the hotel wifi is inadequate.

Then renew if necessary, during my 21-day trip.

Just hope that the US dollar stays high relative to the NZD through February.

Skinny as a promo at the moment for new activations . If you go on the $16 combo sms data calls etc
you get a bonus 1 gig of data each month for 3 months

Arrived late into Wellington airport and in the baggage claims area was a Verizon kiosk so I bought the 5GB bundle with the nano sim for 85 NZD.

Right smack in the middle of Wellington cbd, no LTE. Went into a Verizon shop in town and they said they didn't know. They tried swapping the Sim and no difference.

3G speeds are around 9 Mpps.

They said maybe because I was trying a non NZ iPad but iPad Air 2 is shown to support most of the LTE bands in Europe, Asia including Oceania as well as North America.

Bummed. If I need more, I'm gonna give Spark a try.

You will need the Asia Pacific version of phone for 700 / 1800 LTE in NZ

http://www.apple.com/ipad/LTE/

My iPhone 6s Plus gets Vodaphone LTE in Wellington and Nelson using a USA t mobile sim.

Went to a mall in Chistchurch which has both Spark and Vodaphone stores.

First, the Vodaphone store tried and still couldn't get LTE or 4g on my iPad Air 2.

Then I went to the Spark store, told them my concerns about getting LTE or 4g. The sales clerk took the sim out of her iPhone 5, where it displayed 4g and it showed LTE on my iPad Air 2.

Only thing is, they didn't have a trio SIM with no data for $5. Instead all they had was the $29 sim with 1.5 GB. And then I could add data bundles. So I bought the $29 sim even though it wasn't as good a rate as buying the $5 sim and adding a $50 or $90 bundle.

One of the places I stayed in only had Zenbu with 100 MB bundles so I want to have mobile data as a backup.

The next day I went to a different Spark store. They did have the $5 trio sim but they would not exchange or credit the $29 sim I had bought at the other Spark store. They claim no returns, unless the first store was willing to refund my money. I had the receipt and I didn't open it at all.

First, maybe not all Spark stores are owned by Spark? Second, I can't believe there is no return policy for unopened items. Is it specific to Spark? Is it a general policy in NZ?

I remember on a tour I went in Wellington the guide said the city is offering free wifi for 30 minute sessions in many public areas -- as many cities around the world were doing.

He said Wellington wants to become a tech hub for the region.

But their telecom infrastructure could be more competitive. It would be nice if there was a third mobile network, so these mobile cos. Had more competitive prices and more consumer friendly attitude.

And then there is the inadequate wired service at travel lodgings. Daily limits and slow speeds. At least Zenbu seems to be on the way to becoming more rare.

"But their telecom infrastructure could be more competitive. It would be nice if there was a third mobile network, so these mobile cos. Had more competitive prices and more consumer friendly attitude."

Well, New Zealand has three networks. Vodafone (with a f, not ph), Spark and 2° (spoken two degrees) and MVNOs like Skinny. That's not bad for competition.

"Second, I can't believe there is no return policy for unopened items. Is it specific to Spark? Is it a general policy in NZ?"

A SIM card or plan is not like any merchandise with warranty and a right to return. Because even a prepaid plan normally involves a kind of contract to define the T&Cs.

All over the world most vendors will stay away from taking back a SIM plan that you have bought in a different store. Even if it looks untouched, there is no obligation to do so. You can do a lot of things with a plan online on your account, without touching the SIM. It's more like a concert ticket, that your ticket agency may take back before the event, but often is not obliged to do so. All you can count on is their courtesy. But you can't expect it between different stores (of the same provider) especially if you want to change a more expensive plan to a less expensive one. I think this is not limited to New Zealand, but general rule.

So let's compare with the US. You can walk in every operator store in NZ and can get a SIM plus 1 GB data for NZ$25-35 (if it's physically available). NZ$30 is around US$20. Which US provider sells me 1GB data for a tablet plus prepaid SIM for US$20? T-Mobile already charges $15 for the SIM alone in their branded stores outside of promotions and AT&T prepaid plans start at US$25. Both operators check IMEI numbers to be sure that I don't activate my "tablet plan" on a different device. If the device is not recognized as one of their featured tablets, I'll be moved to a phone plan with less favourable data rates. This all doesn't sound more competitive to me.

We have a 3rd network ( 2 Degrees ) this has 4G in the main centres on 1800 Mhz I use this network and find it works very well on my Samsung J2

You could also try SKINNY which also operates on Spark Network various sims and packages

As for returns normally if you have a receipt and its not suitable for the
required purpose you should be able to return it

I dont buy directly from a store like Spark I use The Warehouse or Noel Leemings which have good return policy

Spark would also be well down on my choice of providers

Well for whatever reason, Spark gets me LTE but Vodafone is stuck on 3G.

But I drove from Fanz Josef to Wanaka yesterday and most of the time, neither had coverage. Maybe Vodafone was slightly better between the Haast Pass and Lake Hawea but you'd have signal and then a kilometer later, around the next bend, no signal.

Yes you prob picked the worst area for coverage low population = low coverage

4G rural you need 700 Mhz city 1800 Mhz in general
many rural areas do not have 4g yet

enjoy your trip and dont worry about phones !:D:D

Have in mind that LTE in Australia on 700 MHz is different to the US on 700 MHz.

In the US you use band 12 (T-Mobile) and 17 (AT&T). In Australia and soon in Europe band 28 is used.

All of them are called 700 MHz, but have different uplink and downlink frequencies. So it's better to add the bands to this in the future.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-UTRA...nel_bandwidths

4g
 

4G here is the Asian spec bringing hardware from USA and Europe
will run the risk of not working here correctly esp 700 Mhz band hardware
probably why our visitor had issues
all 3 nets run correctly here on My Samsung J1 and J2s

Must have been the profile on the Vodafone Sim, which always was 3G while Spark was LTE and 3G.

My USA T-Mobile sim got both networks, including Vodafone LTE in the bigger towns.

iOS Settings app. Had Enable 4g for Vodafone and Enable LTE for Spark.

At the Queenstown waterfront, Spark LTE clocked at 41/18.

In central Auckland, got over 24 on Vodafone 3G.

4g Speed
 

Quite poor actually !!
I have done much better on Vodafone in Wellington with NZ supplied hardware

http://www.speedtest.net/my-result/a/1177996449

Well I only had Vodafone 3G when I was in Wellington.

Skinny Direct
 

Use Skinny Direct, it's a no brainer

Skinny Direct is accessible via the Skinny Direct website and app. Customers sign up online, bring their own device, and can choose to bring their existing number. There are no top-ups, no prepaid balances, no vouchers and no standard rates. Customers benefit from easy ‘one-click’ purchase functionality and pay by credit card.

Skinny Direct offer two Combo packages. Each package includes unlimited NZ calling and unlimited NZ texts.

The $30 combo is for 3GB of data and the $50 combo is for 6GB of data. It's the best deal in NZ.

www.skinnydirect.co.nz/