Unlimited Wireless Broadband for $135/mth?

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Unlimited Wireless Broadband for $135/mth?

cynnicallemon

370 posts

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#204272 24-Sep-2016 14:26

Just been looking at Sparks wireless offerings and noticed the wireless plan without phone for $84.95 - nothing new there except they recently upped the data to 120GB. Now, I wondered about excess data charges and I seemed to remember the last time I looked it was costly. So I scrolled down a bit from the selected plan and I opened up the "GOING OVER YOUR BROADBAND MONTHLY DATA" section and found this,

"If you have a data limit on your plan and you exceed your monthly limit, you’ll be charged an additional $5 per 5GB of data up to $50. If you exceed $50 of extra data, we’ll switch you to unlimited for the remainder of the month. Sign up for usage alerts and we’ll notify you at 80% and 100% of your monthly data allowance, and at 5GB and 50GB over your monthly data allowance. Alternatively, switch to Unlimited and you'll never have to worry!"

So, I'm assuming that $50 is the maximum Spark will charge you and then it's a free for all. So essentially it's a $135 all you can eat wireless plan or is there a catch?

I'm sure I looked at this a few weeks back and the excess charges were something like $5 per GB.

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#1639873 24-Sep-2016 14:40

Page I found about it says this:

How can I keep track of my usage, and what if I want more data?

It's super easy to keep track of your usage, you can see how much data you have left by logging into your account in MySpark. If you do find yourself needing more data, it’s simple to add some more with our Data Extra. For $20 you can buy another 15GB of data. Just call 123 and follow the prompts. Easy as!

You'll need your Spark wireless number handy unless you're calling from your wireless landline. (This number looks like a mobile number and starts with 027. You can find this on your bill and in MySpark). You can buy a Data Extra as a one off, or set it up to renew each month - it's your choice.

Seems daft they have you calling up to add data to a data service, but that seems to be the norm for spark, they seem to forget that they are an internet provider and are still stuck in the world of phone company.

Richard rich.ms

cynnicallemon

370 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1639875 24-Sep-2016 14:49

Also found this in the offer summary section,

Additional Data Charges

If you reach your monthly data cap, you have two options:

Purchase an extra 10GB of data for $20

Pay maximum $10 for up to 5GB additional data, then $4/GB thereafter

But this is dated March 2015 at the bottom of the page.

Talkiet

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#1639906 24-Sep-2016 16:10

The offer summary that you found has the correct information (ie. there's no unlimited option for $135/month on wireless)

Cheers - N

Please note all comments are from my own brain and don't necessarily represent the position or opinions of my employer, previous employers, colleagues, friends or pets.

johny99

495 posts

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#1639933 24-Sep-2016 17:34

Fixed line overage is capped at $50, no pricing cap for wireless, nice try though??

cynnicallemon

370 posts

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#1639938 24-Sep-2016 17:56

johny99: Fixed line overage is capped at $50, no pricing cap for wireless, nice try though??

I assume you checked to see right?

I have spoken to Spark and sent them a screenshot, they haven't got back to me officially.

Talkiet

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#1639943 24-Sep-2016 17:58

I can pretty much guarantee you it won't happen. If there's a way to read it wrong, it'll be clarified. The actual offer summary states the behaviour of overage for the wireless BB.

Cheers - N

Please note all comments are from my own brain and don't necessarily represent the position or opinions of my employer, previous employers, colleagues, friends or pets.

johny99

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#1639961 24-Sep-2016 18:40

Sorry the ?? Was meant to be a smily face emoji

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BarTender

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#1640015 24-Sep-2016 19:58

Why do you think that Mobile Data will have unlimited? It's just not going to happen.
Mobile spectrum is a finite resource. Attracting data vampires is one sure way to make your mobile network melt.
If you need unlimited get fixed broadband.

richms

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#1640016 24-Sep-2016 20:07

Would be nice here so I could get decent speeds, I often accumulate and create stuff faster than I can back it up even running 24/7

Richard rich.ms

cynnicallemon

370 posts

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#1640045 24-Sep-2016 22:20

BarTender: Why do you think that Mobile Data will have unlimited? It's just not going to happen.
Mobile spectrum is a finite resource. Attracting data vampires is one sure way to make your mobile network melt.
If you need unlimited get fixed broadband.

Technically Spark/Skinny wireless broadband is not mobile, it is fixed to a certain tower for each customer AFAIK.

I guess you need to be introduced to South Africa's Telkom LTE unlimited wireless plan, approx 800 Rand or about $80NZ per month.

Talkiet

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#1640050 24-Sep-2016 22:59

cynnicallemon:

BarTender: Why do you think that Mobile Data will have unlimited? It's just not going to happen.
Mobile spectrum is a finite resource. Attracting data vampires is one sure way to make your mobile network melt.
If you need unlimited get fixed broadband.

Technically Spark/Skinny wireless broadband is not mobile, it is fixed to a certain tower for each customer AFAIK.

I guess you need to be introduced to South Africa's Telkom LTE unlimited wireless plan, approx 800 Rand or about $80NZ per month.

I really wouldn't get into a discussion with Bartender and myself with what is Mobile and what isn't, nor the current state of the the economics around the MOBILE data networks in NZ in relation to unlimited data.

Well, you could I guess, but we'd be right :-)

Cheers - N

Please note all comments are from my own brain and don't necessarily represent the position or opinions of my employer, previous employers, colleagues, friends or pets.

Talkiet

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#1640051 24-Sep-2016 23:01

cynnicallemon:

BarTender: Why do you think that Mobile Data will have unlimited? It's just not going to happen.
Mobile spectrum is a finite resource. Attracting data vampires is one sure way to make your mobile network melt.
If you need unlimited get fixed broadband.

Technically Spark/Skinny wireless broadband is not mobile, it is fixed to a certain tower for each customer AFAIK.

I guess you need to be introduced to South Africa's Telkom LTE unlimited wireless plan, approx 800 Rand or about $80NZ per month.

http://www.telkom.co.za/today/unlimited-broadband/

Read the fine print on that offer you speak of.

Cheers - N

Please note all comments are from my own brain and don't necessarily represent the position or opinions of my employer, previous employers, colleagues, friends or pets.

cynnicallemon

370 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1640055 24-Sep-2016 23:18

Talkiet:

http://www.telkom.co.za/today/unlimited-broadband/

Read the fine print on that offer you speak of.

Yes I did already thanks and read the advertising complaint against them too, which failed. Most responsible users would probably not fall into the traffic limiting category, aimed more for p2p and nntp file sharers. They do restrict the amount of streaming via netflicks etc but I could live with that at $80/mth and I bet a lot of people in NZ would too, especially those that are stuck with ADSL with no hope of anything faster until 2020 and beyond.

quickymart

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#1640073 25-Sep-2016 08:46

Unlimited mobile data will never happen (with good reason).

cynnicallemon

370 posts

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#1640101 25-Sep-2016 09:56

quickymart:

Unlimited mobile data will never happen (with good reason).

They said professional rugby would never happen in NZ too...

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