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freitasm

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#268101 28-Feb-2020 09:33
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Just received:

 

 

Spark has released its latest wireless broadband offering – Business Flexible Broadband – which offers businesses the first uncapped data plan on wireless broadband in New Zealand.

 

Available today, Spark’s Business Flexible Broadband is one broadband plan that offers business customers tiered pricing options based on the data they consume. This gives them uncapped data when they need it, and savings when they don’t. 

 

The plan starts from just $79 (excluding GST) a month, making wireless broadband a great option for business customers who want an affordable, flexible, new generation broadband product with plenty of data.

 

Grant McBeath, Customer Director at Spark New Zealand says, “We know that owning and running a business comes with many day-to-day stressors. We’re really pleased to offer eligible business customers the flexibility of having just one plan for their broadband needs, which flexes depending on their individual data requirements each month. And with the bonus of personal support from local business hubs, for our business customers, Business Flexible Broadband is one less stress in their busy lives.”

 

Business Flexible Broadband is another step in Spark’s Upgrade New Zealand plan, which aims to move customers onto newer broadband technologies like fibre and wireless broadband.

 

“Over the last few years, we’ve been extensively upgrading our existing network, including adding new mobile sites to meet our wireless broadband customers’ capacity requirements. While previously, wireless broadband was a great option for low to medium data customers, removing data caps on Spark’s Business Flexible Broadband plan makes wireless broadband a viable option for more business customers than ever before,” McBeath continues.

 

“Whether it’s more data, faster speed or greater flexibility, Spark’s Business Flexible Broadband plans have an option to meet many business’ needs.”

 

Wireless broadband runs over Spark’s 4G mobile network and is available to eligible customers only. A fair use policy applies, so this product won’t be right for customers who need huge amounts of data. For those businesses with high data needs where wireless broadband is not a viable option, Spark’s Business Flexible Broadband is also available on fibre, depending on their specific business requirements.

 

Businesses can check whether Business Flexible Broadband is an option for them by contacting the dedicated team at their local Spark business hub or business contact centre.

 

Business Flexible Broadband on Wireless plans start from:

 

$79 (excluding GST) a month for 0 – 120GB data
$89 (excluding GST) a month for data over 120GB

 

Business Flexible Broadband on Fibre plans start from:

 

$89 (excluding GST) a month for 0 – 120GB data
$99 (excluding GST) a month for data over 120GB

 

Business Flexible Broadband on Wireless (bundled with unlimited calls) plans start from:

 

$89 (excluding GST) a month for 0 – 120GB data
$99 (excluding GST) a month for data over 120GB

 

Business Flexible Broadband on Fibre (bundled with unlimited calls) plans start from:

 

$99 (excluding GST) a month for 0 – 120GB data
$109 (excluding GST) a month for data over 120GB

 





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nztim
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  #2428673 28-Feb-2020 10:58
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This would make an ideal failover circuit to fixed line! question though, is it tied to the Spark Modem or could I install the SIM in a Mikrotik?





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hio77
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  #2428741 28-Feb-2020 11:29
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nztim:

 

This would make an ideal failover circuit to fixed line! question though, is it tied to the Spark Modem or could I install the SIM in a Mikrotik?

 

 

Existing SIM requirements are there.

 

 

 

We do have a Business Failover product, and in the Mendium to enterprise there is a full failover soultion.

 

Aside from that, the B618 itself actually does do failover. we don't offer it as a service as there are other complications there (voice for example) but it's essentially how the Wireless while you wait for your fibre install soultion works.





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Any comments made are personal opinion and do not reflect directly on the position my current or past employers may have.

 

 


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  #2428751 28-Feb-2020 11:41
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hio77:

 

nztim:

 

This would make an ideal failover circuit to fixed line! question though, is it tied to the Spark Modem or could I install the SIM in a Mikrotik?

 

 

Existing SIM requirements are there.

 

We do have a Business Failover product, and in the Mendium to enterprise there is a full failover soultion.

 

Aside from that, the B618 itself actually does do failover. we don't offer it as a service as there are other complications there (voice for example) but it's essentially how the Wireless while you wait for your fibre install soultion works.

 

 

Question is, is the SIM locked to the B618 ? or can it be taken out of the B618 and put in another device?





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hio77
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  #2428769 28-Feb-2020 12:01
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nztim:

 

Question is, is the SIM locked to the B618 ? or can it be taken out of the B618 and put in another device?

 

 

Sorry, i probably wasnt clear with what i said about existing rules.

 

 

 

Fixed Wireless Broadband plans (which is what these are) are locked to Spark modem restrictions. so yes, B618/B315





#include <std_disclaimer>

 

Any comments made are personal opinion and do not reflect directly on the position my current or past employers may have.

 

 


Lias
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  #2428898 28-Feb-2020 15:04
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hio77:

 

Fixed Wireless Broadband plans (which is what these are) are locked to Spark modem restrictions. so yes, B618/B315

 

 

I wonder if anyone's complained to the comcom about this yet. I remember a few years back when 2 degrees complained they basically said sim locking handsets was only okay because it was transparently allowing handset subsidization but customers could pay $30 to have the lock removed or wait for the 9 month timeout. I suspect there'd be a few people who'd be quite happy to pay $30 to be able to use these sims in any device...

 

 





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nztim
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  #2428903 28-Feb-2020 15:19
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Lias:

 

hio77:

 

Fixed Wireless Broadband plans (which is what these are) are locked to Spark modem restrictions. so yes, B618/B315

 

 

I wonder if anyone's complained to the comcom about this yet. I remember a few years back when 2 degrees complained they basically said sim locking handsets was only okay because it was transparently allowing handset subsidization but customers could pay $30 to have the lock removed or wait for the 9 month timeout. I suspect there'd be a few people who'd be quite happy to pay $30 to be able to use these sims in any device...

 

 

Sim locking phones is different that what is been done here, when you lock a Phone to a carriers sim you can only use that phone with a sim from that carrier but you can still put your sim into a unlocked phone if you want.

 

Here they are doing the reverse, locking the SIM to the modem, not the modem to the SIM.

 

I don't see any justification for doing this, as for me it makes the product unfit for purpose





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hio77
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  #2428904 28-Feb-2020 15:22
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nztim:

 

Sim locking phones is different that what is been done here, when you lock a Phone to a carriers sim you can only use that phone with a sim from that carrier but you can still put your sim into a unlocked phone if you want.

 

Here they are doing the reverse, locking the SIM to the modem, not the modem to the SIM.

 

I don't see any justification for doing this, as for me it makes the product unfit for purpose

 

 

I'm no expert, but exactly.

 

 

 

It's quite different to a sim locked device, it's the Product offered by spark is manage all the way to the modem. There is nothing stopping you from throwing in say a vodafone sim. Although the device we offer might not be suited for those networks.





#include <std_disclaimer>

 

Any comments made are personal opinion and do not reflect directly on the position my current or past employers may have.

 

 


 
 
 

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migrif
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  #2428912 28-Feb-2020 15:39
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Does anyone know if this is locked to the tower like the other Wireless Broadband Products? 

 


We have trucks that travel around NZ for shooting TV shows, and it'd be super handy to have a connection almost anywhere.


nztim
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  #2428914 28-Feb-2020 15:41
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migrif:

 

Does anyone know if this is locked to the tower like the other Wireless Broadband Products? 

 


We have trucks that travel around NZ for shooting TV shows, and it'd be super handy to have a connection almost anywhere.

 

 

No but if you move it form your address they will warn you, and if you don't move it back or update your address they will disconnect you





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Dugimodo
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  #2428924 28-Feb-2020 15:56
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There are mobile broadband plans offered for motorhomes and the like, haven't found an uncapped one though.

 

Really like the Idea of broadband I can move around with me.


nztim
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  #2428926 28-Feb-2020 15:58
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Dugimodo:

There are mobile broadband plans offered for motorhomes and the like, haven't found an uncapped one though.


Really like the Idea of broadband I can move around with me.



You can, just not unlimited




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hio77
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  #2428929 28-Feb-2020 16:05
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migrif:

 

Does anyone know if this is locked to the tower like the other Wireless Broadband Products? 

 


We have trucks that travel around NZ for shooting TV shows, and it'd be super handy to have a connection almost anywhere.

 

 

Geolocking does apply still yes.

 

 

 

There are options for traveling around offered by spark, currently are as follows: https://www.spark.co.nz/shop/mobile-plans/mobilebroadband/plansandpricing/

 

 





#include <std_disclaimer>

 

Any comments made are personal opinion and do not reflect directly on the position my current or past employers may have.

 

 


catspyjamas
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  #2428947 28-Feb-2020 16:44
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@hio77 I have Spark 4G business broadband for my work from home set up. It is all managed & paid for by my organisation, so I'm not 100% sure what the finer details are. From memory, the IT dept at work said they put me on the on the smallest plan available at the time, which I think they said was 60GB. This was a wee while ago now. Do you know if the wireless plan I'm on will automatically change to this new Business Flexible Wireless plan with the higher limit, or will existing business customers just stay with what they're on?


hio77
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  #2428961 28-Feb-2020 16:50
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catspyjamas:

@hio77 I have Spark 4G business broadband for my work from home set up. It is all managed & paid for by my organisation, so I'm not 100% sure what the finer details are. From memory, the IT dept at work said they put me on the on the smallest plan available at the time, which I think they said was 60GB. This was a wee while ago now. Do you know if the wireless plan I'm on will automatically change to this new Business Flexible Wireless plan with the higher limit, or will existing business customers just stay with what they're on?


At this stage there has been no migration.

I highly suspect it will be an opt in as there are tos and billing impacts to flexible vs capped.




#include <std_disclaimer>

 

Any comments made are personal opinion and do not reflect directly on the position my current or past employers may have.

 

 


catspyjamas
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  #2428970 28-Feb-2020 17:02
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Ah OK. Thanks @hio77. I doubt they'll switch me over then as apparently the Work From Home staff only use around 30 or 40GB a month. I was just curious.

 

Slightly different to my internet consumption on my personal VDSL line at home. I use between 700GB & 1TB on that. :)


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