Skinny Unlimited ($70) "Fair Use" soft limit?

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Skinny Unlimited ($70) "Fair Use" soft limit?

AlphaAlfalfaSprout

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#319313 12-Apr-2025 21:44

Skinny's other plans specify a certain amount of max speed data before the throttled "endless" data kicks in. The so-called "Unlimited" $70 plan just states that you get unlimited max speed data but then caveats this with "Fair Use Policy applies". The T&C's Fair Use section is uselessly vague, referring to "overly excessive or unreasonable" use.

Due to my current housing circumstances, I am relying on this plan for 100% of my internet usage. I'm 15 days into the first month and have already used just over 50GB. This is with me making a concerted effort to reduce my usage. Extrapolating out, is 100GB a month going to run afoul of Skinny's "Fair Use" policy? Does anyone know what the soft limit is in GB? (I don't know why they don't just state it like they do for the other plans).

The next two plans down in the hierarchy are throttled after 40GB ($50) and 10GB ($40) so I feel like I might be pushing the limits with 100GB.

Linux

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#3363421 12-Apr-2025 22:02

Unlimited full speed means unlimited full speed they can't hide behind T&C's commerce commission will take them to task

Scott3

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#3363425 12-Apr-2025 23:22

Sounds a bit like xtra go large...

https://comcom.govt.nz/news-and-media/media-releases/archive/telecom-fined-$500,000-for-misleading-over-go-large-plan

Wheelbarrow01

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Chorus

#3363784 13-Apr-2025 18:29

The average monthly data use per customer over the Chorus network was 644GB for the quarter ending in December 2024. That pretty much tells you everything you need to know. 50GB in 15 days? Those a rookie numbers 🤣

I assume you're talking about 4G/5G fixed wireless connection? The average usage over wireless is probably less than that of fibre, but not massively so I would have thought.

My advice is just use it normally and don't worry about it. I'm sure IF you go over whatever soft cap Skinny has, they will give you multiple warnings and won't just withdraw your service.

The views expressed by me are not necessarily those of my employer Chorus NZ Ltd

AlphaAlfalfaSprout

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#3363785 13-Apr-2025 18:31

Wheelbarrow01:

I assume you're talking about 4G/5G fixed wireless connection?

No, phone plan distributed between the phone itself and tethered laptop.

SomeoneSomewhere

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#3363787 13-Apr-2025 18:36

I think OP is on a general-purpose mobile phone plan (which does allow hotspotting), not a mobile broadband / fixed wireless plan.

The skinny fixed wireless plans are $50/120GB and $55/unlimited ($10 less bundled with mobile). Fixed wireless is usually cheaper because they only sell it in areas where towers have spare capacity.

MaxineN

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#3363790 13-Apr-2025 18:44

Wheelbarrow01:

The average monthly data use per customer over the Chorus network was 644GB for the quarter ending in December 2024. That pretty much tells you everything you need to know. 50GB in 15 days? Those a rookie numbers 🤣

That's cute.

That's a almost 15 day PPPoE session.

To remain on topic... unless you're absolutely abusing the network... I don't think anyone's going to bat an eye at 100gb let alone 200... at maybe a terabyte someone might raise an eyebrow.

Linux:

Unlimited full speed means unlimited full speed they can't hide behind T&C's commerce commission will take them to task

Then the com com would be taking a shot at all 3 carriers because all 3 do hide behind the fair use. Just because it hasn't happened yet (publicly to anyone's knowledge) doesn't mean it won't happen. I think you and I both know what constitutes as fair use and what doesn't 😉

Ramblings from a mysterious lady who's into tech. Warning I may often create zingers.

nztim

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TEAMnetwork

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#3393316 11-Jul-2025 15:18

Using Mobile phone tethering as what is effectively a replacement for fixed line broadband is definitely covered by terms and conditions of fair use

Scenario 1 - I am using mobile phone at the beach for 3 days to hotspot to my laptop to watch a few hours of Netflix each night = fair use
Scenario 2 - I am permanently using my mobile phone to hotspot to all the devices in my home running up 15-20gb per day, every day = not fair use

it is pretty simple stuff

Any views expressed on these forums are my own and don't necessarily reflect those of my employer.

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acsylaa

51 posts

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Just Internet

#3393357 11-Jul-2025 19:42

MaxineN:

That's cute.

That's a almost 15 day PPPoE session.

To remain on topic... unless you're absolutely abusing the network... I don't think anyone's going to bat an eye at 100gb let alone 200... at maybe a terabyte someone might raise an eyebrow.

Ill leave this here. 11 Days in to the month and even im a little bit amazed.