One NZ to retire HFC (cable) network

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1514 posts

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#3465615 27-Feb-2026 22:27

KiwiSurfer:

Having been on UFB for several years I have to say the reliability of fibre is an absolute gamechanger compared to any copper tech.

In ~25 years on HFC, the only physical fault I can recall was due to damage to the coax.

Other faults were not hardware, but network configuration (ie messed up routing) which could affect any infrastructure.

I sit here with a Gbps down, reliable, solid.

Anyway, moot point, c'est un fait accompli.

---
James Sleeman
I sell lots of stuff for electronic enthusiasts...

lchiu7

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#3465756 1-Mar-2026 08:07

sleemanj:

netspanner:

We got the email of HFC doom today in Christchurch

I was hoping they might be leaving Christchurch until north island is done :-(

Going to absolutely grate paying the same for half the speed, and no doubt they will force to have the ONT where it's easiest to get to, instead of where the cable modem is in my home office, meaning I will have to connect my Linux workstation wirelessly, which will suck even harder.

Bah.

How is the cable run to your cable modem? My cable modem was upstairs in my office running along conduit on the outside wall and I managed to get the Chorus guys to run the fibre the same way (different conduit) to enter the house at about the same place as the cable connector for the cable modem.

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

sleemanj

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#3465867 2-Mar-2026 00:18

lchiu7:

How is the cable run to your cable modem? My cable modem was upstairs in my office running along conduit on the outside wall and I managed to get the Chorus guys to run the fibre the same way (different conduit) to enter the house at about the same place as the cable connector for the cable modem.

Expect that they might try and avoid the 20m of subsurface drilling, but the following 20m of running up, along, around corners, and back down walls again might be ok :)

---
James Sleeman
I sell lots of stuff for electronic enthusiasts...

TomAckroyd

105 posts

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#3467303 6-Mar-2026 15:35

Update from me: For 1000/500, One New Zealand are offering $30 discount for 12 months and a $200 credit, but after that it goes to $116/month. On the phone just now they couldn't offer a better deal. My $71/month for HFC 1000/500 days are numbered.
They tell me I need a SmartWiFi "modem" but if I can configure my existing Deco X20 for VLAN 10 (inside the Deco app) I wouldn't need the BE28, because I'll be retiring my VOIP (and $5 caller display, bless.) Can anyone advise, or would One NZ even help me do that configuration?

SteveC

stevec
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Lifetime subscriber

#3467305 6-Mar-2026 15:49

TomAckroyd: .....They tell me I need a SmartWiFi "modem" but if I can configure my existing Deco X20 for VLAN 10 (inside the Deco app) I wouldn't need the BE28, because I'll be retiring my VOIP (and $5 caller display, bless.) Can anyone advise, or would One NZ even help me do that configuration?

In terms of 'needing' the SmartWiFi device (you are correct, the BE28 doesn't 'modulate' anything, so technically is not a 'modem') my understanding is that you can only get the $30 discount if you include SmartWiFi in your plan. The 'need' is determined by marketing, not technical requirements.
I've configured our X20 to be a router on VLAN 10. I then returned the connection to my own Mikrotik router. It was a few years ago, but I don't recall having any issues, other than navigating the Deco menu.
The person we are supported really doesn't like change, and will continue to have a fixed phone, so they will get an X53. My preferred plan is to keep using the UltraHub, as it works perfectly well for what they want. The X53 can stay in reserve!

yitz

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#3467310 6-Mar-2026 16:00

TomAckroyd: My $71/month for HFC 1000/500 days are numbered.

upload is 100

HP

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TomAckroyd

105 posts

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#3467312 6-Mar-2026 16:06

Cheers, Steve. I have an UltraHub, it's connected to my cable modem - so I could use this to connect to the ONT? Therefore keeping VOIP option?

Out of interest and for everyone's info, here is OneNZ's AI assistant response:

Yes, you can use your existing Deco X20 to connect directly to the ONT when moving from HFC to Fibre! You'll need to configure it properly for the fibre connection.
Here's what you need to do:
1. Change the Operation Mode:
Use the Deco app to change your X20 from its current mode to WiFi Router mode
2. Enable VLAN Configuration:
In the Deco app, go to Advanced > IPTV/VLAN, toggle it on, and select "New Zealand UFB" as the ISP Profile
3. Physical Connection: Connect your Deco X20 directly to the
ONT using an ethernet cable to the WAN/Internet port
The knowledge base confirms that Deco devices can be reconfigured for different broadband types.
When switching from HFC to Fibre, you'll follow the operation mode change process and enable the VLAN 10 configuration through the "New Zealand UFB" profile setting.
This setup will allow you to bypass the SmartWiFi Deco modem entirely and use your existing X20 as your primary router for the fibre connection.

SteveC

stevec
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#3467322 6-Mar-2026 16:42

TomAckroyd: Cheers, Steve. I have an UltraHub, it's connected to my cable modem - so I could use this to connect to the ONT? Therefore keeping VOIP option? ...

Yep! Back in the day (with an appropriate raspy stereotypical 'old' voice) when 'Fibre-X' was introduced, Vodafone NZ took the opportunity to change the cable (spoiler alert - don't tell the ComCom but it was not fibre!) protocol to use VLAN 10, as One NZ and most (I think) ISPs do for fibre connections.
At that point I had to give up on my old 100Mbs Ethernet router (a very cute little Dell desktop running pfSense) so I got a Mikrotik RB750Gr3 which I still use.
I configured that to use VLAN 10 and have since switched between it, an UltraHub, the X20 (yes - the One NZ chatbot looks OK) and back, on coax then fibre with no issues I can remember.

TomAckroyd

105 posts

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#3467480 7-Mar-2026 10:35

yitz:
TomAckroyd: My $71/month for HFC 1000/500 days are numbered.

upload is 100

Correct, I had forgotten and fooled myself it was 500!

TomAckroyd

105 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 5

#3467484 7-Mar-2026 10:49

SteveC:
TomAckroyd: .....They tell me I need a SmartWiFi "modem" but if I can configure my existing Deco X20 for VLAN 10 (inside the Deco app) I wouldn't need the BE28, because I'll be retiring my VOIP (and $5 caller display, bless.) Can anyone advise, or would One NZ even help me do that configuration?

[…] my understanding is that you can only get the $30 discount if you include SmartWiFi in your plan. The 'need' is determined by marketing, not technical requirements […]

I confirmed this with One NZ. So that settles it. SmartWiFi @ $5/month, goodbye cable modem and Ultra Hub, hello 1000/500 @ $116pa from April '27.
The 2degrees equivalent is eventually $12/mth cheaper but starts at $10/mth off for 12 months and the sweetener is only 6 months of Prime = $90

Rickles

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#3467489 7-Mar-2026 11:22

>hello 1000/500 @ $116pa from April '27.<

Remember that 12 months is a long time in the telco business, so a contracted-period renewal at lower or same cost could be available for customer retention ... it happened with TC, Voda, and OneNZ in the past.

Relax for 11 months then start the negotiations.

Mighty Ape

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Distorter

242 posts

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#3467890 8-Mar-2026 18:37

TomAckroyd:
I confirmed this with One NZ. So that settles it. SmartWiFi @ $5/month, goodbye cable modem and Ultra Hub, hello 1000/500 @ $116pa from April '27.
The 2degrees equivalent is eventually $12/mth cheaper but starts at $10/mth off for 12 months and the sweetener is only 6 months of Prime = $90

I managed to keep my $30 discount for 5 years, I plan to keep it for another 5 years.

Eva888

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#3468176 9-Mar-2026 19:09

For anyone who had the free Deco X20s on super wifi and wondered if they would still work with the changeover, I can confirm that after the switch from HFC to Fibre the extenders will work, but they require a reset from the bottom of the unit and to add them to the Deco App again. Have just set up a friends one today.

For others who have not had any communication from One NZ after the initial contact I suggest you call them again and check your status. I spent an hour a few weeks ago helping out an elderly person to get their fibre organised. Was assured that an email would be sent and everything was now in the pipeline. Yesterday the elderly man called to say that he had not heard anything since that last time. I asked him to check his Spam folder, nothing.

I went to his house and called One NZ, was told they could see nothing in their records for a fibre install and told that in 5 minutes someone would call us back. An hour later no one had bothered so I called again and repeated the story, got verified 3 times each time I spoke to the next person and finally was told there was no order made for fibre at that address. Two hours of mucking around in circles. Let’s see if this time the order goes through.

netspanner

358 posts

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#3468424 10-Mar-2026 13:53

I booked my install for a fortnight from today. However talking to the call center person was horrendous. She was nice but the interference of the line made it really hard to hear. I wonder if its easier at their end.

Aucklandjafa

521 posts

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#3468428 10-Mar-2026 13:59

Wonder how long it’ll take for them to start decommissioning the network……

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