We've had Vodafone rural broadband and phone for the last 6 months and been very happy with it, but I got an email tonight informing us that they intend to cap speeds for the Rugby World Cup, and beyond. I found this all a bit worrying. I hope that speeds don't drop too much... 😧

------

Frequently Asked Questions

When do these network changes take effect?

We will implement traffic management on the network in late August / early September ongoing. The Spark Sport app prioritisation for Rugby World Cup games will only be in effect during Rugby World Cup.   

What are the changes being made?

We are making technology and network changes which will cap the Rural Broadband and Home Wireless Broadband speed to 30MBps at all times, everywhere and also further cap speeds at peak times in order to ensure you stay connected even when the network is at its busiest.  

Why are we making these changes?

We want all of our Rural Broadband customers to have a good experience and to always stay connected to the people, information and entertainment that matter to them.  This includes the Rugby World Cup games, for which the Spark Sport app will be prioritised for streaming over this period.  We've created a special network traffic lane - kind of like a bus lane for the Internet - to help you have a great experience of watching the live games.  Despite our best efforts, if there are a lot of people in your home or in your area using the internet at the same time, there could still be congestion on some of our cell sites during games, which could disrupt your viewing.  

How will this affect me?

What traffic management means for customers is that you won't notice extreme high or low speeds. Everyone will have a good experience of using rural broadband, with the max speed being the same as entry level fibre.  In addition, customers will stay connected even during the very busiest periods.  During these peak times, you may notice a slower speed, but you'll still be connected - basically, we're removing the potential for gridlock.  

What do I need to do?

Nothing, this change will come into effect automatically.  

What about the Terms and Conditions of my plan?

We have updated the terms and conditions of our Rural Broadband and Home Wireless products. Please see these here.  

Will there be any changes to my plan charges as part of this change?

No, there will be no changes to plan charges as a result of the traffic management policy.  

I am not happy with these changes, can I opt out?

Yes, if you are not happy with these network changes you can exit your current term without early termination charges.

--------