Mighty Mobile hotspot limits happening May 4th.

Forums › New Zealand Mobile and Wireless › Mighty Mobile hotspot limits happening May 4th.

richms

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#324387 2-Apr-2026 16:59

Argh - Tried to fix the formatting and it just got worse!!

Just got this email.

Hi there,

We're getting in touch to let you know about an upcoming change to hotspotting on Mighty Mobile plans. From 4 May 2026, Mighty Mobile will be introducing hotspot limits across our plans. This change will apply to all Mighty Mobile customers. WHAT'S CHANGING? Hotspotting will still be included on eligible plans, but there will now be a set amount of high-speed hotspot data available on each plan:

STARTER: 5GB*

FAST: 25GB

FASTER: 50GB

FASTEST: 250GB

*On the Starter Plan, your data allowance is capped at 5GB. You can use all 5GB for personal mobile use, or you can hotspot as much of this 5GB as you choose. Once your 5GB has been used you will need to purchase a data add-on. WHY ARE WE MAKING THIS CHANGE? Most Mighty Mobile customers use hotspotting occasionally for personal use, like connecting a laptop or tablet when they're on the go. Adding hotspot limits helps us keep things simple and transparent, brings more clarity to how hotspotting is intended to be used, and supports a better experience across the network for all customers. WHAT HAPPENS IF I GO OVER MY HOTSPOT LIMIT? If you use more than your plan's included hotspot allowance, your hotspot may be slowed. Hotspotting is designed for personal mobile device use only. Please note that using your Mighty Mobile SIM in devices like modems or routers isn't permitted. If hotspot use is excessive and outside our fair use policy, we may contact you and, if necessary, restrict, suspend, or disconnect your service. WHAT DO I NEED TO DO? You don't need to do anything right now. These changes will take effect automatically from 4 May 2026. For more information, keep an eye on our website and Help Centre. Thanks for being with Mighty Mobile.

The Mighty Mobile team

No idea how much of mine is hotspotted vs on device, I use the phone to the car so the tesla tidal app will play in Hifi but I am pretty sure that I will be within the limits by a long way. This might affect other peoples use or consideration of the service tho.

Richard rich.ms

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Hammered
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#3477348 2-Apr-2026 18:00

richms:

Argh - Tried to fix the formatting and it just got worse!!

I've done what I can to fix it on my phone. Hopefully it's close enough!

People often mistake me for an adult because of my age.

Keep calm, and carry on posting.

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RunningMan

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#3477349 2-Apr-2026 18:08

Do they have a way of checking usage currently?

Qazzy03

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#3477356 2-Apr-2026 18:35

Not surprised people have been abusing the hotspot terms for awhile, and been contacting MM to ask support on how to break TOS to use in routers, so a bit baby mode leopards ate my face for some people that are going to get caught out.

jen1001

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#3477361 2-Apr-2026 19:05

RunningMan:

Do they have a way of checking usage currently?

I'm sure they can. One of my friends contacted them a while ago to find out how much data they'd used during billing month to see whether it was worth switching to Kogan's Black Friday BOGOF deal. Ended up staying with Mighty Ape, they were using about 20GB a month.

I didn't ask whether they'd been given a breakdown between actual data and hotspotting though

Qazzy03

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#3477364 2-Apr-2026 19:18

jen1001:

RunningMan:

Do they have a way of checking usage currently?

I'm sure they can. One of my friends contacted them a while ago to find out how much data they'd used during billing month to see whether it was worth switching to Kogan's Black Friday BOGOF deal. Ended up staying with Mighty Ape, they were using about 20GB a month.

I didn't ask whether they'd been given a breakdown between actual data and hotspotting though

In my Mightymobile log in web portal/app it shows current week and months data. I can also see stats for historic daily, monthly and yearly data usage. I tend to use 20gb to 30gb a month on average.

A quick Google search "ai" so grain of salt, say that phone companies can totally tell if you are hotspoting or tethering. However that's ai, someone with industry knowledge would be able to answer with more certainty.

grantius

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#3477385 2-Apr-2026 20:57

Hotspotting usually adds to TTL which is how they tell, if you are rooted on Android you can change it so the TTL doesn't increase.

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r0bbie

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#3477398 2-Apr-2026 21:47

Ive paid for a whole year upfront - surely the terms should stay the same

divxmaster

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#3477424 3-Apr-2026 07:53

Yes I totally agree,

I've only paid for a month in advance (which is due to be activated 21 April), but yes its the same thing, terms changed after I have already paid!

I use a lot of data, sure they say you cant use it in a router, but nothing about using it in a phone and using that phone as a router.

Well I guess I'm off to 2dm at $60 a month for wireless broadband. Only $10 more a month than MM would be, once the half price runs out.

Also I note ' If you use more than your plan's included hotspot allowance, your hotspot may be slowed'... slowed to what exactly?

Cheers

RunningMan

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#3477428 3-Apr-2026 08:19

And the T&Cs on the website don't seem to have any mention of this either.

MaxineN

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#3477429 3-Apr-2026 08:25

grantius:

Hotspotting usually adds to TTL which is how they tell, if you are rooted on Android you can change it so the TTL doesn't increase.

Only the carrier itself (so One New Zealand) would be able to tell. An MVNO could request this or potentially be told by the carrier to get their users in check.

Whilst the above statement is not a confirmation... As someone who hotspots a lot... I am not surprised in the slightest if One NZ noticed this trend.

r0bbie:

Ive paid for a whole year upfront - surely the terms should stay the same

The Terms and any of our Plans or Services may be changed from time to time. Any change to the Terms will be posted on the Mighty Mobile website, and unless stated otherwise will be effective immediately upon being posted online. We can also withdraw any Plan or Service at any time. We can move you to a comparable Plan or Service if we withdraw your Plan or Service, or we think you would be better off (acting reasonably and in good faith). We may notify you in advance depending on the nature of the change

These were the terms you agreed to... And it's bog standard language. That being said... A recent yellow and black company tried this and ultimately backed down as they mentioned that they could have made this change way more clearer... So I guess I wasn't the only one that kicked up a massive stink(and hopefully my position is very clear).

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SomeoneSomewhere

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#3478323 5-Apr-2026 18:59

Some of the other MVNOs (e.g. Rocket) already explicitly limit hotspotting, so presumably the infrastructure is there from One to deal with it. Will be interesting to see whether the LTE card in my laptop counts as 'hotspotting' or not.

Has anyone else found that their numbers/plans aren't actually listed on the account page?

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aj6828

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#3478324 5-Apr-2026 19:28

RunningMan:

Do they have a way of checking usage currently?

They know when a device is connected through hotshot..don't know the real technology behind it but there are ways around it..may be deep packet inspection

You can still by pass it via installing every proxy if you got a android phone .... so it tunels through the phones apn.. don't ask me how few videos on YouTube..

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Linux

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#3478325 5-Apr-2026 19:28

SomeoneSomewhere:

Will be interesting to see whether the LTE card in my laptop counts as 'hotspotting' or not.

@SomeoneSomewhere No that is not considered hotspotting

RunningMan

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#3478326 5-Apr-2026 19:32

aj6828:

RunningMan:

Do they have a way of checking usage currently?

They know when a device is connected through hotshot..don't know the real technology behind it but there are ways around it..may be deep packet inspection

I was more getting at knowing how much hotspot data you currently use, therefore what plan to choose.

raytaylor

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#3481934 18-Apr-2026 14:16

grantius:

Hotspotting usually adds to TTL which is how they tell, if you are rooted on Android you can change it so the TTL doesn't increase.

I thought they just use the separate hotspot data channel (like a vlan) in the mobile connection that your phone creates and treat them as two separate connections rather than supplying them as two connections but combining them from a billing perspective.

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