Copper on the way out, but can't get a replacement (equivalent) wireless plan

Forums › New Zealand Broadband › Copper on the way out, but can't get a replacement (equivalent) wireless plan

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#3481256 16-Apr-2026 09:52

quickymart:

Thanks for the replies so far. I know Starlink is probably fine, but they want a service where they can just plug their phone into a router and it works - VOIP would be above their level of understanding, especially if anything went wrong (plus I'd prefer to support local as well).

Sounds like they have mobile coverage, so the option for "when things go wrong" is to use thier mobile phones until they get the VOIP back up...

They can even have their VOIP number (which can be their existing landline number) ring on their mobile ....

quickymart

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#3481300 16-Apr-2026 13:05

Mobile coverage at one address is poor (phone needs to be used outside to work properly - she uses Wifi calling), at the other address is okay though.

I had no idea re Starlink and landlines, so I'll look into it a bit more, I think.

This is on the West Coast of the South Island, in the area surrounding Blackball.

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#3481306 16-Apr-2026 13:31

Look at IP phones, and a service such as 2Talk. Yes, they need initial setup, but once done, work perfectly fine over any modern internet connection and the user knows no different.

Or, if they have smartphones, install a VoiP app.

XPD / Gavin

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#3481309 16-Apr-2026 13:42

quickymart:

I had no idea re Starlink and landlines, so I'll look into it a bit more, I think.

Basically you port the existing land line number to a VOIP provider (2Talk and Hero are two local providers) ,
Then you get an ATA box and plug in the old phone they have and that just runs off what ever IP connection they have...

It means they are free to move to Starlink or Amazon or any other data provider and their voice service just independently on top...

Jase2985

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#3481332 16-Apr-2026 14:52

quickymart:

Thanks for the replies so far. I know Starlink is probably fine, but they want a service where they can just plug their phone into a router and it works - VOIP would be above their level of understanding, especially if anything went wrong (plus I'd prefer to support local as well).

I'll look into the other wireless options suggested (2degrees, etc) but in the meantime please keep the suggestions coming 🙂

sounds like your making excuses to not get it

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#3481333 16-Apr-2026 14:54

Starlink is just another internet connection delivered from the Sky above our heads! As above stop the excuses

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quickymart

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#3481334 16-Apr-2026 15:08

Jase2985:

quickymart:

Thanks for the replies so far. I know Starlink is probably fine, but they want a service where they can just plug their phone into a router and it works - VOIP would be above their level of understanding, especially if anything went wrong (plus I'd prefer to support local as well).

I'll look into the other wireless options suggested (2degrees, etc) but in the meantime please keep the suggestions coming 🙂

sounds like your making excuses to not get it

Nope, but I want to look at all options (yes, including Starlink).

edit, just had another look at Starlink and it could actually be a goer 👍 will investigate further.

robjg63

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#3481338 16-Apr-2026 16:08

Ideally, if both your people have a mobile phone, you could :

1) Get Starlink installed.

2) Get the landline phone number ported to a VOIP provider, and pop a VOIP phone app on the mobile phone.

3) Configure the VOIP app as per the providers instructions

4) Cancel old ADSL/ADSL - porting the landline number would probably terminate those plans anyway.

5) Ignore/remove any old telephones in the house

So, Starlink would supply reliable wifi in the house.

The mobile phone would connect via wifi at home and the VOIP app takes care of the ability to make incoming/outgoing 'landline' number calls.

When they are away from home, the landline number would still work via a very small amount of mobile data - so they can take the landline with them.

EDIT:added step about cancelling current plans.

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#3481342 16-Apr-2026 16:36

wellygary:

Basically you port the existing land line number to a VOIP provider (2Talk and Hero are two local providers) ,
Then you get an ATA box and plug in the old phone they have and that just runs off what ever IP connection they have...

It means they are free to move to Starlink or Amazon or any other data provider and their voice service just independently on top...

2talk have a nice app that can pick up landline calls on a mobile phone.

When I moved house I didn't need to use my ATA and analog phones.

Gordy

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#3482028 19-Apr-2026 01:49

quickymart:

I've been visiting some relatives in a rural part of the SI this last week, and they're both on copper (one ADSL, one VDSL). They would dearly love to move off copper and onto something better.

Problem is, fibre will never see the light of day at their addresses, so that leaves wireless. All good...except Spark apparently has capacity issues at the serving cellsite, and when I went to the local Spark shop (and also asked on their chat) I was told the best plan they could offer was 50GB of usage per month - both my relatives use quite a bit more than this.

I wouldn't automatically rule out fibre.

While there has been plenty of talk about huge installation quotes for some people - this is not universal. I have seen some quotes for way more then I expected, and others come in at less then I thought, and with the later I invariably say "take it".

We have "custom install" (aka. NoA) UFB but we are in the township so yeah, maybe that was more likely we would be at lower end of the cost range. But I have also recently done a quote for someone in a farming backwater and it came in under $25k because they just happened to have a VDSL cabinet along the street so the fibre was already running past their place and this provided conduit Chorus could use to get their UFB fibre to the junction point.

But lets be honest. There is a cost and some people consider any amount too high because folks in town got it for free, so should they. To be realistic it will almost certainly be no less then a five-figure sum. $10-30k is where most of the lower end priced installs come in at, including ours.

But if they are realistic and can justify it to themselves as a business expense or equivalent to a full kitchen reno... find an ISP who will sponsor their NoA application and get it underway. Ideally before Chorus gets off the hook for copper.

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#3482029 19-Apr-2026 07:25

I looked at fibre but one relative would need to dig a 50m trench at his own cost (not interested) and the other would have to pay for an NGA connection, also not interested.

Starting to look like Starlink will be the way to go for both of them.

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noroad

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#3482033 19-Apr-2026 08:31

quickymart:

Problem is, fibre will never see the light of day at their addresses, so that leaves wireless. All good...except Spark apparently has capacity issues at the serving cellsite, and when I went to the local Spark shop (and also asked on their chat) I was told the best plan they could offer was 50GB of usage per month - both my relatives use quite a bit more than this.

Before jumping to Starlink, did they actually check One and 2degrees for FWA coverage?

quickymart

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#3482035 19-Apr-2026 08:54

One wants to stay with Spark, the other is with Slingshot, so maybe 2degrees could be worth a look there.

I'll plug their addresses into the Nationwide Broadband Map and see if they're available options or not.

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#3482036 19-Apr-2026 09:09

quickymart:

One wants to stay with Spark, the other is with Slingshot, so maybe 2degrees could be worth a look there.

@quickymart look at gis.geek and look at the local towers if you want PM me the address and I can take look

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#3482037 19-Apr-2026 09:13

@quickymart A quick look at gis.geek all carriers use the same mast

edit: You just need to get them hooked up onto Starklink

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