Help a Pom ?

Forums › New Zealand Broadband › Help a Pom ?

slyguy

47 posts

Geek

#24473 25-Jul-2008 02:36

Hiya,

I'm moving to AK in about 3 weeks, and thought i'd best try and get up to speed with where things are at with regards to IT in NZ (coming over as an IT consultant)..

Ok, what is currently scaring the bejeesus out of me, is the broadband offerings...

In the UK, i'm a big Newsgroup downloader, and probably average about 400 - 600gb per month, lots of films, apps, games, etc etc... (some work related stuff in there too ! :) ). Now, from what i'm seeing, those kind of figures just aren't going to be an option for me any more...

I've read a few articles about certain providers allowing unlimted access between certain hours, but can't seem to find info about what speeds these lines connect at etc (i.e. 8mbit etc).

So, would appreciate any advice you guys have (other than telling me to stay where I am....), on what i might want to look out for...

Oh, one other one.... what sort of timescales are we talking for an ADSL activation ?, is it similar to the UK, in that the BT / Telecom Analogue phone line has to be in place first, and then about 5 - 10 days after that ?

Cheers,

Sly

1 | 2

1539 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 38

Trusted

#151160 25-Jul-2008 07:54

O_o 400-600gb a month, I don't our lines could handel that :p

you being a big download I would recomend to stay away from telecom as they have smal datacaps

If your after speed (and the area your moving into supports it) go orcons ADSL2 (might be other providers that offer it now)

Offpeak Downloads Xnet offer 75gb free offpeak traffic (12-8am) Slingshot offer unlimited offpeak data between 1am - 7am

slyguy

47 posts

Geek

#151163 25-Jul-2008 08:05

Cheers for the response !

From the research i've been doing mean time, it looks as though the limitation in the NZ infrastructure is actually in its connection to the outside world... From what i can determine, there is only 4 x 20gb fibers running across to the US (as far as the domestic market is concerned).. and that if domestic users were let loose with "unlimited" or "uncapped" solutions, the infrastructure wouldn't be able to cope.

Does that sound about right ? or am i barking up the wrong tree ?

Looks like i'm going to be speaking nicely to people this end and leaving a couple of 1TB drives in place to post over every now and again....

Thanks for the info on the off peak services... certainly sounds like a feasable option... just looks like i'm going to have to be a bit more descerning about what i do download!!!

tonyhughes

Hawkes Bay
8476 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 6

Retired Mod

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#151164 25-Jul-2008 08:08

slyguy: just looks like i'm going to have to be a bit more descerning about what i do download!!!

Looks like it!

You are not in Kansas anymore Toto....

Every kiwi reader would have laughed at the relative absurdity of the figures you posted being talked about in a New Zealand context

slyguy

47 posts

Geek

#151165 25-Jul-2008 08:10

Every kiwi reader would have laughed at the relative absurdity of the figures you posted being talked about in a New Zealand context

Don't laugh at me.... i've not even moved over yet !!!

Do you think it would be a legitimate excuse to the wife, the family, the new job etc... to say, "sorry.... i'm not coming over, the internet is just pants ???"

newbiejam

51 posts

Master Geek

#151170 25-Jul-2008 08:25

How much $ do you pay for ADSL over there each month? Do ya get charged for the amount of data use ?

Currently in NZ, Slingshot offers cheapest data blocks ($50 for 50GB). Only Actrix offers full unlimited but comes at a whopping $496 per month

slyguy

47 posts

Geek

#151175 25-Jul-2008 08:51

How much $ do you pay for ADSL over there each month? Do ya get charged for the amount of data use ?

Currently in NZ, Slingshot offers cheapest data blocks ($50 for 50GB). Only Actrix offers full unlimited but comes at a whopping $496 per month

My Home DSL, i'm on 4.5mbs, (i'm in the middle of nowhere, and miles from the exchange, but with a potential max of 24mbs) is £25 ($65-$70 nzd) for unlimited... no fair usage policy etc, just a free for all !!!

But at work, i have a dedicated 24mb link for my use only (and do get 24mb), so, portable hard drive in work and bring home gb's and gb's of stuff...

There is no way i'm going to be able to look at circa $500 a month for internet.... that's surely just got to be businesses / loonies !?!?!

Ahhh well, i feel a serious culture shock coming my way.... just didn't think the biggest one would be the bloody internet ! :)

Lenovo

Shop now for Lenovo laptops and other devices (affiliate link).

NonprayingMantis

6434 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1528

#151214 25-Jul-2008 10:19

best bet would be to just use the BB connection wherever you get a job, and claim it is all work related. :D

But more seriously, you won't be able to download that sort of data without incurring huge costs whichever provider you go with.

Telecom did have an unlimited data plan a year or so ago, but because it was traffic managed i.e. slowed down at times of the day when bandwidth was most in use by other users, there was a lot of negative publicity and it was pulled and all customers were given a large credit to their accounts.

People who signed up during the time were allowed to stay on the plan though if they wanted, and most did (unsurprisingly)

newbiejam

51 posts

Master Geek

#151262 25-Jul-2008 12:34

New Zealand is slow in everything in terms of technolgy so yea

but ur trade-off for that would be the great living conditions in NZ.

twophat

48 posts

Geek

#151273 25-Jul-2008 13:37

yeah i can't believe what you just described. It really shows how far NZ is behind.

metime

35 posts

Geek

#151275 25-Jul-2008 13:41

I'm a Pom - been here over three years now and I nearly spat out my lunch when I saw the original post.

*Wisful sigh*

I remember those days ....

twophat

48 posts

Geek

#151278 25-Jul-2008 13:46

to be honest I almost hate you now because of it - life is so unfair!

Lenovo

Shop now for Lenovo laptops and other devices (affiliate link).

NonprayingMantis

6434 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1528

#151309 25-Jul-2008 15:13

yeah you won't be able to download nealry as much stuff when you move down here.

On the plus side you are much less likely to get beaten up or murdered, so it balances out. :)

(If you think Broadband here sucks compared to the UK just wait untl you get New Zealand Sky TV, the disparity is far greater.)

Sinn

103 posts

Master Geek

#151324 25-Jul-2008 15:41

Lol.. so instead of downloading tonnes of stuff and sitting in front of your computer all day and night, you can go out and enjoy the fresh air and open space here in NZ. Doesn't sound so bad when you put it that way huh? =o)

haha I had to re-read your original post to make sure I didn't mis read it the first time around. =oP

Say what?

newbiejam

51 posts

Master Geek

#151326 25-Jul-2008 15:43

move to NZ when u are older, have all grown up kids, have achieved most of ur life goals and rich and not having to worry about "reaching your monthly cap in broadband"

then enjoy the lifestyle here. NZ's got one of the worlds top environment and living condition

raytaylor

4076 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1296

Trusted

#151422 25-Jul-2008 19:53

Um if you want more info on the international fibre pipes - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Cross_Cable
Says there it had a 240gbit capacity and has been upgraded a few times to increase this capacity.

I also remember various news reports over the last couple of years that it only ever runs at half capacity because the capacity isnt all sold - probably due to a lack of buyers. If thats true then it is up to the ISP to purchase more capacity on the cable.

Also some outfit in australia has decided to put another cable in across the ditch although that will probably be 2 years away. When it launches, southern cross will have some competition so it will have to lower its prices or loose business i guess. That will result in lower prices for end users like us.

Here is the website http://www.southerncrosscables.com

If you are a heavy user - go to xnet.
Dont come to slingshot because i like my high speed free data overnight. We dont need slingshot to catch the orcon / overcrowded syndrome.

Ray Taylor

There is no place like localhost

Spreadsheet for Comparing Electricity Plans Here

1 | 2