Fibre broadband is now available to over 87% of New Zealand homes, and it is faster and less affected by weather than older copper (VDSL or ADSL) connections. This guide covers how the fibre network works, the speed tiers, installation, and how fibre compares with copper and fixed wireless. What each provider charges is in broadband providers compared.
Speed (standard Fibre 500): 500 Mbps download (called Fibre 300 until June 2025)
Cost: about $92/month on average for an unlimited Fibre 500 plan (Commerce Commission, June 2025)
Installation: a technician visit if your home isn't connected yet; standard installation is often free, though some providers charge on open-term plans
Infrastructure: Chorus (most of NZ), Enable (Christchurch), Northpower (Whangārei) and Tuatahi First Fibre
Latency: typically 5 to 15ms, lower than copper or satellite
What Is UFB?
UFB stands for Ultra-Fast Broadband: the government-backed fibre rollout programme that started in 2009. The programme funded the construction of a fibre optic network to 87% of NZ homes, primarily through Chorus as the infrastructure company.
The UFB network uses GPON (Gigabit Passive Optical Network) technology, delivering symmetrical or near-symmetrical speeds up to 4 Gbps for residential services. Retailers (ISPs) buy capacity from Chorus and sell it to consumers.
Fibre Speed Tiers (2026)
Chorus and LFCs offer several speed tiers to retailers:
| Plan name | Download | Upload | Who needs it? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fibre 100 (called Fibre 50 until June 2025) | 100 Mbps | Varies by plan | Light users, 1–2 people |
| Fibre 500 (called Fibre 300 until June 2025; the most popular plan) | 500 Mbps | Varies by plan | Most households |
| Fibre Max | About 1 Gbps | Varies by plan | Power users, large households |
| Hyperfibre | 2 Gbps or 4 Gbps (8 Gbps in parts of Auckland and Wellington) | Varies by plan | Very heavy users, small businesses |
Fibre 500 is the most popular plan. 500 Mbps can support:
- 4K streaming on 6–8 devices simultaneously
- Video calls on multiple devices
- Large file downloads in seconds
- Gaming with multiple players online
- Work-from-home on several computers
Fibre Max and Hyperfibre are mainly used by households that regularly upload large files (video content creators, remote backup of large datasets) or have many simultaneous heavy users. The broadband speed guide sets out what common activities need.
How Fibre Installation Works
Step 1: Check if fibre is available
Enter your address at chorus.co.nz or your chosen ISP’s website. If “fibre ready” shows, installation is straightforward. If “fibre build required” shows, there may be a delay while the connection is built to your property.
Step 2: Sign up with an ISP
Sign up with a provider online. The ISP will schedule the installation. There are usually two types of installation:
Simple install (most cases): Your property already has a fibre connection terminated at the exterior (“fibre ready”). A technician runs the fibre from the exterior ONT (Optical Network Terminal) to a connection point inside your home and installs/connects the ONT. Takes 1–4 hours.
Complex install (less common): Fibre needs to be trenched from the street to your property. Can take longer and may require consent for trenching.
Step 3: Inside your home
You’ll need:
- An ONT (provided by Chorus or the LFC): the fibre modem box, usually installed on an inside wall
- A router (provided by your ISP or you can use your own) connected to the ONT
- WiFi from the router to your devices
Many ISPs include or rent a router with sign-up, and some let you bring your own compatible router instead. In a larger home, one router may not cover every room, which is why some providers also sell mesh WiFi units.
Does Fibre Work During a Power Cut?
No. Unlike copper phone lines (which carried power), fibre requires electricity for the ONT and router. If you lose power, you also lose broadband.
Ways households keep a connection during a power cut include:
- A UPS (uninterruptible power supply) for the ONT and router, which keeps them running for a time during an outage
- Mobile data as a backup (most NZ mobile networks remain up during power cuts as towers have backup power)
Fibre vs VDSL/ADSL
VDSL and ADSL are older broadband over the copper phone line. How they compare with fibre:
| Feature | VDSL | Fibre 500 |
|---|---|---|
| Download speed | 40–70 Mbps | 500 Mbps |
| Upload speed | 10–20 Mbps | 100 Mbps |
| Latency | 10–30ms | 5–15ms |
| Weather-affected? | Sometimes | No |
| Reliability | Moderate | High |
Some providers charge the same or more for copper than for fibre: 2degrees adds $6 to its standard plan fee for VDSL and ADSL, and BigPipe lists VDSL at $109 a month against $94 for its Starter fibre plan (both checked 14 October 2026).
Fibre vs Fixed Wireless
Fixed wireless broadband uses radio signals from a cell tower to provide broadband, without a fibre connection. Offered by Spark, One NZ, Wireless Nation, and others.
| Feature | Fibre 500 | Fixed Wireless |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | 500 Mbps | 50–300 Mbps (varies) |
| Latency | 5–15ms | 15–40ms |
| Reliability | Very high | Generally good (weather can affect) |
| Installation | Technician visit | Self-install (typically) |
| Data caps | Unlimited (most) | Sometimes limited |
Fixed wireless is used where fibre installation is complex, by households that want a self-install, or as a stopgap while waiting for fibre. Rural options are in rural broadband in NZ.
Checking If Fibre Is Available at Your Address
- chorus.co.nz: Chorus address checker (covers most of NZ)
- enable.net.nz/maps: Enable network map for Christchurch
- Your ISP’s website: most have address checkers that show available speed tiers