Finder is committed to editorial independence. While we receive compensation when you click links to partners, they do not influence our content.
Woi satellite broadband review
Get unlimited satellite broadband across New Zealand at the fastest possible speeds.
Is Woi satellite broadband right for me?
Woi offers unlimited satellite plans for remote Kiwis.
- The highlights: Fast and reliable; three speeds to choose from.
- Watch out for: Installation more expensive for a faster plan; you don’t own the hardware after installation unless you pay for it.
Types of plans offered by Woi
Woi offers satellite broadband which gives Kiwis the ability to get connected when they aren’t able to access wireless or fibre broadband. Woi’s service is provided by Kacific satellite, the first satellite operator in New Zealand that can deliver speeds similar to the slowest fibre through a small satellite antenna installed on your roof.
There are three plans available, all with unlimited broadband but each has a different maximum download speed:
- Woi 1 offers up to 40Mbps download speeds and comes with a satellite dish of 75cm.
- Woi 2 delivers up to 50Mbps download speeds through a satellite dish of 1.2m. This plan can be upgraded to have a download speed of up to 100Mbps.
- Woi 3 delivers up to 40Mbps download speeds through a satellite dish of 1.2m.
With unlimited satellite broadband, you can connect your home or business to cloud services, have Zoom meetings with colleagues, watch Netflix or catch up on the latest sport.
Product highlights
- Broad coverage. Woi satellite broadband can be accessed by anyone who doesn’t have access to stable internet or finds their current connection is too slow.
- Comparative speed. Woi satellite matches the slower speeds experienced with fibre, so you can easily download files and stream TV shows.
- Unlimited data. You don’t need to worry about keeping under your plan cap as Woi’s plans come with unlimited data to use at any time of the day.
- Simple plans. Woi’s broadband plans are easy to understand with no bundled extras to bump the cost up.
- Ruralco card accepted. Sign up and pay for your Woi satellite broadband using your Ruralco card.
What to watch out for
- It will take at least 10 working days before someone can come to your place to complete the installation.
- While you should experience the same speeds during most kinds of weather, your connection may slow down if there is very thick cloud cover or a major storm.
- If you are able to get fibre at your property or a solid 4G connection then these options are more preferable.
- Woi satellite broadband has a delay of under one second due to a latency of 650ms.
Woi installation
Once you have signed up for Woi satellite broadband, a representative will be in touch to organise a date and time for installation of your satellite dish.
You can expect to wait at least 10 working days for an appointment and will need to be present so that you can agree on a good place for the satellite dish with the installer. Your service will be activated within six hours.
Our verdict
Woi satellite broadband is worth considering if you need broadband and live in a remote area and don’t have access to another decent broadband connection, such as 4G or fibre. Woi’s plans are unlimited, so while you may be spending more per month, you won’t need to worry about low data limits that are seen with other satellite providers.
You have three plans to choose from depending on the download speed you prefer, but keep in mind that choosing the faster plan means paying a lot more in installation costs. Another point to consider is that it will take a couple of weeks to get up and running, so be prepared to wait a little to get connected.
More guides on Finder
-
Finder Broadband Awards 2021
Find out which broadband providers Kiwis are most likely to recommend in the inaugural Finder Broadband Awards.
-
Axie Infinity guide: How to play and earn
Axie Infinity is an RPG game that is currently dominating the NFT sector. Discover what Axies are, what makes them unique and how you can earn money simply by playing.
-
Metamask wallet review and guide
All you need to know about Metamask – the browser extension digital wallet and a user-friendly bridge to the world of Ethereum decentralised applications.
-
Starlink: New Zealand pricing, launch date, features and competitors
Elon Musk’s Starlink promises to bring high-speed, satellite-based Internet across New Zealand. We break down how it works, the costs, availability and competition it might be up against.
-
How to increase your upload speed
With upload speeds possibly lagging behind download speeds in New Zealand, read our tips on how to improve your service.
-
PS5 vs Xbox Series X: Performance, price, features, games and more
Who will win in the PS5 vs XSX video game console war? We compare the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, including specs, design, controllers and games.
-
Samsung Galaxy A71 review
Samsung boils down the essential greatest hits of its flagship Galaxy lines into the Galaxy A71.
-
Slow internet? We help you identify and solve the issue
If you’re suffering from slow download speeds or choppy Netflix streams, Internet congestion may be to blame.
-
Laybuy Review: A widely available interest-free option
Get what you need today and split your payments over 6 interest-free weeks.
-
81% of Kiwis facing streaming issues as broadband traffic breaks new record
Around 3 million New Zealanders may potentially face disruption to their broadband service as internet usage peaks during the shutdown. Find out how to minimise streaming dropouts.