ADSL and VDSL are acronyms that represent the names of each technology. Both technologies use the copper line network, like a traditional home phone line. Here's the breakdown:

ASDL stands for Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line. The broadband standard in NZ, it's fast internet over your copper phone line. ASDL is easy to install and great for everyday purposes, such as browsing and email.

VDSL stands for Very high bit-rate Digital Subscriber Line. VDSL also uses your copper phone line but it's faster than ASDL. Straightforward to install, it gives better performance than ADSL for streaming videos.

ADSL has been the standard in NZ for a long time. Depending on the quality of your lines, you can get download speeds of up to 24Mbps and upload speeds of 12Mbps. This is plenty for basics including emailing, browsing and checking social networks.

We sure do. The unlimited Business ADSL/VDSL plans offer all-you-can-eat broadband. So get online and munch away!

VDSL is heaps faster than ADSL! Depending on your line quality, you could get download speeds of up to 70Mbps and upload speeds up to 10Mbps. There are a number of factors involved such as the condition of the copper cables and the distance from the nearest cabinet. The closer you are to the cabinet, the better.

But if you can get Fibre at your address, then consider choosing Fibre. It uses fibre-optic cabling instead of copper. Fibre is a little trickier to install, but it’s worth it. Fibre upload/download speeds are overall more consistent and faster than VDSL. (With Fibre, you may need consent from neighbours or property owners. Installation involves laying new fibre-optic cables, so you'll need to make time for a site assessment and then allow a full day for installation.) 

As long as you're in the same area, you can keep your current number. Or if you want, you can pick a new one. Otherwise we'll allocate a phone number for you.

When you order VDSL, we offer a standard connection similar to ADSL. Note that you'll still need a compatible modem to receive the full benefits of VDSL, but when you sign up for a standard installation with a 24-month contract, you'll get a free modem.

Remember, if you can get Fibre at your current address, then consider choosing one of our Ultra Fast Fibre plans. It uses fibre-optic cabling instead of copper, which means the upload/downloads speeds will be more consistent and faster. Fibre is a little trickier to install than VDSL, but it’s worth it.

After 10 days, if the download speed isn't consistently better than 15Mbps, and we aren't able to improve things, you can switch back to standard ADSL at no extra charge or penalty.

Fibre is the newest technology. It uses fibre-optic cables to give a big jump in performance. Fibre is available at multiple speeds – all of them fast. It does takes a bit more work to install, but it’s worth it.

Our base Fibre plans are at least three times faster than ADSL, with speeds up to 100Mbps. These speeds are maximums. Like VDSL, actual speeds will be affected by various factors, including but not limited to:

• time of day
• NZ and overseas networks
• your modem and computer technology
• internal business wiring
• other environmental factors

When we connect you to Fibre, we'll disconnect your copper phone line (if you have one) and replace it with a Fibre-based phone service. If you go Naked, you'll have no landline phone service.

This may affect the functionality of services such as medical and monitored alarms, faxes, EFTPOS or set-top boxes that use the existing copper phone connection to communicate. Make sure any equipment is compatible with a Fibre landline by contacting the manufacturer or arranging for a test call at the point of installation.

Your Ultra Fast Fibre service requires mains power to operate. If power is unavailable, for example, during a local power outage, the broadband and any services which run over it may stop working unless you have battery backup. If there's a power outage, you won't be able to make 111 emergency calls from a phone line that runs on your Fibre service.

Check with the provider of existing services such as fax, security alarms, medical alarms, EFTPOS and payTV connections to make sure they'll keep operating alongside Fibre.

Installing Fibre at your business involves physically connecting a fibre-optic cable to your property from the roadside.

There are a few ways that Fibre can be laid to your site: surface mounting, digging a trench, underground cabling or through your aerial cables. The local Fibre company technician will choose the best option for your property.

If you aren't the owner of the property, or if you share access to the property through a right-of-way, apartment or block of shops, you'll need written consent from the owner and/or neighbours before installation begins. Your local Fibre company can help with this process.

We'll submit your desired appointment date and time to the Fibre company, which will perform the installation. If this date/time isn't possible, we'll let you know and request a new appointment. The installer usually arrives between 8am and 11am. Remember, you'll need to be onsite on the day you choose.

After you agree to the Fibre company's terms of service, an installer will arrive at the site of your business and talk you through what work's required to get your Fibre connection up and running. This includes any work that needs to be done to your property. The technician will complete external and internal wiring and physical setup, then test the connection to make sure you’re good to go.

The standard Fibre installation should suit most homes and businesses. Standard installations require a technician from your Fibre company to carry out work at your site. They'll make sure you understand what's required. They won't start any work unless you're happy with what's proposed.

A non-standard installation is for sites that are more than 200 metres from the Fibre access point. If your business is part of a block of shops or warehouses, or if any additional wiring is required as a result of a non-standard request inside the business, then installation could be non-standard.

Before any work starts, the local Fibre company will let you know whether your place needs a non-standard installation. They'll give you an estimate of the cost.

If you want to connect your Fibre landline service to your existing premise wiring and jackpoints, mention this when you order the service. This will allow you to continue to use any devices that are connected to the business jackpoints such as extra phones, monitored alarms, faxes, EFTPOS and set top boxes. The cost for this wiring is $49.

Ducting on your property

If your building was built after 1987 and has underground ducting, there's a good chance the ducting which carries your current phone line can also be used to carry a new Fibre connection.

If the building was built before 1987, it's more likely to need new ducting. This means the cable will be surface-mounted, or a trench will need to be dug to install the ducting. The trench may be dug by the local Fibre company, or they may ask for you to organise this yourself. This will be determined at the time of the install.

Installers will do their best to minimise the impact on any grass areas. If any hard surfaces are affected, they'll be resealed. Local Fibre Companies have said they'll also attempt to reinstate these areas to the previous standard but this isn't guaranteed, especially in cases of matching concrete patina or paving stones.

It's next-gen broadband, delivered at blistering speeds over the fastest residential Fibre service in New Zealand.

Speed test results for most customers should be between 400–900Mbps, under the optimal conditions as recommended below. Some connections could be even faster than this. In order to get the best performance out of your Ultra Fast Fibre MAX service, you might need to change the way you’re connecting to the internet. Most importantly, you'll need to have high-spec hardware in your home. Spark terms and charges apply.

To get the best possible performance from Ultra Fast Fibre MAX broadband, we recommend:

• A high-spec modem that can support these types of speeds
• A high-spec laptop or PC with up-to-date drivers
• An Ethernet cable to connect your devices to the modem (instead of WiFi)
• The latest version of your browser
  

You can test your speed using a local speed test server. Spark customers can use spark.co.nz/speedtest

Spark's Business Ultra Fast Fibre MAX plans are only available to Business customers in certain regions. Book a call to confirm availability at your address. Spark terms and charges apply. 

The Fibre network, like broadband over ADSL, is shared with other properties within your local Fibre company's and Retail Service Provider's networks.

Speeds vary depending on how many people are on the network at the same time. This is also true for overseas networks when accessing content, such as websites or streaming video. Content such as web pages and videos are stored on content servers, so you can access them via your internet connection. Content servers within New Zealand and overseas can reduce the rate (bandwidth) at which you access their content (for instance, when they're very busy). This will affect the time it takes to download content.

WiFi connection can be impacted by environmental factors, such as other wireless devices in the building and even your neighbours' WiFi connection. Speed is also limited by the capacity of your devices. Older devices may be slower. Other hardware and software components can also limit the processing of bandwidth and thus your speed.

To achieve the most reliable connection and fastest speeds, connect your devices directly to your modem via high-speed Ethernet wiring, not WiFi.

There are three pieces of equipment you'll need installed at your premises:

1. External Termination Point (ETP)

This will likely be installed next to the current copper external termination point, which is typically outside your building.

2. Optical Network Terminal (ONT)

The ONT is another small box. It's attached to a wall inside your building. It's the place where you'll plug in your new modem. It’s also where your Fibre landline will be connected. The best location for the ONT depends on access to power points and whether you wish to continue to use your existing phone wiring for Fibre Landline (therefore requiring proximity to an existing jackpoint). Think about where you'll make most use of the internet, perhaps near a TV or computer. The installation team will discuss these options with you.

3. A Fibre-ready WiFi modem

Your local Business Hub can arrange a modem for you, or we'll courier it before the installation. You'll just need to have it on hand when the work starts.

The local Fibre company will set up this equipment for you. Before the installation, think about where you want to put the indoor box and the new WiFi modem. Ideally, these should go in a central location. Here are some considerations for the location of the ONT box and the modem:

• Proximity to a powerpoint
  
• Proximity to a jackpoint if you wish to continue to use your on-premise wiring for Fibre Landline
• WiFi coverage

If it's proving hard to find a spot that meets all your needs, you may need to pay for additional wiring. The installation staff can discuss this with you in more detail.

We encourage you to review the end user terms provided by your local Fibre company before your installation date, as you'll need to agree to these before the work starts.

Here are three reasons to choose Wireless Broadband:

1. It's reliable. Spark Wireless Broadband is high-quality and reliable. That means less buffering and lag time. It doesn't drop out when you need it most.
2. It's super fast. Broadband going slow? Ditch copper and tap into Wireless Broadband. It's super-fast technology that sends internet straight to your business.
3. It's easy to set up. Get your modem delivered to your door. Then plug it into a power socket using the cable provided and you'll be up and running in no time.

To make sure that broadband performance and network consistency remain at their optimal levels, Spark monitors 4G capacity in certain areas. We want to ensure that customers are always receiving the best possible service. This may mean Spark has to restrict capacity in some areas at certain times for new customers, particularly if the area is becoming congested.

You can connect as many devices as you want, including computers, tablets, laptops and smartphones. Certain devices may use different technologies, which will affect the speed. For instance, an older device with a slower processor will be slower than a newer device.

How you're using the device will also affect the speed. The more devices using your connection at the same time, the harder the modem works to deliver broadband.