Vodafone is New Zealand’s 5G mobile network leader, offering 5G mobile services in more places, and covering more Kiwis than any other provider. With Vodafone, you can get the newest mobile technology in parts of Auckland, Tauranga, Whanganui, Palmerston North, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown. Get fast and reliable internet, on the go.
What you need to be 5G ready, set, go!
5G coverage
5G is live in areas of Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Palmerston North, Tauranga and Queenstown.
5G phone
Available from Vodafone or Noel Leeming.
5G ready plans
Go 5G on us until 30 June 2022. Then $10 Add-On per month.
Where you can get 5G
Yes, 5G is now available in parts of Auckland, Tauranga, Whanganui, Palmerston North, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown. Go 5G with Vodafone NZ!
And 5G Roaming is now available in selected countries, including Australia. See our list of 5G Roaming countries.
Vodafone ensured NZ was the 22nd country globally to get 5G mobile technology; the network was switched on in December 2019.
As of February 2021, 5G Broadband is also available for homes and businesses within 5G Broadband coverage areas.
Our accelerated network investment program will see Vodafone upgrade or build cell sites around Aotearoa, and bring Vodafone 5G to many more cities over the next few years.
Following 5G upgrades in Manawatū, independent testing conducted by global leader umlaut in August 2021* shows Vodafone is the leading mobile provider in the region for voice calls and data performance. The Vodafone network is more than 3 x faster than any other mobile operator in the Manawatū region, also providing clearer calls with faster connections, and the largest 5G footprint.
To build New Zealand’s largest 5G mobile network, we will need to schedule temporary outages to protect the health and safety of our technicians and engineers while they work on improving our digital infrastructure. This means your phone or internet connection may be interrupted for a few hours, or up to a few days, while these upgrades are taking place.
See here for our planned mobile network upgrades to check whether work is taking place in your area.
Following 5G upgrades in Manawatū, independent testing conducted by global leader umlaut in August 2021* shows Vodafone is the leading mobile provider in the region for voice calls and data performance. The Vodafone network is more than 3 x faster than any other mobile operator in the Manawatū region, also providing clearer calls with faster connections, and the largest 5G footprint.
To build New Zealand’s largest 5G mobile network, we will need to schedule temporary outages to protect the health and safety of our technicians and engineers while they work on improving our digital infrastructure. This means your phone or internet connection may be interrupted for a few hours, or up to a few days, while these upgrades are taking place.
See here for our planned mobile network upgrades to check whether work is taking place in your area.
Want to enjoy 5G now?
Choose from our 5G capable phones
If you are ready to upgrade your mobile phone, or you simply want to experience the many benefits of 5G, you can browse and compare the 5G capable phones that we have available now.
Apple's iPhone 12 range of mobile phones all come with 5G.
For Android, both OPPO and Samsung have a selection of 5G capable phones to choose from.
Discover our 5G phones
Apple's iPhone 12 range of mobile phones all come with 5G.
For Android, both OPPO and Samsung have a selection of 5G capable phones to choose from.
Discover our 5G phones
5G is set to enhance your life
5G is the next generation of mobile connectivity and will power a network unlike anything you’ve ever seen, until now. It starts with your smartphone; here you’ll notice brilliant voice quality and near-instant connectivity to the web. This will make streaming in HD easier than ever, even when you’re on the move.
But in time, you’ll see the effects of the 5G network make even more exciting things come to life. For starters, you’ll be able to transform your home into a smart home and access your devices and appliances, via the cloud.
You’ll be able to enjoy multiplayer online gaming with near-zero lag, putting you in the heart of the action in high definition. Your family will also be able to stream movies and TV in stunning 4K simultaneously across multiple devices. And all this is just the beginning.
What makes 5G better?
5G is a network that's faster, smarter and more reliable in every way.
Increased network capacity
5G will keep more people online, more often, using beamforming technology. This means staying connected, at higher speeds, even in a crowd.
Even faster speed
With increased channels, mobile network speeds will be faster than ever, allowing higher streaming, faster gaming and more real-time connectivity.
Lower network latency
5G will have under 20 milliseconds of latency, making it lightning-fast for gaming & streaming plus exceptionally responsive for business applications.
The fifth generation (5G) mobile network enables faster speeds, lower latency (lag) and expands the potential of connected devices. 5G offers a leap forward in speed, reliability and connectivity.
The benefits of 5G are wide-ranging — from helping expand free-range working options, to offering greater Internet of Things (IoT) capabilities to turbocharge New Zealand's economy, and powering better esports and gaming. 5G can also help foster greater digital inclusion by enabling community benefits such as improved health, education, and social outcomes.
Vodafone customers with a 5G-enabled smartphone can currently automatically access 5G for no extra charge. To check the coverage area, you can visit www.vodafone.co.nz/coverage. Find out what 5G can do. Go you.
Frequently asked questions
Why has the date for the 5G add-on changed from 1 July 2020 to 1 July 2022?
At the time we set the date of 1 July 2020 for introducing a 5G premium, there was still some uncertainty around spectrum allocation and further device launches. With COVID-19 there has been some supply chain delays, as well as a delay to the spectrum early auction – however we remain committed to bringing 5G and next generation mobile tech to NZ and we felt extending the period for free 5G was a good way to reward loyal customers, at a time when discretionary spend is tight. Ensuring we invest in a 5G future longer-term is even more important, as we need to deliver the best possible connectivity services to our customers.
How can I access 5G?
You will need a 5G phone from Vodafone, a 5G ready plan (all 4G capable plans) and be in a 5G coverage area. 5G is live in parts of Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown, and we will continue to roll out 5G to more New Zealanders, so keep an eye out on the coverage map.
If you are looking for 5G Broadband for your home find out more here.
If you are looking for 5G Broadband for your home find out more here.
How much will I pay for 5G?
From 10 December 2019 until 30 June 2022, all existing Vodafone customers on a 5G ready plan (4G capable mobile plan) and any new customers who join us during that period, will get access to 5G at no extra cost. To access 5G from 1 July 2022, you will need to purchase a 5G add-on for $10 per connection per month including GST (or when your Prepay bundle renews).
Why is there a charge for 5G?
5G is our premium network. It’s the best mobile quality you can get and Vodafone is committed to continually investing in rolling 5G network out to New Zealand. Our goal by 2025 is to have 5G in 90% of places where New Zealanders live, work and play. In addition to this, we are also upgrading 4G cell sites to 4.5G throughout the country. We believe $10 per month is a fair reflection of the additional value 5G can deliver for our customers, and just like any other business offering, for customers who want premium there is a cost to enjoy this.
Is 5G for me?
5G may be right for you from day one if you live or work in an area with 5G coverage and want to enjoy the benefits of the fastest mobile network speeds, next to no lag, greater network capacity and reliability, even when it’s busy. You can take advantage of 5G access at no extra cost until 30 June 2022 with Vodafone - all you need is a 5G capable phone from Vodafone on a 5G ready plan and be in an area with 5G coverage.
How can I tell if my plan is 5G ready?
A 5G ready plan is a plan that will enable you to access 5G when the network is live. All 4G capable plans (including all our current in market Personal and Business plans) are 5G ready. If you signed up to your plan in the last 2 years, then your plan is 5G ready.
You can also check if your plan if 4G capable by looking in the notification bar (usually on the top section of your screen). If you can see “4G”, it means your plan is 4G capable and therefore 5G ready.
You can also check if your plan if 4G capable by looking in the notification bar (usually on the top section of your screen). If you can see “4G”, it means your plan is 4G capable and therefore 5G ready.
What’s the difference between a 5G ready plan and having 5G access?
A 5G enabled/ 5G ready plan is any current 4G capable mobile plan, if you signed up to your plan in the last 2 years, then your plan is 5G enabled, or 5G ready. To access the benefits of 5G you need to be on a 5G ready mobile plan, with a 5G phone from Vodafone, in a 5G coverage area. You will experience 5G access at no extra cost until 30 June 2022 and then you’ll just need to let us know (closer to the time) if you want to remain using 5G which will be a $10 (incl GST) add-on, per month.
How much data will I use on 5G? Do I need to be on a plan with unlimited data?
With much faster speeds, you will be able to use a lot more data on 5G. At launch, speeds will range between 150-200Mbps on average and it is likely you will use more data on a 5G connection. If you are on a capped plan, we recommend you upgrade to a plan with unlimited data, so that you don’t run out of data.
Will 5G work on my current phone?
Current 4G phones are not 5G capable. You will need to buy a new 5G phone. See our range of 5G phones.
What 5G phones are available with the launch of 5G?
Two different 5G phones were available to buy when 5G was launched in 2019, the Galaxy Note 10+ 5G and the Galaxy A90 5G.
Now, there are a lot more 5G phones available, take a look at Samsung's Galaxy S20+ 5G, and Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G. phones. From Apple, there are new iPhone models with 5G like iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max.
You can buy a Vodafone approved 5G phone from Vodafone NZ and other selected retailers.
Now, there are a lot more 5G phones available, take a look at Samsung's Galaxy S20+ 5G, and Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G. phones. From Apple, there are new iPhone models with 5G like iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max.
You can buy a Vodafone approved 5G phone from Vodafone NZ and other selected retailers.
I live outside of the areas where 5G will be available at launch, should I buy a 5G phone now?
Over the next few years we will be rolling out 5G to 90% of the places that Kiwi’s live, work and play. If you are already thinking about buying a new phone, then buying a 5G phone will be a way to futureproof your phone, so you don’t need to buy a new one again in the near future when 5G becomes available in your area.
We cannot guarantee dates of when 5G will be rolled out to specific areas, but will continually provide updates on the 5G roll out.
We cannot guarantee dates of when 5G will be rolled out to specific areas, but will continually provide updates on the 5G roll out.
Can I use a 5G phone that was bought outside of New Zealand or parallel imported, to access Vodafone NZ’s 5G network?
We cannot guarantee that overseas/parallel imported phones will work on the Vodafone 5G network. We recommend that you buy a Vodafone approved 5G phone from Vodafone NZ or other selected retailers.
Vodafone-approved handsets are fully tested and compatible with the full suite of Vodafone NZ services and frequencies.
Vodafone-approved handsets are fully tested and compatible with the full suite of Vodafone NZ services and frequencies.
When will 5G start to roll out around New Zealand?
We began rolling out 5G in major urban centres from December 2019.
Which areas will get 5G first?
5G is now live in parts of Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Tauranga, Palmerston North and Queenstown. You can use our coverage map to check if 5G is available where you live, work or play.
When will I be able to get 5G in my area?
5G is now live in parts of Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Tauranga, and Queenstown. Over the next few years we’re going to be launching 5G in many of the places that Kiwi’s live, work and play, so keep an eye out on the coverage map, as we will be updating it as more places go live with 5G.
Our goal is to bring 5G coverage to 90% of New Zealanders within 3 to 5 years.
We cannot guarantee dates of when 5G will be rolled out to specific areas, but will continually provide updates on the 5G roll out
Our goal is to bring 5G coverage to 90% of New Zealanders within 3 to 5 years.
We cannot guarantee dates of when 5G will be rolled out to specific areas, but will continually provide updates on the 5G roll out
How fast is 5G?
At launch, speeds will range between 150-200Mbps on average, and reduce latency to a round trip in under 20 milliseconds. As we get more spectrum and build out the 5G network, speeds will increase and will eventually have the potential to be up to 10x faster than 4G.
What does latency mean, and why does 5G reduce latency?
We experience latency as responsiveness. For example, after entering a web address, does the page load straight away or are you left drumming your fingers? On a network with lower latency like 5G, content could load in a few milliseconds, compared to 4G.
What about 4G?
It's important to remember that our 4G network and 5G network will co-exist in the future, just like 4G and 3G co-exist today. So we are continuing to invest significantly in our 4G network and upgrading many 4G sites to 4.5G. That means Vodafone customers will have a consistently awesome experience. And wherever you are, you can get access to the best available network experience from Vodafone.
Is this really 5G – or more like 4.5G or 4.9G?
Vodafone is rolling out 5G, according to 5G standards (based on 3GPP Release 15). This standard defines the 5G New Radio interface (5G NR), operating in a non-standalone mode i.e. using 4G as the anchor network. It is GSMA R15 5G compliant and as rolled out in other world leading markets.
We’re launching 5G in the most popular global spectrum band (3.5GHz). This technology will form the foundation upon which we will build our 5G network through 2020 and beyond – and has been tested in live international networks including Vodafone Italy (which launched 5G in June).
Due to mobility management and 4G/5G carrier aggregation features, our customers will move seamlessly between networks.
We’re launching 5G in the most popular global spectrum band (3.5GHz). This technology will form the foundation upon which we will build our 5G network through 2020 and beyond – and has been tested in live international networks including Vodafone Italy (which launched 5G in June).
Due to mobility management and 4G/5G carrier aggregation features, our customers will move seamlessly between networks.
Can I use 5G when I am roaming overseas?
5G is now available in selected countries when roaming overseas. Find out what countries are 5G enabled.
When roaming overseas, you will able to use 4G just as you do now.
When roaming overseas, you will able to use 4G just as you do now.
Will the 5G network support eSIM capability?
As part of our 5G ecosystem rollout, we will be integrating eSIM capability for eligible phones and cellular wearables (eg smartwatches) in 2021. This will open up enhanced possibilities for what you can do with your device.
If you want to stay up to date on our eSIM launch, you can register your interest here.
If you want to stay up to date on our eSIM launch, you can register your interest here.
Is 5G safe to use?
Yes, 5G is safe. The Ministry of Health and the World Health Organisation offer factual information on their websites. Over 30 years of research has been done on the effects of radio waves from mobile phones and there are no known negative health impacts.
Learn more about 5G and health.
Learn more about 5G and health.
What is the difference between 5G mobile and fixed wireless broadband?
5G Broadband is a superfast, reliable Broadband service that runs over our mobile network. This means we can offer Broadband to homes and businesses via a 5G modem, as an alternative to cabled Broadband services. Find out more.