Hi, we are travelling to Norfolk Island for a week in October. Keen to here of anyone's experiences with quality of wi-fi on the island.
Have read that it isn't great and purchase of a sim upon arrival is the best way to go?
Travel to Norfolk Island - Wi-Fi Options
WeLoveFreeMoney on 26/04/2022 - 20:48
Comments
OP is looking for WiFi on an Island.
May try 4G/3G.
I always found it weird how people are using WiFi = internet. Technically it is just the wireless protocol used to connect to the internet.
Exactly. I'm sure there's plenty of quality wifi on Norfolk island. Quality internet, well that's another issue.
Starlink works in a warzone.
It should work on an Island.
It would be really impractical to be carrying around your own satellite on a holiday.
you descended from fletcher christian or something?
https://parksaustralia.gov.au/norfolk/plan/phone-and-interne…
according to that there are several internet cafes (surprising) and wifi hotspots there
why do you want to use the internet while there?
Chat with the hotel or bnb you're staying at. Hosts offer WiFi access normally if you don't want to go to the Cafe.
It seems the only phone provider is Norfolk Telecom
https://www.ni.net.nf/plans/mobile/Sources suggest international roaming isn't possible
https://www.norfolkislandtravelcentre.com/news/staying-conne…Got back from there in Feb. Internet is rubbish. Your accommodation will either use NBN Sky Muster and Norfolk Telecom's satellite internet, all via satellite. Pings are slow (around 700ms to Australian servers) and speeds highly variable.
Expect to pay $10/GB regardless of whether you are using a local SIM card or using the hotels WiFi offering, so you might as well just bite the bullet and buy a SIM. Norfolk Telecom basically has the island covered from a 4G coverage perspective and it does make things easy to be able to call restaurants etc. to make bookings using the included credits.
Pre-download all your maps, Netflix, music etc. so you don't burn through your data, and turn off any automatic backups your phone might do.
I was there for a couple of months 2 years ago. Can confirm there is no roaming of any carrier. Just a 3G/4G service for voice (local SIM only). Looks like they have much better data plans now as per Presence's link, used to be about $70 for about 5GB.
An alternative might be these guys who were just starting up while i was there https://www.norfolkislanddataservices.com/4g-mobile-data . No prices on the site, but you can contact them and ask.
Your accommodation may have their own NBN satellite connection, which are usually decent. Just don't expect amazing speeds.
It will be expensive either way, only cheap thing on Norfolk is the booze :)
I'll turn off my phone unless absolutely necessary for a week to enjoy the island
Can't you just use the existing mobile provider that you use in the rest of Australia?
No, only for voice. Data roaming is not available on Norfolk Island.
Not even for voice. Only local SIMs are supported on the island network. Its a private setup run by the NI council.
That's odd. Is there a legal/regulatory reason why the three networks (Telstra, Voda, Optus) aren't available on the island? I mean they operate on nearly every other island in the country.
@st1ng: Not sure. Probably no money in it for the telcos and it was not made a requirement by the government.
The island council probably makes a killing off selling SIMs to tourists, so they may be against it also. They are fiercely independant and look at Australia as unwanted oversight, so that would play a part too.
In my experience, my accomodation had wifi (certain gigs for a week included with a token) and they gave me an old flip phone to use for calls while out and about. That's all you need.
Was just looking at it, these plans fromnorfolk telecomdon't look bad. Has anyone used them?
Oopsie daisy, that was ADSL. Mobile plans are here $80 for 8GB
This makes no sense