Chorus Equity Fibre 100: $30/month wholesale for eligible low-income households. Who qualifies, how to apply, and the digital divide.
The Digital Divide in New Zealand
Broadband is no longer a luxury — it's essential infrastructure. Job applications, government services, school homework, telehealth appointments, banking — trying to navigate modern life without internet access is like trying to get around without roads.
Yet for many low-income New Zealand households, standard broadband plans at $75–$95/month are simply unaffordable. The result is a growing digital divide: the people who most need internet access to improve their circumstances are the ones least able to afford it.
According to the 2023 Census, approximately 7% of NZ households — around 130,000 homes — have no internet access at all. The figure is significantly higher for Māori, Pacific, and single-parent households.
What Is Chorus Equity Fibre?
In response to the affordability gap, Chorus launched Equity Fibre 100 — a special wholesale product designed to make fibre broadband accessible for low-income households.
The key details: - Speed: 100/20 Mbps — the same Fibre 100 tier available to all customers. No throttled or "lite" version. - Wholesale price: Around $10/month to ISPs (compared to the standard ~$37.50/month wholesale) - Target retail price: Approximately $30/month - Eligibility: Households with a valid Community Services Card (CSC)
This isn't a watered-down product. Equity Fibre 100 delivers exactly the same speeds on exactly the same network as standard Fibre 100. The only difference is the price — and the eligibility requirement.
Who Is Eligible
Eligibility is based on holding a valid Community Services Card (CSC), which is issued by Work and Income to individuals and families on lower incomes. You typically qualify for a CSC if:
- You receive a main benefit (Jobseeker, Supported Living, Sole Parent, etc.) - You're on NZ Superannuation and meet the income threshold - You're a low-income worker and your household income is below the CSC threshold - You're a student receiving Student Allowance
The CSC is the gatekeeper — if you have one, you can apply for Equity Fibre through participating retailers. If you think you might be eligible for a CSC but don't have one, apply through Work and Income (workandincome.govt.nz) first.
Note: eligibility is checked at sign-up and periodically thereafter. If your circumstances change and you no longer hold a CSC, you'd be moved to a standard plan.
Which Retailers Offer It
As of early 2026, the following ISPs offer Equity Fibre plans:
- Fusion Broadband: One of the first to offer Equity Fibre, with plans around $30/month including a router. - Vetta Internet: Offers Equity Fibre 100 with straightforward no-contract terms. - Prodigi Fibre: Equity plans available in their coverage areas. - InTune Networks: Community-focused provider with Equity Fibre options.
Notably, the major ISPs (Spark, Vodafone, 2degrees, One NZ) have been slower to adopt Equity Fibre. This is an area where smaller, community-minded retailers have led the way.
Availability depends on Chorus fibre being present at your address. If you're in a Chorus fibre area and hold a CSC, contact one of the retailers above to check eligibility and sign up.
Why This Matters
$30/month versus $80+/month is the difference between having internet and not having it for many families. The downstream effects of connectivity are enormous:
- Children can complete homework and access educational resources - Adults can search and apply for jobs online - Telehealth appointments become possible (critical for rural and low-income communities) - Government services and banking move online — being offline means being excluded - Social connection: video calls with whānau, community participation, reducing isolation
Equity Fibre isn't charity — it's recognition that broadband is essential infrastructure, like water and electricity. Chorus deserves credit for creating the wholesale product, and the retailers offering it deserve support for making it available.
If you know someone who might be eligible, pass this on. The people who'd benefit most from Equity Fibre are often the least likely to hear about it through typical marketing channels.
