Mobilkanal Phone Guide

New Zealand is a small market with big distances. Prices are simple because tax is included, and consumer law is on your side, but coverage can change dramatically once you leave Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch. This guide covers what is specific to buying a phone in New Zealand and the checks worth doing before you pay. 1. Coverage first: it changes fast outside the main centres In the cities, all three networks perform well. In hill country, on rural roads and in holiday spots, the picture can be very different, and the best network for one valley may not be the best for the next. Before you commit to a plan, check each network's coverage map for the places you actually spend time, not just your home address. Low-frequency bands help here. The 700 MHz band travels further and gets into buildings better, so a phone that supports it is a safer choice if you live or travel outside the main centres. For 5G, the main mid-band is n78, around 3.5 GHz. 2. Three networks, seve...

Canada has some of the strongest consumer rules for mobile phones in the world, but also some of the most confusing pricing. Taxes depend on your province, three big carriers each run several brands, and coverage can change a lot once you leave the city. This guide covers what is specific to buying a phone in Canada and the checks worth doing before you pay. 1. Tax is added at checkout, and it depends on your province Canadian prices are shown before tax. At checkout you pay the federal GST, plus a provincial tax, or a single harmonized HST in some provinces. That means the same phone at the same shelf price can cost noticeably more in one province than another. Alberta adds only the 5% GST, while Ontario adds 13% HST and the Atlantic provinces 14 to 15%. When you compare a Canadian price with a US or European one, make sure you are comparing like for like. 2. Three big carriers, many brands Most Canadians are served by Rogers, Bell or Telus, and each of them also runs cheaper ...