NZ mobile prices below world average - and falling

Consumers have been advised to shop around for deals and not get locked into long-term contracts. Photo / Thinkstock

The price of popular mobile phone plans in New Zealand are below OECD averages and are "steadily dropping", says the Commerce Commission.

The commission today released a report comparing prices for mobile services
in New Zealand over the last year with prices in other countries that are part of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

"Prices have been steadily dropping and popular plans are below OECD averages," said Telecommunications Commissioner Dr Stephen Gale.

"The price in New Zealand for the plan with average calling and data use was 40 per cent below the OECD average. Prices for all usage plans have dropped significantly, between 25 per cent and 70 per cent, over the last three years but prices for plans with high call volumes have stayed persistently above average which is potentially a result of high volume users being less price sensitive," said Gale.

However, the commission that prices for standalone mobile data for laptops and tablets was around 10 per cent above average.

The price for a 6 gigabyte data monthly plan was one of the highest in the survey, the commission said - about twice the average.

At almost $100 a month, this suggests mobile broadband is not competing strongly for "fixed-line" broadband.