If you live rurally in Wellington, choosing the right WombatNET internet connection can feel like comparing apples to oranges – especially when both are wireless. So what’s the real difference between WombatWireless™ X and our 4G+ service? Let’s break it down so you can confidently choose the service that best suits your property, lifestyle, and devices.

What Is WombatWireless™ X?

WombatWireless™ X is our custom-built fixed wireless broadband service. It uses dedicated towers we’ve installed around the Hutt Valley and rural Wellington to beam internet directly to your property through a dish or receiver.

This isn’t cellular or Starlink – it’s a professionally installed, long-range, point-to-multipoint system with a managed network behind it.

Best for: homes and businesses with a clear line of sight to our towers.

What Is WombatWireless™ 4G+?

WombatWireless™ 4G+ is a managed rural broadband service powered by the One New Zealand mobile network, enhanced with professional-grade hardware, signal optimisation, and local support.

Unlike your typical mobile broadband service – where your provider merely ships you a box without guidance and hopes for the best – we test your signal first, recommend the best hardware for your location, and install it for peak performance.

We offer indoor router setups and outdoor integrated modems that combine a 4G+ modem and directional antenna into a single weatherproof unit. This eliminates the need for long coaxial cables and induced cable loss, gives us more flexibility on placement, and significantly boosts real-world speeds – especially in the more signal-challenged areas.

What does the “+” in 4G+ mean?

4G+ refers to LTE Advanced, a faster, more efficient version of standard 4G. It can combine multiple frequencies, or ‘lanes’ (via a function called carrier aggregation), to deliver higher speeds, lower latency, and greater stability, especially at peak times – but only if your equipment and signal are properly selected and tuned. That’s why our managed install matters – we take care of everything from end-to-end for you.

Best for: properties without direct line-of-sight to a WombatNET transmitter, remote or off-grid homes, temporary connections, caravans and baches.

Key Differences (That Actually Matter)

1. How the Signal Gets to You

• WombatWireless™ X: A fixed wireless signal is transmitted from a WombatNET tower just like the one below, directly to a receiver on your property. It’s a private network that we manage – not public infrastructure.

• WombatWireless™ 4G+: Connects via One NZ’s cellular network using licensed mobile spectrum, enhanced with directional antennas and/or outdoor LTE modems, optimised specifically for your site.

What this means: WombatWireless™ X offers remarkably consistent speeds. 4G+ performance can vary with mobile tower congestion, but our complete offering, including tuning, signal mapping, antenna alignment, and LTE Advanced support, pushes performance far beyond typical “off-the-shelf” 4G setups.

2. Speed & Performance

• WombatWireless™ X: We fully manage the network from tower to backhaul. Traffic is shaped 24/7 to prevent bottlenecks and ensure steady performance.
• WombatWireless™ 4G+: We use signal-testing tools to choose the right modem, antenna, and tower. When installed correctly with the right LTE bands, 4G+ can deliver excellent speeds – especially when leveraging LTE Advanced (carrier aggregation).

3. Installation & Equipment

• WombatWireless™ X: Requires external dish install with clear line-of-sight to our towers. Once installed, it delivers rock-solid service.
• WombatWireless™ 4G+: Offers both self-install and managed options, but almost all Wellington-based users opt for the managed install. We may recommend:
  • A directional antenna with cable run (limited to ~5m due to coax loss):

• Or, an integrated outdoor modem (4G+ modem and directional antenna in one), connected via Ethernet to an indoor Wi-Fi router, meaning the two can be located further apart for optimal 4G signal:

Why this matters: The integrated outdoor modems eliminate coaxial signal loss, allow longer cable runs (100m+ via Ethernet), and maintain signal integrity – crucial for areas with low-marginal reception.

4. Latency

• WombatWireless™ X: Low enough to support cloud gaming, Zoom and VoIP – between 10-40ms, typical
• WombatWireless™ 4G+: Higher latency and jitter due to the way mobile networks route traffic – still very usable, but less ideal for time-sensitive applications – between roughly 20-150ms

💡 From the founder

We’ve built our network from the ground up – installing our own gear on hilltops, water tanks, and rural land. Our goal isn’t to sell you something that “kind of works.” It’s to deliver a connection that actually fits your life.

Not sure which service fits you best? Our team can run a free desktop assessment to check tower coverage and signal strength at your exact address.

— Your team at WombatNET