2degrees SIM Cards and eSIM Detailed Guides for Tourists

The country of New Zealand is a beautiful site with astonishing panoramas that lure visitors from diverse parts of the globe. One has to possess a good mobile network while in a foreign country. One of the best mobile operators in NZ with a wide network and very fast speeds. The following guide on the same will enable a tourist visiting New Zealand to use both the 2degrees SIM card and eSIM.

1. Quick facts about 2degrees

New Zealand-based telecoms company 2degrees provides mobile phone, broadband, and telephone services for home. With close to 1.5 million users it is the third largest mobile telephone operator in the country. 2degrees has a reputation for being very competitively priced and offering some creative products and solutions.

Here are some key facts about 2degrees:

• Founded: 2001
• Headquarters: Auckland, New Zealand
• Employees: Approximately 1,200
• Customers: Approximately 1.5 million
• Revenue: Approximately NZ$1.2 billion (2022)
• Network: Four-generation mobile network, fiber optic, and wireless broadband networks.
• Products and services: Mobile plans, broadband, home phones, wireless phones, broadband modems, routers, and cables.

In general, 2degrees is one of the largest players in the New Zealand telecommunication industry. It is also recognized for its low-cost offers, new products and services, and dedication to the customers.

2. New Zealand 2degrees Coverage and Speed

2degrees is one of the major mobile carriers in New Zealand; let’s examine their coverage and the speeds offered across the country.

2.1. 2degrees coverage in New Zealand

2degrees placed last among New Zealand’s national operators in the coverage metrics from Opensignal’s October 2023 report:

• It scored last for both Coverage Experience and 5G Coverage Experience behind Spark and One NZ.
• However, its Availability of 99.2% was statistically tied for first.
• The operator has been expanding 5G, recently launching in additional South Island towns.
• 2degrees plans to extend 5G to 50 towns nationwide by mid-2024 to boost scores.
• Coverage footprint still lags competitors but availability is high when coverage exists.
• Continued 5G rollout into regional areas as planned should help close the gap between Spark and One NZ over time.
• Overall, while trailing in coverage, 2degrees is growing 5G rurally which should enhance metrics in future reports.

In short, 2degrees placed last for coverage but has a strategy to expand 5G that could improve its scores going forward.

2degrees is the winner of all five 5G experience awards in New Zealand, according to Opensignal Report about New Zealand Mobile Network Experience for October 2023. 2degrees won the awards for 5G Video Experience, 5G Live Video Experience, 5G Games Experience, 5G Download Speed, and 5G Upload Speed. 

• 2degrees users’ average overall download speeds have increased by 5.9 Mbps compared to the last report. This is the largest increase of any operator in New Zealand.
• 2degrees’ 5G Download Speed score is 311.3 Mbps, which is faster than its overall download speed. This is the largest uplift of any operator in New Zealand.
• 2degrees’ 5G Upload Speed score is 33.4 Mbps, which is 12.2 Mbps faster than its overall upload speed.

3. 2degrees connectivity options for travelers to New Zealand

2degrees offers a variety of connectivity options for travelers, including prepaid SIM cards, eSIM, mobile broadband plans, and data roaming packages. Here’s a summary of their offerings:

For most tourists, getting a prepaid 2degrees SIM card or eSIM will be the best choice for hassle-free mobile data during vacations.

4. Best 2degrees SIM cards for tourists & cost

2degrees offers a free Visitor SIM with different preset data packages valid for various durations.

The 2degrees Visitor SIM is a cost-effective prepaid option for travelers. Whether you order before arriving in New Zealand to avoid queues at the airport, or after landing to have the SIM sent to your accommodation, you can rely on same-day postal delivery.

5. Does 2degrees New Zealand support eSIM?

Yes, 2degrees launched eSIM support in 2020. eSIM allows activating cellular plans on supporting mobile devices without needing a physical 2degrees SIM card.

Tourists with compatible phones can purchase 2degrees eSIM bundles and activate them instantly without visiting stores. However, iPhone users may prefer physical SIM cards to avoid juggling dual eSIMs.

6. Where can you buy a 2degrees SIM card and eSIM?

For customers interested in signing up for 2degrees mobile plans, getting a SIM card is the first step to connecting to the network.

6.1. Where to buy 2degrees SIM for New Zealand

As a tourist, you can purchase 2degrees SIM cards from:

• 2degrees Official Stores: Located across New Zealand in most major cities and airports.
• Retail partners: Selected supermarkets, convenience stores, and electronics stores also carry 2degrees SIMs.
• Online: 2degrees website allows ordering SIM card delivery in NZ or making store pickup reservations.
•  Airport: 2degrees store/kiosk in the arrivals area at airports makes it easy to get connected.

When purchasing, carry your passport for identification and activation. Know your accommodation address in NZ for registration.

6.2. Where to buy New Zealand 2degrees eSIM

If your phone supports eSIM, you can setup 2degrees eSIM through:

• 2degrees apps: Download the app, choose the plan, and activate eSIM digitally.
• 2degrees Website: Visit 2degrees website to purchase and activate eSIM for your device and email.

eSIM activation takes only minutes allowing instant access to 2degrees service and data. No need to visit physical stores.

7. How to activate 2degrees New Zealand SIM/eSIM

Once you have obtained a 2degrees SIM card or eSIM, the next step is to activate it so you can start making calls, sending texts, and using mobile data on the 2degrees network.

7.1. How to use 2degrees New Zealand SIM card

Activating a new 2degrees SIM card is straightforward:

1. Put your SIM card in.
2. Restart your phone. After that, switch on your phone once you have inserted your SIM card.
3. Dial 200 from your phone. This is what starts the activation process of your 2degrees SIM card.
4. Follow the prompts. 
5. Now, your 2degrees SIMS card is on. You can now make calls, send text messages, and use mobile data with your 2degrees SIM card.

7.2. How to activate 2degrees New Zealand eSIM

If your phone has eSIM capability, the activation steps are:

1. Scan the QR code.  Scan the QR code using your phone’s camera.
2. Enter your details. You will be prompted to enter your name, phone number, and date of birth. You may also be asked to enter a verification code that will be sent to your phone via SMS.
3. Confirm and activate.
4. Restart your phone. Once the eSIM is activated, restart your phone.

For dual SIM devices, local eSIM and home SIM can be used together. Enjoy the convenience of instant eSIM activation.

8. New Zealand 2degrees Call & SMS rates

2degrees prepaid packs come with an allowance for calls and texts. Here are the current 2degrees Call & SMS rates for Prepay Standard Rates in USD:

Please note that these rates are subject to change. For the most up-to-date information, please visit the 2degrees website.

9. Useful USSD codes for2degrees New Zealand SIM/eSIM

2degrees supports USSD codes that can be entered directly on the phone dialer for account management:

• *001# – Check number
• *100# – A menu will be displayed, and you can choose your desired option from that to know your credit balance.
• Dial 200 – Check account information
• Text ‘bal’ to 233 – Check your credit balance

Enter USSD codes and press the call/send button to execute queries and commands. Useful for checking balances and quick activations.

10. How to top-up 2degrees New Zealand SIM/eSIM

When the SIM pack validity nears expiration, you can recharge using:

• Online: Log in to the My2degrees portal for secured top-up using international credit/debit cards.
• 2degrees app: Login to the app and recharge your account wallet via payment methods.
• Stores: Visit 2degrees retail outlets across New Zealand for voucher and cash top-ups.
• Local Debit Card: NZ-issued debit cards can also be used for account recharges.
• New Pack: Purchase a new prepaid SIM pack to reset validity and quotas.

Ensure there is sufficient main balance before the pack expires for uninterrupted service. Auto-renew of plan data packs has not been implemented yet.

11. Alternatives to New Zealand 2degrees

Other main mobile networks in New Zealand are:

• Spark: Spark is one of the largest mobile operators in New Zealand. They have nationwide 4G coverage and offer a range of plans for consumer and business users. Spark also provides fixed-line broadband.
• One NZ: Vodafone is another large nationwide operator. They have extensive 4G coverage across most populated areas of NZ. Vodafone offers prepaid and postpaid plans for phones, mobile broadband, and wireless home broadband.
• Skinny: Skinny is an MVNO (mobile virtual network operator) on Spark’s network. They offer affordable no-frills plans for phones and mobile internet. Coverage is the same as One NZ.
• esimnewzealand.com: For international travelers, esimnewzealand.com sells eSIM plans that work on many smartphones. Plans are available for various durations and allow use across New Zealand with no roaming charges.

Tourists can consider all leading providers based on coverage for travel routes and budget. Having a dual-SIM device allows using two NZ networks.

Travel worry-free with flexible eSIM data plans from esimnewzealand.com, keeping in touch for 3 days up to a month on one digital SIM.

12. FAQs about 2degrees in New Zealand

13. Final words

Finally, having a 2degrees SIM card or eSIM is strongly recommended if traveling to New Zealand. It is a perfect option for easy mobile internet across the beautiful nation that covers convenience, scope, and value. To have hassle-free connectivity on your holiday, follow this guide.