However, Starlink is not recommended for urban residents who have access to fiber internet, which tends to be faster and more reliable.

Elon Musk's satellite broadband service, Starlink, has emerged as the top internet provider in New Zealand, according to Consumer NZ's latest rankings.

Starlink boasts an impressive satisfaction score of 80 percent, significantly higher than the industry average of 58 percent, with 80 percent of its customers expressing high satisfaction with its service, reliability, and connection speed.

Despite its higher costs, Starlink provides triple the speed of its competitors, greatly enhancing the internet experience for users in rural areas.

This service has proven particularly beneficial for rural customers who often struggle with limited access to reliable internet services.

Concerns regarding the difficulty of switching internet providers have been alleviated, with 80 percent of those who switched reporting the process as simple.

Sky Broadband, which previously led the rankings, has now fallen to the bottom due to perceived declines in service quality, attributed to complacency after its initial success driven by competitive pricing.

In contrast, Now NZ has been recognized as the second-best performer in the market, noted for its good customer service despite being a smaller player.

Overall, experts emphasize that internet providers in New Zealand have significant room for improvement, as reflected in the low average customer satisfaction rates.