update Internode has become the latest internet service provider to launch an ADSL broadband plan featuring a terabyte of broadband quota.
However, the Internode plan will cost customers significantly more than rivals plans launched over the past few weeks by the likes of iiNet, Primus and TPG.
The new Internode plan will come with a terabyte of data and retail for $149.95 per month when bundled with Internode’s NodeLine telephone service (which will cost customers an additional $34.95 a month). Alternatively, customers can bundle the plan with a third-party phone line, which changes the price fo $159.95, or on a naked DSL plan without a phone line for $179.95.
In comparison, iiNet’s terabyte plan will cost customers between $99.95 and $119.95 per month, depending on whether they choose an ADSL1, ADSL2+ or naked DSL connection and whether they bundle a telephone line.
TPG’s service will start at just $69.99 a month — or $80 a month cheaper than the Internode option, while Primus’ plan comes with a slightly increased download quota and will cost customers between $99.95 per month and $119.95 per month.
An Internode spokersperson was not immediately available to comment on the disparity. However, in a statement, the ISP’s managing director Simon Hackett said the company’s terabyte plan was the first “real” terabyte plan in the Australian market.
“Our plans let you use your quota whenever you want,” he said. “That’s in stark contrast to existing high-end market plans that have split their quota into peak and off-peak amounts, with the off-peak only available for a minority of the time.”
The new plans will be available to customers who use Internode’s own DSL infrastructure or that of its wholesale partner Optus, although Internode is pledging to update its plans which use Telstra’s infrastructure once it finishes pricing negotiations. The ISP has this infrastructure available in more than 300 telephone exchanges nationally.
Internode has also boosted the data quota of some of its other plans – the ones dubbed ‘Easy Broadband’. The initial Easy Broadband plan (which costs from $49.95 a month) will now have 100GB a month included, up from 50GB. 200GB, 300GB and 600GB plans have been introduced from $69.95, $89.95 and $99.95 a month price points.
And Internode has also released new analogue telephone services – dubbed NodeLine HomePlus and NodeLine BizPlus, which cost $34.95 and $39.95 a month and include the first $5 of phone calls each month in the price of the plan. The new broadband plans will be available next week.
Image credits: Internode
Ah, the joys of being stuck on a Telstra port… ;)
We’d save $10/month and get 50GB extra on these plans (the upload isn’t a significant factor for us) if we were on an Optus or Agile/Node port. We’d be able to spend less of our day keeping a strict eye on our download limit.
I’m a bit staggered to see that Geelong has such lousy backhaul. I’d read something about this, but it must be frustrating for people living in a major city within spitting distance of Melbourne (if anyone actually wants to spit over the Werribee sewerage farm, the only thing holding the two cities apart).
According to that blog article, all of S.A. outside Adelaide (and possibly Murray Bridge) has lousy backhaul. I’m less surprised by this. Our regional infrastructure has been not only ignored, but systematically staved for over a decade.
Roll on the NBN. Please.
Yeah I was talking to a friend from outside Canberra recently. On their property they can only get 3G — no satellite, no ADSL, cable etc. It seemed pretty dismal. I honestly think we have it pretty sweet in the cities — Next G everywhere, most people live close to the exchange, and we also have HFC cable. I would personally focus on the rural areas first with any kind of NBN rollout. People just need it more out there.
(Disclosure: Before moving to Sydney at 17, 12 years ago, I lived in Broken Hill and rural areas of SA for most of my life, so I have some insight into it)
“starved” {sigh}
+1 to what Clytie said. I hope Internode’s negotiations with Telstra work out well. My combined download (metered) and upload (unmetered) currently average about 80 gigs so I’d get an extra 20 gigs for $40 less.
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