news National broadband provider Internode has signalled it may consider changing its National Broadband Network pricing plans around the launch of commercial NBN services around October, in the wake of the release by rival iiNet this morning of plans that significantly undercut Internode’s prices.

iiNet’s plans released this morning range from $59.90 per month for an entry level service with a bundled telephone line, all the way up to $109.90 for a terabyte package at 100Mbps speeds. In general, the plans are comparable to iiNet’s current ADSL broadband plans provided over Telstra’s copper network. However, they are substantially cheaper than earlier plans released by rival Internode in late July — in some cases up to $80 cheaper for a similar plan.

Internode managing director Simon Hackett initially responded to the issue (see statement at the bottom of the article) this morning by stating that the NBN retail market was currently only a “theoretical market” as commercial NBN services would not be available later this year — likely in October. The predominantly fibre-based network is currently being rolled out gradually around the nation.

In addition, Hackett said Internode might factor into its changes by NBN Co in August to its CVC circuit pricing model, which affects how broadband providers provision bandwidth to end customers — although the executive had previously said Internode wouldn’t change its prices in reaction to the CVC rebate offered by NBN Co at the time.

However, in a more substantial post on Whirlpool later today, Hackett went further, arguing that iiNet’s cheaper pricing released today “only makes sense” in light of the NBN Co CVC rebate agreed upon in August. Internode hadn’t changed prices following the CVC agreement because other ISPs hadn’t released pricing yet, he said.

“Starting a price battle with ourselves really wasn’t a sensible step at that time.” However, things had now changed, with rivals such as iiNet and Exetel releasing rival pricing.

“Given that change in the shape of things via (a) that substantial wholesale CVC rebate and (b) that others are finally weighting in … it’s sane and reasonable for Internode to consider adjustments to our NBN retail pricing announcements to date, set up for the point at which commercial signups become possible in general (around the start of October),” Hackett wrote.

“So it’s a pretty safe bet at this point that we’re considering such changes.”

Hackett said it would be interesting to see what sort of NBN prices were published by other ISPs, which have so far remained silent on the issue — “especially Telstra BigPond”. “Meantime – the answer to do ‘do we intend to ignore the activities of others’ is clearly ‘No’. Hence ‘are changes likely from Internode?’… ‘yes’. Watch this space. I’m sure there will be things to see :)” he said.

opinion/analysis
Pretty swift and common sense response from Internode. Hackett’s right — it would be silly for Internode to continually issue new NBN pricing every few weeks as new information comes to light; first the CVC rebate agreement, and then pricing announcements by iiNet and other players. And of course, everything regarding the NBN gets micro-analysed in today’s hyper-saturated media environment.

Secondly, Internode should be applauded for having the courage to “go first” with NBN pricing. As a private company, the company can afford to be a bit more bold at times than rivals like iiNet, Telstra and Optus.

However, I do have to question Internode’s strategy a little. It’s all well and good for Hackett to post a sophisticated response to the ongoing pricing issue on Whirlpool — the fact that the executive reveals his thinking so publicly in this manner reflects Internode’s praiseworthy transparent nature. However, right now, in the broader debate, courtesy of the Coalition and a few hyped articles, the NBN price which is associated with Internode is its top-line $189.95 plan, and only so many people read Whirlpool.

This morning’s release by iiNet will do much to undermine Internode’s pricing position in the mind of the general public — an outcome I’m sure the crafty boys from Perth intended. Internode will need to do some work over the next month or so to help people understand that it’s not going to be the most expensive NBN provider in town. Of course, I’m sure the release of NBN pricing plans from Telstra and Optus will help with that ;)

Image credit: EricinAdelaide (Twitter)

Related posts:

1. Internode unveils NBN pricing
2. CVC rebate won’t change Internode’s NBN prices
3. Internode apologises for pricing plan “stuffup”
4. Opinion: Internode must slash its horrible NBN pricing
5. Internode launches NBN wireless, reveals pricing

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1. Matthew Hatton
   Posted 19/09/2011 at 3:48 pm | Permalink | Reply

   “NBN retail market was currently only a “theoretical market” as commercial NBN services would not be available later this year” – says it all.

   I’m taking every pricing announcement to date, and for the near future, with a hefty grain of salt.

   • Renai LeMay
     Posted 19/09/2011 at 3:57 pm | Permalink | Reply

     A very valid approach. I think things won’t get really interesting until we see plans from Telstra.

     • Matthew Hatton
       Posted 19/09/2011 at 4:09 pm | Permalink | Reply

       Plans from Telstra, along with an actual network that people can connect to.

       Everything done so far is based solely of the trial sites and, as it Hackett points out, everything is theoretical. To expect final, retail pricing to come out of what we’ve got right now is incredibly silly. There’s no market, there’s no actual proper NBN yet, so why get your undies in a twist?

2. Dbremner
   Posted 19/09/2011 at 3:57 pm | Permalink | Reply

   This will be the first price drop on the NBN. We can now extrapolate and use it as an argument to show the NBN will make internet acess next to free in the coming years (say they drop the plan 20% after only a few months and extend the trend :)

   • Renai LeMay
     Posted 19/09/2011 at 4:13 pm | Permalink | Reply

     lol you sound like you work in politics. If not, you should apply for a political staffer job ;)

     • Dbremner
       Posted 19/09/2011 at 4:22 pm | Permalink | Reply

       No way. Politics and sales (other than for a product I truely believed in) is something I could never do. I couldn’t lie for a job and live with myself.

       • Renai LeMay
         Posted 20/09/2011 at 10:38 pm | Permalink | Reply

         I had to do ad sales for a while for Delimiter (thankfully that period is now over and I’m purely doing editorial now and a bit of admin). I actually enjoyed it — the process shares many aspects of work with journalism, such as pitching etc — but it’s not my speciality, and although I had some success, I’m happy to see the end of it :) I’m a much better writer than I am a salesperson — and I would be a shocking politician.

3. Anonymous
   Posted 20/09/2011 at 12:18 pm | Permalink | Reply

   There is one thing that isn’t talked about that should be : contention ratios. If we get this idea into the general consumer lexicon Internode can continue to offer value and performance without skimping on CVC in order to match competitors pricing.

4. nonny-moose
   Posted 20/09/2011 at 5:08 pm | Permalink | Reply

   an upside if Internode do respin their plans is it takes one of the cudgels away from Malcolm, who has repeatedly used first-instance pricing from several providers to attack the affordability to end users of NBN. until such time the network becomes a tangible customer good all are tapdancing on sand, and i have to agree totally with commentators here: when Telstra releases its plans i expect things will really get interesting.

   presuming the Telstra pricing is below the first instance Node pricing; and there is as expected, a downward shift in the costs for the Node offering, there are fewer and fewer end user price arguments for Malcolm to bash NBNco with. something i see as a good thing…. in the publics eyes – and the public does need to be informed from more than just whirlpool and tech outlets like Delimiter :) – release to market pricing clearly on par with ADSL offerings today (INCLUDING line rental!) will make it a much easier sell, and the benefits more tangible to more consumers. I dont envy Malcolms position at all.

5. Michael Wyres
   Posted 21/09/2011 at 8:33 am | Permalink | Reply

   Could it be that the competitive market is demonstrating downward pressure on pricing? You know, exactly what the NBN is designed to do?