news National broadband player Internode has updated its broadband plans to almost precisely match those of its parent iiNet, as the two companies continue their drive to harmonise their operations almost precisely following their acquisition by TPG.
When iiNet announced it would buy Internode in late December 2011, the two companies were careful to highlight their plans for the South Australian ISP led by well-known industry figure Simon Hackett to remain independent from its new parent.
“This is another iiNet acquisition and Internode will just disappear, right?” stated a question posted as part of Internode’s frequently asked questions document for the transaction. “No, it isn’t,” came the answer from Hackett. “Internode will be remaining as a separate operating company within the group, with its own identity and its own staff.”
At the time, Hackett emphasised that his new status as a major shareholder of iiNet itself would mean that Internode would not “just disappear into iiNet without trace”, and that there was little reason for the company to harmonise its broadband plans and offerings with those of iiNet, as other companies subsumed into iiNet — such as Netspace, Westnet and AAPT — had in the past.
However, in September 2013 the pair of companies took steps to harmonise their business broadband plans, and now, following iiNet’s acquisition by TPG, Internode and iiNet appear to be bringing their product offerings still closer together.
Last week Internode modified many of its broadband plans to iiNet’s existing plan structure.
Like iiNet, Internode’s default ADSL broadband plans now come at two price points — $59.90 and $79.90, offering 250GB and 1000GB of quota per month. Both sets of plans also come with a home telephone line bundled in.
Internode has also modified its Naked ADSL plans — which customers purchase without an accompanying telephone line — to a single option, which comes with 1,000GB of quota for $69.99 per month. The two companies also charge customers the same $79 setup fee on a 24 month contract, although Internode’s month-by-month contract is a little more expensive, with a setup fee of $129, rather than iiNet’s $99.95 price.
The two ISPs’ National Broadband Network plans remain markedly different, with Internode offering customers 50GB, 500GB and 1,000GB plans at price points varying from $49.95 per month for low 12Mbps speeds, right through to $114.95 per month for the highest 100Mbps speeds.
iiNet’s NBN plans, in contrast, start with 200GB of data at $59.90 per month and range up to 1000GB for $119.99 per month at the highest speeds.
Both companies offer significantly different plans than their ultimate parent, TPG, which tends to focus more on plans which come with unlimited data quota.
Other moves have also been going on beneath the surface at Internode.
For example, in April, the company, which had previously been staunchly based in South Australia, revealed to staff that it would set up its first ever offshore call centre, in a move that represented a radical departure of the company’s customer service and sales approach since its acquisition by iiNet and then TPG.
Historically Internode has maintained a strong customer service base in its home city of Adelaide. The ISP is known for its local customer service agents that have historically had a stronger technical background than staff from other Internet service providers, reflecting Internode’s overall stronger technical focus.
However, the email revealed that the company would join iiNet in creating “a small team” based in Cape Town in South Africa.
We updated Easy Broadband ADSL2+ plans. View plans: https://t.co/WOAwiGyuku Change plans: https://t.co/1trC8kokXw pic.twitter.com/n5d65vndRh
— Internode (@Internode) June 16, 2016
opinion/analysis
There is no doubt that what we are seeing here is the slow — ever so slow — extinction of the Internode brand. Eventually, Internode will provide exactly the same services as iiNet, and then the venerable South Australian ISP will have its brand shut down for good.
This is a bad thing. Internode has long offered a markedly different broadband service offering than its competitors.
It’s also something that commentators such as myself have been predicting for some time. Simon Hackett’s protests notwithstanding, it was apparent from the get-go that when iiNet bought Internode, the integration process would eventually result in Internode losing all individuality. The TPG acquisition has merely seen that process continue.
It’s all happening quietly, of course — under the radar. You have to really pay attention to understand what’s going on.
If it’s a bad thing, it was a bad thing when iiNet purchased Internode, it’s not a bad thing now. When iiNet purchased Internode it was inevitable, no matter what Simon Hackett said. It’s business.
If Internode was committed to being Internode they wouldn’t have sold.
It was a bad thing back then, but my tears are well and truly dry by now.
Actually when iiNet purchased node there was more changes to iiNet than Internode. Both on a plan and underlying network front. If there were changes they were well advertised. Ultimately you can’t merge two companies and have 0 change.
With TPG …. well we all know when those network diagram/pdfs ‘disappeared’.
The number of available ISP’s decreases and our options fall like flies.
One difference they still have. Internode allows use of Annex M for all accounts, with iiNet it’s only available on their business service.
Annex M may not sound too exciting but in practice it makes a real and worthwhile difference. Especially with the growth in use of cloud services.
Internode also stand out with IPV6 as standard too.
Annex M still rocks.
Probably a good thing for the poor remaining Internode Customers. At least they are no longer being ripped off or being used as the cash cow and having to pay higher prices than their TPG/iiNet cousins for what is essentially the same rebadged service. I see Internode customers are still being slugged a credit card surcharge while neither TPG or iiNet customers pay for this – ridiculous.
I cancelled my service last week after 14 years.
Not quite the same service. There is Annex M and customer support. I’ve been told that Internode customer support will stay local, that it’s considered the main differentiator for Internode. I’ve had to call support probably 8 times in the last 6 months and got Adelaide support every time (dodgy line that fixes itself before the tech can get there to fix it, only seems to hang around a couple of days and doesn’t seem weather related). Had to call the GFs iiNet support numerous times to do with a bad FetchTV unit (failing hard drive, plus the stuff ups with registering the new serial number, sending out two boxes, they got most things wrong) and got the Philippines or wherever they have out sourced their support to now.
The difference is huge. Everyone I talked to in local support knew what they were doing, could test the line and gave intelligent instructions on testing and came to a sensible conclusion about the line. Overseas support just lied and lied and lied. They gave all these bogus reasons why the new box wasn’t registering. One I said flat out to “you don’t know what a FetchTV box is, do you?” after many bogus reasons for it not working. After asking if she could put me on hold and talk to her supervisor, she returned and admitted she didn’t and that she had only been there one week then sent an email to the Australian team so they could fix the problem. If they ever get rid of local support, then I’ll leave Internode too, go to someone with local support, iiNet/TPG foreign support just plain sucks.
The last four times I spoke to front line Internode Support staff they have provided me with incorrect / unhelpful responses. The support is not what it used to be, hence why I voted with my wallet and left.
I agree there are probably still a handful of senior / old time staff still around behind the scenes who actually know what they are doing, but the front line are useless.
Internode support has dropped substantially in the level of quality. In reality, it’s still better than most however! I have been Internode loyal for over 15yrs (as a reseller and customer), but I can see my beloved brand slowly getting chewed up to be spit out..
Good thing we’re not on a contract. Now to figure out what other ISP to go with, given Internode’s International Routing is probably going to go to shit sooner, rather than later. :(
Internode was quietly moved onto the TPG international links about 3 weeks ago, doesn’t seem to have made any difference. I just happened to notice the switch over when I was trace routing something.
Damn. Now to figure out the next best alternative. I’m not sure who will be the best choice.
We are being whacked onto a Node sooner rather than later, so, that will be a good time to switch ISPs. But I’m simply not sure who best to go with.
I simply can’t trust TPG’s International links to be the best (or even reasonable) route, or not be slow.
Skymesh are highly recommended and Nuskope are the logical “top tier” choice if you’re in SA..
I’m being connected to Aussie Broadband NBN tomorrow, both they and Nuskope have good reputations on their own Fixed Wireless assets, I’m hoping that same mindset carries across to their NBN service.
All have local support.
One big plus with Aussie is the FttN modem they sent me had its default Modem login account changed from default! Not sure that even Internode went to that level of service! Definitely a good start!
SkyMesh don’t do FTTN; they don’t want the headaches. They were in talks with Telstra, but Telstra being Telstra demanded unfeasibly high pricing.
The issue arises when there’s some cable issues around the world or a major router decides it wants to spaz out.
I’d be playing online and my TPG counter-parts would be the first hit with issues typically if it was bad enough T$ ones wouldn’t be far behind and my node connection would change but never get ‘bad’.
I have been with Aussie Broadband for the last 6 years after leaving Internode. There was no love when it came to Gippsland Victoria exchanges, but there was from Aussie. Will be moving over from ABB DSLAM to FTTN shortly.
Aussie will remind you of old skool Internode. Dealing with them on a residential and commercial basis, I wouldn’t bother looking anywhere else – http://www.aussiebroadband.com.au
it was a sad day when Simon sold it
Still milking that copper crap.
But here is the thing. They get to now market ADSL as FTTP. And people are forced into the same price for a completely level of service. The same scam , nothing has changed.
Even on business SLA businesses have waited months for line repairs. I doubt they even have such things with FTTN and therefore nobody is guaranteed a connection including business.
“But here is the thing. They get to now market ADSL as FTTP” – what are you talking about? no company can do that.
I think he means VDSL as being equivalent to FttP
I kind of warned the ACCC this would happen. Unfortunately I wasnt able to answer the request for interview
The regulator dropped the ball on the PoI decision and is 100% to blame. Their compromise between what Telstra wanted which would have given us 1 maybe 2 Australia wide ISPs and most of the rest of the industry instead gave us 3 or 4 Australia wide ISPs. They really need to pull their heads out of their Arse their job is the act in the interests of the consumers not protect the assets of a couple of big businesses.
So many “I’m leaving and going somewhere better” posts.
Well? Where ARE you going with competition all but gone? I would love to know in case I want to follow.
What “old school Internode-of-old” ISPs are left?
That’s the problem, isn’t it? I don’t know either.
I wonder what prompted this article, when the Easy Broadband changes happened more than a month ago and the Easy Naked changes happened more than six months ago…
I am in a regional area on Internode reach so still being charged over $100 for 300GB.
3 months until my hardware contract expires and 6 until FTTN reaches my home then Internode may be losing another 10 year customer depending on their prices.
And go where? Honest question! Will you go by “if I get crap service I might as well pay less for crap”? Or is there a secret handshake super ISP out there, the Blessed West, the Valinor of ISPs? Come on, you can tell us Delimin-elves! ;)
NuSkope may be worth you looking into
It’s rumoured that TPG is renaming itself to iiNet, harmonising all it’s subsidiaries into a single brand. The Huawei VDSL 2 modem they supply for NBN services is an inadequate product. They should offer the Fritz 7490 as an option.
Essential features for modem are:
1) Wireless: IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11ac, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11n
2) 4 gigabit Ethernet ports
3) 2 USB3 ports
4) Dect phone base station (with optional purchase of phones USB 3 recharged) and a voip phone port
5) WAN port
How is DECT phone an essential feature?
I certainly don’t want to pay for it!
At least you can bridge the Huawei
Wow. I was with Internode for many many years, and had accounts across multiple regional locations. We were paying more than $100 for 300gb of data. We requested that they start better matching the download quota’s offered by other leading adsl providers. They refused.
So I tried to churn to iiNet, but iiNet could only offer ADSL1 connections, yet we had ADSL2 on all our Internode plans. Then the speed at one site dropped massively. We ran new copper, disconnected all old copper, finally a technician had a look and determined there was nothing wrong. Internode then blamed congestion and their up-stream provider. They offered me 1 free month while I looked for another provider. Now I’m talking 30kb/s at peak times and 300kb/s was the max we ever had.
All accounts were churned to Telstra Business Broadband. Which really sucks because we are now in a fresh 2 year contract with Telstra, which will prevent us from jumping ship to another ISP when NBN becomes available in our area over the next couple of months. After 7+ years on Internode, this part really sucks, being forcefully married to Telstra for the next 2 years – yuck!
Anyway, the whole experience was crap. And talking about phone support, when ringing iiNet trying to get some explanation why we could only get ADSL1 accounts, I was talking to the exact same guy that I spoke to 30 minutes previously when ringing Internode support about our slow speeds.
There were too many bad experiences in a very short period with Internode/iiNet that I had to jump ship in order to maintain my sanity. They don’t deserve ANY of my business, ever.
Maybe why so many of the old Adam internet and Internode staff are popping up at NuSkope. The only ISP’ still south Australian run and owned.
I crossed over to Mint Telecom when Internode dropped the ball during the Basslink issues here in Tassie. I have found them excellent.
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