Internode first to release details of 8M plans
Internode is the first third-party ISP to announce its ‘draft pricing’ for 8Mbit/s broadband in areas it doesn’t already have ADSL2+, based on Telstra’s new wholesale network
It has not confirmed the pricing because it is awaiting final contracts from Telstra. The draft pricing is based on verbal assurances from Telstra.
Internode has dropped pricing by $10 for existing 1.5Mbit/s plans, and any customer can trade-up to 8Mbit/s for $10 more than they would have paid before for a 1.5Mbit/s plan.
The upshot is that 8Mbit/s broadband — roughly equivalent to the speed of OptusNet Cable and BigPond Cable standard — is available across Australia with plans that are considerably better value than BigPond’s.
Internode’s new pricing is as follows:
HOME-Fast-Value $79.95 Min: 1500k/256k
Max: 8000k/384k 20 GB Shaped
HOME-Fast-Pro $99.95 Min: 1500k/256k
Max: 8000k/384k 40 GB Shaped
HOME-Fast-Elite $139.95 Min: 1500k/256k
Max: 8000k/384k 80 GB Shaped
In comparison, BigPond charges $89.95 for a plan with 12GB an unlimited usage at dial-up speeds after that; $119.95 for 25GB and $149.95 for 60GB.
BigPond Chief Justin Milne admitted at the launch of BigPond’s ADSL2+ service that his pricing was at a premium compared to other ISPs, but he believes that the additional free content made available to BigPond customers would compensate.
Telstra does offer one cheaper plan than Internode: $59.95 for 600MB. However, apart from the speed, it represents poor value compared to other ISPs.
Unlike iiNet and Optus Broadband, Internode does not require its customers to pay for an additional telephony service like VoIP or basic line rental if they want to get the fastest broadband available.
