Higher data allowances for Telstra Home Bundles
Filed under: broadband, customers, entertainment, gadgets and gizmos, innovation, internet, lifestyle, mobile handsets, technology
I don’t know about you, but I’m amazed at how much we continue to grow our use of the internet. And my friends with kids tell me that their homes are often full of raucous debate over whose turn is next on the computer. They’re kept busy with one eye on their kids making sure they don’t use their monthly data allowance in the first week, and the other on making sure their landline isn’t being used for endless phone calls to their friends’ mobiles.
So I had this in mind when helping develop a range of new home telecommunication bundles that offer higher data allowances plus, in some bundles, included calls from the home phone to eligible mobiles. Now with Telstra, you can package all your telecommunications and entertainment needs together in one simple affordable package.
The idea was to create simple and flexible packages with great savings and certainty over the monthly spend.
- The three new bundles still have unlimited local calls and either capped or unlimited STD calls.
- The Home 25GB Value Bundle has double the data allowance of our previous bundle for no extra cost.
- The new Home 100GB Ultimate Bundle includes 100GB of data allowance and unlimited calls to any Telstra mobile from the home phone.
- The new Home 200GB Ultimate Bundle has, as its name suggests, a massive 200GB of data allowance, ideal for shared or family households and unlimited calls from the home phone to any mobile in Australia.
We’ve been expanding our range of bundles since late last year and these new bundles are designed to help make the digital home a reality by combining home phone, broadband and entertainment services together in a good value package all from Telstra.
Here are some of the highlights of our new home bundles. All the new bundle pricing includes either a T-Box™ or T-Hub® for new customers and existing customers with 13 digit account numbers.
Telstra Home 25GB Value Bundle at $109 per month for 24 months plus $35 upfront. This plan includes:
- BigPond Elite™ Liberty – 25GB
- T-Box or T-Hub
- Unlimited local calls and $1 STD calls
Telstra Home 100GB Ultimate Bundle at $139 per month for 24 months plus $35 upfront. This plan includes:
- BigPond Elite™ Liberty – 100GB
- T-Box or T-Hub
- Unlimited local and STD calls
- Unlimited calls to any Telstra mobile from your home phone
Telstra Home 200GB Ultimate Bundle at $159 per month for 24 months plus $35 upfront. This plan includes:
- BigPond Elite™ Liberty – 200GB
- T-Box or T-Hub
- Unlimited local and STD calls
- Unlimited calls to any Australian mobile from your home phone
- $10 monthly credit towards International Direct Dial calls.
Our bundles are all flexible, you can replace the included T-Box by a T-Hub for the same price (your choice), or you can have both the T-Box and T-Hub by paying an additional $35 upfront then $11 per month on a 24 month plan or $299 upfront. You can even take up a Bundle without the T-Box or T-Hub if you prefer.
Of course the new bundles come with some minimum prices over 24 months. They are $2,651 (Home 25GB Value Bundle), $3,371 (Home 100GB Ultimate Bundle) and $3,851 (Home 200GB Ultimate Bundle). These minimum costs exclude usage and a $9.95 delivery fee.
Customers can save between $27 and $131 per month by bundling their home and internet needs with Telstra. For a full list of our bundles and to see more details on the terms and conditions that apply please see this website.
Telstra Home Bundles with T-Box™ or T-Hub™
Some things that you’ve told us are important won’t be changing with our new bundles:
- Telstra bundles will continue to offer customers great value and cost certainty as most of our Bundles include BigPond ‘Liberty’ plans that ensure no excess data usage charges. Your speeds will simply slow to 64kbps once you reach your usage allowance.
- All of our bundles still offer ‘Combo Rewards’ which give our customers the ability to add additional eligible products with their Bundle on a Single Bill to receive more value, for example by adding an eligible post-paid Telstra mobile service with your Bundle on a Single Bill you get $10 off your Mobile Plan and a free Family Calls bonus.
- Bundles still include a free Home Network Gateway Wi-Fi modem for new customers and existing customers who don’t already have one. This can make connecting internet devices in your home easier.
- We’ve also still got our existing suite of Home TV Bundles for customers who want to enjoy FOXTEL from Telstra Platinum iQ with all of the benefits that come with Telstra’s bundles.
Customers on a current home bundle can stay on their existing plan or move over to one of our new plans by calling us on 13 2200 from today.
In case you haven’t caught up with what T-Box™ is, it’s a Digital Set Top Box which allows you to access great content from BigPond Movies, digital free to air broadcast TV channels, BigPond TV channels, BigPond Videos and YouTube Videos.
T-Box™ gives you freedom so that you can pay-as-you-go. It’s perfect if you’re looking for a few additional options to free-to-air. You can download and watch a movie of your choice on Friday night without signing up to a monthly contract or having to go down to the video store.
The other exciting innovation that you can add to your Bundle is the Telstra T-Hub®. T-Hub is a home phone, but it’s also so much more – it’s sure to become the most useful item in your home.
These are available as part of a Bundle for new customers or existing customers with a 13 digit account number or you can purchase them outright for $299 each with your bundle.
We’re excited about these Bundles – let me know what you think.
Your fixed line ADSL services are still incredibly overpriced.
Even without the hardware, $89.95 for 25GB, and a 24 month contract (http://www.bigpond.com/internet/plans/adsl/plans-and-offers/) is crazy when compared to other providers, one of whom is reputable and offers 50GB (25GB peak and 25GB off peak) for $69.95. Double the quota for $20 less a month.
I’d go with Telstra for both internet and mobile internet, but the prices are simply excessive.
Dunno – to me the plans look VERY good. Ive been with IINet for 8 years now having left BigPond previously and am currently paying $129 for 150Gb on IINET – the new Telstra 200Gb plan is the first time I have thought that I might switch back to Telstra. I would prefer a pay by the month option out of a contract though to try the service. Interesting though.
I have been trying for over 3 months to get my home line and broadband, which are new services but on the old billing system and my mobile which I have had for that many years I can remember how long which is on the new billing system bundled so I can upgrade my service but to no avail. Nobody at Telstra seems to be willing to help me with this, phone calls eventually drop out they are on hold for so long and e-mails are not answered. Not good customer service from my point of view.
Hi Mick, I noticed your post also on FB. I’ve passed on your details to a team that may be able to help. Give us a day or two to get to you and see if you can be helped over to the new system now. Brendan.
I’m with James. And the customer service is really not great so it’s not worth paying the premium for.
This is a good step forward for Telstra but it is a shame that you consider people that can only get wireless as lesser customers that have no need for higher quotas.
Here we have a gain a discriminator value added bundle deal that is only offered to those that are lucky enough to have access to ADSL or Cable, while those that cannot are again left out and not provided any new plans, any bundle options and no where near the quota and value that the ADSL and Cable users enjoy.
By all means announce and love the glory that you get from your ADSL/Cable users but please try and have a thought once in a while for those that cannot get those services.
Again this announcement, the bundles and these prices are a discrimination against wireless only users. Shame on your Telstra…
The new plans looks very good. In my opinion the 200GB plan looks very good value, and very competitive. However, the HomePremium bundles also need to be updated to accomodate customers who live in Melbourne, and who would like a high download allowance, and the fast download speed.
I don’t see a point to having a faster download speed if the highest download limit available is half that of these new plans. Are you planning on restructuring the included value of the HomePremium bundles?
I got excited for a short time until I realised that this does nothing to help rural customers who can’t get copper to the house (not that that would help, I’m told that my local exchange doesn’t even have ADSL).
Hi Gordon. I love the Ant’icipating photo on your blog. Cheers, Brendan.
Will you price match tpg? $59.99 for 500 gb capped at 1mb.
Just remember that these download limits include both uploads and downloads – almost all other providers only count downloads.
Telstra services are extremely overpriced! I cannot understand why a company like TPG offers such a great service with extremely high download limits for such a low price. I am a BigPond subscriber only because I am not in a position to pay my way out of the contract, but once it expires Telstra have definitely lost a customer.
Shame on you Telstra for ripping people off the way you do.
What’s the use of these when I can’t even get broadband ADSL for our new house?
We live in a regional area 15 km from Ballarat. Our exchange is not ADSL2 enabled and Telstra cannot supply us with even ADSL because they don’t have ports.
Plans may be good or competitive but no use if people can’t get them.
Well, I am glad to see that Telstra has something competitive for once.
These plans are ones that i will actually consider.
There seems to be a bundle missing (well… one that would suit someone with usage like me).
How about a t-box bundle with HomeLine budget AND a 50GB plan for $109 or $119 ??
If you had that…. I would sign up in an instant!
If your like me and want wireless users to be given the same or similar plan options as ADSL and Cable users then please consider signing my petition (http://bit.ly/a1jofH) and also send a letter to your Member of Parliament (http://bit.ly/ccA88B).
I liked the new plans. But I would more like to see new bundles with Foxtel. The bundles with Foxtel are still too much I think. If we could have some more bundle options and cheaper than before, I think it could capture a good market because none other operators have this option. Cheers
Mohammad
Im a telstra customer i still think the prices are overpriced when your biggest rival Optus offers $49 95 for 120GB and your offering $128 for 100GB
I pay $88 per month for home line and 25GB downloads. Telstra were the only provider who could give me broadband in my new flat. I phoned every other provider I could think of. I was sad at first but what has sold it for me is their unmetered services on the bigpond website. I mostly download game demos, vidoes and patches so not having any of these count towards my cap is great.
Love the new plans. Very very competitive compared to other provider. All those people who say that uploads are not included should start reading fine prints (mostly found at the bottom of the page with a number next to it). Most of the providers (TPG, Optus etc ) who provide huge downloads also count uploads. I believe the plans are reasonable and good enough for me to churn back to Telstra. Anyhow no matter how bigh user you are you will not be able to use 200GB a month.
keep upthe the good work.
John it might be good for some people like yourself but for people who have laptos mobile phones game consoles which all need updating regularly, unmetered services is no use to me because i dont use it
sorry i meant josh
It would be nice to have access to the top $148 phone+internet plan with the Foxtel bundle, i.e. all in one. If I want to bundle Foxtel with these plans on the website, I can’t get the unlimited calls, only unlimited local calls.
Also the 24 month contract is a bit excessive. 12 months would entice more to sign up I would say.
In today’s day and age, 25GB for over $100 is a rate I find impossible to digest. People have to understand that 25GB is actually quite small in terms of data, especially since SD cards now carry way more than that. With TPG, $100 gets you 120GB of downloads at 8000k transfer rate. Telstra is Australia’s biggest telco, so one would think they could afford to be more competitive. I just don’t get it.
@Jacques, 25GB, try 10GB max which is all wireless users can get! Also a transfer rate of 8000k is nothing many get over that speed on adsl and cable, but not wireless.
I can’t understand how people can even try and compare TPG to Testra? I mean Jacques comment makes no sense when you compare it to the new 100GB bundle… I just wish this was available to wireless users too.
Be nice if a mod could publish my other comment too
@Jaques – I don’t get it either, at least not on the hardlines. Wireless/NextG I can understand, Telstra invested a lot more in infrastructure and the difference in service area and speed when compared to Optus or Voda is immense.
But for landlines, when there’s so much choice out there, to be so uncompetitive with the likes of iiNet – who are using the same infrastructure – is unexplainable. Maybe it’s to gouge the customers who don’t have any provider options?
Having said that, even the mobile data rates are coming down, so maybe there’s hope. At the moment though, it’s still all too expensive, and the 24-month contract aspect is a total turn off and completely unnecessary.
Just worked out I can save about 40 dollars a month on one of these plans…and get more Gig’s a month and HD foxtel. WIN WIN.
when will data packs be provided as a bundle with mobile calling plans rather than as they are now currently which is via a stand alone plan. I am still currently paying a seperate data plan to get a decent data rate for my android phone. So frustrating !
I pay $69 for 6 gig peak and unlimited off peak. I live in a regional area and only Telstra Ports are avilable at my exchange.
the 100gig plan seems pretty good and will consider moving to Telstra when my contract ends.
If there where Optus ports at my local exchange I would go with TPG in heart beat.
A friend of mine recently upgraded from ADSL 1500/256 to ADSL 2+, he had no problem with his ADSL servive but since going to ADSL 2+ he is experiencing DSL dropouts, he calls to complain gets an operator in India who does not understand his problem, as an ex telstra tech, I have done many test, we have changed modem & done complete isolation test but still drops out. I wonder is Telstra serious about customer service & fixing problems especially with regard to ADSL.
Like the new bundle plans Elite Liberty released today, however how about rewarding current loyal customers who have homeline ultimate bundle plans with foxtel currently (25gb) and $218 per month, have a telstra mobile, t-hub ($299) and now t-box ($299). Seem to be getting left behind when new bundles are released. Or maybe I’m not asking or being told about combo? or being told you may be able to update current plan. My thoughts only, Telstra are looking to attract new customers more than retain current.
Unfortunately I’m in a position where I have Telstra home phone and foxtel on the new billing system and cable internet on the old billing system. After spending hours on the phone and being hung up on 3 times I was finally told it’s impossible to give me a bundle due to the different billing systems. Optus is starting to look good…
I have also been trying for over 3 months to get my home phone account switched from the old legacy billing system to the new siebel system. My broardband and mobile are on the new system and it is extremely frustrating not bing able to take advantage of the new bundles being offered by Telstra as its impossible for me to get anyone at Telstra to move my home phone account to the new system !! I would love to be able to upgrade my service but to no avail. Nobody at Telstra seems to be willing to help me with this !! I am constantly told that its not something that they can just DO, it has to happen in its own time which i find to be totally unbelievable. Im sure it would just be a transfer of data from old system to the new system. Not very good customer service from my point of view and Telstra’s reluctance to do this just financially disadvantages me every month the fiasco lingers on.
$109 per month…is that a mis-print? Seriously what a rort. Telstra needs to offer more value to be competitive. Most people these days have a mobile phone and don’t need a landline with all the bells.
Real value would be a $19/month deal for 25Gig, with an optional phone at $10, and reasonable add-ons for landlines and international calls.
Thank goodness for Disruptors like Skype. Does anyone actually for international calls unless they need to?
These bundle plans sound very interesting. I am currently paying $139 for 100GB on Internode, utilising your bundle pack that would include my phone which is a big win. I will change immediately if my list of deal breakers below are satisfied.
Deal breakers:
Does Telstra still define 1GB as 1000MB? This is a misleading trick as 1GB is actually defined as 1024MB. That means that if I took this plan up I would loose 2.4GB per month of data.
One other misleading trick that Telstra does is charge for uploads as well as downloads. Almost ALL other retailers only charge for download. Essentially cutting the plan to a 60-70GB plan while retaining the 100GB brand name. Almost could be considered false advertising if it wasn’t for the fine print.
Are the Telstra provided ADSL modem routers web page configurable without the need to install any Telstra Bloatware on the PC. The standard Telstra Bloatware which comes with wireless internet is unmanageable and very poorly designed software much like the pre-installed “applications” on mobile phones.
On the subject of pricing, why does Telstra “hide” certain ADSL plans – some of which are never advertised anywhere, ((Plans such as the one I was recently offered when I called to complain to Telstra when hit with a massive excess data bill of $300 on the archaic and expensive 2GB plan (@$49/month)…
The new plan Telstra-agents offers customers who were on the old 2GB ADSL plan is a “secret/non-advertised” ADSL2+ 25Gb/month for $49, including a free modem and 6 month free internet security trial , which most people might actually not want.
When I queried how Telstra/Bigpond could even offer a laughable 2GB plan for $49/month AND charge excess use fees, the agent offered me a new “special deal” at the same price.
So as a concerned citizen I asked the Telstra agent why this is not offered to everyone stuck on the old 2GB plan, as a free upgrade – why does one have to call, complain then get the special offer? I honestly could not get a straight or logical answer but he did offer my a $260 credit, for the excess data, promised a new faster ADSL2+ service and free ADSL2 Modem and bigger data allowance of 25Gb/month with no excess data.
Pity those still on the crummy 2GB plan?
Telstra you’d go a long way if you simply auto-upgraded all ADSL customers who are on the 2GB plan to the ADSL2+, 25GB plan (with no excess fees) and made it available to ALL, not just those suffering on the slow and laughably expensive 2GB ADSL1 plan.
And no, we’re not keen on your security suite, even though your agent was pretty pushy.
Mr. Thodey – get the value back into your plans, and you may just hang onto customers like me, who have left for other carriers who reward, rather than deceive customers , and would never even imagine having a 2GB plan that would impose stratospheric excess data fees….in the modern world is a 2GB ADSL plan even relevant?
Simply auto-upgrade all these 2GB plans to something more relevant to the year 2010. Your pathetically priced 2GB plan should be outlawed.
Yours,
RC
Looking forward to your responses…
@James & Jaques – although there are many other competitors, most of the infrastructure is mainly owned by Telstra. Fair Trading laws require Telstra to wholesale their infrastucture, if Telstra had cheaper prices than – lets say iiNet, it defeats the purpose of iiNet wholesaling off Telstra in the first place.
I’m not 100% but I believe all of Telstra’s pricing for plans must be negotiated and approved by the ACCC. ACCC need to ensure that pricing will be fair to competitors and not put them out of business.
Although expensive, I believe Telstra provides great value for money, and would be with them if I could afford it =)
Very disappointing. Just more marketing rubbish: upselling to products the consumer neither needs nor wants.
These bundles give the consumer the feeling that they’re getting so much value… but they’re not going to use anywhere near what they’re allowed and are ultimately worse off.
Weren’t you supposed to be changing Telstra? Offering more value for money or something…
Why don’t you offer some REAL value for once and increase the standalone quota or lower the pricing.
Let me get this right. Telstra is offering me the “bargain” of locking in on a home internet and phone package with free local calls but an expensive $1/call for STD (many providers offer STD for around 18c/call nationwide), a modest 25GB (up/down) data allowance, an IPTV option with almost no streaming content, all for a bargain lock-in price of at least $109/month over 24 months + $35 (= $2,651). And this supposedly delivers “great savings?”
I am paying about half that price for better allowances, cheaper phone calls and excellent content – with no long term lock-in contract and friendly Australian customer service – should I ever need it.
For these reasons I am decidedly underwhelmed. I would be far more impressed if Telstra pulled out of these kinds of exercises (such as consumer hardware and content development) and devoted itself to supplying world-leading, carriage services at best-in-class cost levels. Leave content and hardware design and development to the people who have far more experience in that arena.
I’m on the phone to telstra now as i have an old 10 digit account number. I’m speaking to a very nice lady from Australia who seems to be very chatty and helpful. She says it won’t be a problem to sign up.
So Narelle
“We’re excited about these Bundles – let me know what you think.”
It would seem your excitement is not shared by all.
What do you think about what we think?
The nonsense of requiring people to have a 13 digit account number to access these new offers is really quite unbelievable.
Customers have no control over whether they have a 13 digit or a 10 digit account number. It’s up to Telstra to get this fixed quicksmart because it just isn’t good enough.
I’m officially on board. We’ll spend less each month for Broadband, Phone and Foxtel, but get a better deal on calls and a higher quality pay tv service.
The bundles are a bit of a disaster for me. Like most Telstra products the devil is in the details. I had the 25G bundle with foxtel and phone included with t-hub. The problem is I have a home business and now I need 50G of internet. Should be no problemo, just pay an extra $30/month right? Wrong, 50G bundle is completely different with outrageous local call costs which would make this bundle very bad value indeed. Result is I am stuck so no internet music for me while I work and my customers suffer too as I can’t do all the updates I would like on their computers.
I am a bit cynical as this sometimes seems like the schemers from the Telstra of old have been calculating these moves like chess grand masters and know exactly what the possible moves are. IMHO Telstra have predicted correctly that people will often need to up their internet and then they can screw them on call costs. This is one way they get their money back on these apparently attractive schemes.
Back again. Well update to my earlier post. This time Telstra told me I could have the 50G cable plan with the Reach Home phone plan included (free local calls). This contrasted with what I was told 10 days ago or maybe less, so either the plans have changed or the other person wasn’t very well trained. The important thing is that my faith in Telstra is restored and I have a reasonable outcome. Sure I have to pay more for the 50G plan, $30/month but that is the difference in cost between 25G and 50G per month so I am perfectly happy with that.
Grant
Hi, is the content the tbox accesses metered?
Please add a foxtel HD option to all of the new bundles!
I can’t move from my current bundle as the new entertainment bundles aren’t any good.
I really would like Telstra Home 100GB Ultimate Bundle at $139 + Foxtel HD+ Platinum.
Happy to pay the $139 + $135 – $10 = $264 … but $139 + $115 = $254 (like the old bundles) would be better.
I currently have a home ultimate 25GB bundle + Foxtel HD, for $21 more a month ($11 if it was only $115 extra for foxtel) I could have an extra 75GB + free calls to telstra mobiles (not in my current HL Ultimate).
Why restrict customers with foxtel to the crappy bundles and keep the good ones without foxtel? You need an Ultimate user bundle that includes the best of all of your products for customers. HL Ultimate + 100GB(or more) + Foxtel HD.
Hopefully Telstra will upgrade the bundles soon to allow foxtel on all bundles…
Thank you to everyone who posted comments and feedback about our new bundle offerings. This forum provides you with the opportunity let us know more about what our customers want.
We’ve listened to the feedback so far and our new bundles provide customers with some great savings compared to purchasing each service separately and also provide a wider range of benefits such as;
Higher GB allowance
Free local calls
MessageBank
Unlimited calls to Telstra mobiles within Australia on some bundles
Free STD calls on some bundles
We are constantly listening to customer feedback and ideas so that we can continue to develop and improve our bundles in the future, so stay tuned.
Narelle
on all the bundles the foxtel can be added even if its HD.
eg if you have a 100 gb bundle you can add your foxtel HD (-$10) combo reward.
or you can add the HD to any foxtel bundle for an extra $15 for the HD,
hope that helps,
teltstra employee
You , Telstra, are ripping people off, its that simple.
Lower your prices to HALF whatthey are now and BE REALISTIC.
What was it last year ?
4 BILLION PROFIT ?
I got so excited about these new bundles. We’re in a country area, fortunate to have access to ADSL2+, and have been Telstra customers for nearly 20 years. We’re currently on Homeline Ultimate (nearly all our calls are STD) and 12gb of Broadband. So to pay less for the bundle, include and extra 88gb of broadband and throw in a T-hub, fantastic.
My joy was shortlived, I rang only to discover I am not an eligible customer, something about Telstra billing system and that it could be another three years or so before I go on the new system and become eligible for the bundles!!!???
I am confused, been a customer for close to 20 years, phone, mobiles, internet, and I want to give Telstra money, every month for the service. No sorry you don’t have enough numbers on your account number. My next door neighbour, who isn’t with Telstra, could theoretically swap over today and go on one of the bundles. Loyalty = what?
Anyhow, the consultant (who by the way was very good and apologetic) put me on the Homeline ultimate and the 100gb broadband (psuedo bundle) for the same price, but I won’t be getting the T-Box, because of the billing system and I am an old customer on an old billing system.
Disappointed, bemused, amazed.
@Narelle
Quote “We’ve listened to the feedback so far and our new bundles provide customers with some great savings compared to purchasing each service separately and also provide a wider range of benefits such as”
As long as your not a wireless customer that is.
Try and live with a wireless only option and see how you go month by month with a 10GB account.
Also consider there are many like us that would like to have access to bundles but cannot because we cannot get ADSL or Cable. We have Wireless, 2 x mobiles, landline and foxtel (no free to air available) and pay and arm and a leg for them.
Sorry but I see this as blatant price discrimination against your wireless only users
Sorry I can’t find anything out there that is cheaper than the $148 home bundle (without thub and tbox) ie 200gb broadband and all phone calls included ie local, std AND ALL mobile calls and line rental. Have looked at iinet and tpg etc and doesn’t compare. For a home business and family with kids not old enough to pay for their own mobiles it is a fantastic plan and will save me $100′s per month including cost of videos from the local shop. Can’t wait to start using my new 200GB in downloads and will probably purchase the tbox.