New BigPond Broadband Plans – fast, simple and more value
Filed under: ADSL, broadband, customers, entertainment, lifestyle, networks, T-Box, technology, trends
I’ve got a confession to make… I’m having a love affair with the internet. From checking the latest news headlines on my iPhone to researching our next exotic holiday on my home PC and enjoying favourite flicks via my new Telstra T-Box®, it’s safe to say that the online world is never more than three steps away in the O’Flaherty home.
And clearly I’m not alone. From video-rich entertainment to social networking sites, Australians are spending more and more time online. In fact, the average Australian internet user spends 17 hours per week online, which is a 28 per cent lift from 2007[1].
At Telstra, we certainly recognise that our customers’ needs are changing. With information, entertainment and news being enjoyed across multiple devices in the house, it’s not surprising that consumer demand for speed, simplicity and value from their broadband is growing.
We’ve spent a lot of time listening to what our customers need and want from their home broadband solution, and I’m pleased to announce that from tomorrow, our new BigPond broadband plans deliver greater data allowances at lower prices, allowing household members to do more on the internet for less.
We’re really excited about these new plans and have worked hard to ensure they are simple, easy to understand and offer our customers real bang for their buck. Ranging from 2GB to 200GB plans, benefits of the new plans include:
- Reduced monthly access fees of $10 to $90 per month
- Turbo plan customers will get the benefit of faster “Elite” plans for no extra cost, except for the entry level 2GB “Turbo” plan
- A reduction of 12 plans to four to simplify the range
- No additional usage fees on any plan
The pricing for customers on a 12 month plan who have a Telstra full service fixed phone is:
|
[2]Min cost for ‘new prices’ over 12 month with HomeLine® Plus and a 1-port self install modem are: $907.80 (Turbo 2GB), $1027.80 (Elite 2GB), $1,387.80 (Elite 50GB) and $1,627.80 (Elite 200GB), plus a $9.95 delivery fee.
[3] Min cost for ‘old prices’ over 12 months with HomeLine Plus and a 1-port self install modem are: $1027.80 (Turbo 2GB), $1147.80 (Elite 2GB), $1867.80 (Elite 50GB) and $2,707.80 (Elite 200 GB), plus a $9.95 delivery fee.
Plus, customers can receive up to $20 off their broadband monthly access fee when they combine a new 24 month broadband plan with a Telstra full service fixed line phone and an additional BigPond wireless broadband, Telstra post-paid mobile, or FOXTEL from Telstra on a Single Bill[4].
This means, for example, you can enjoy 50GB for as little as $49.95 a month[5].
Full details of the new BigPond plans are available online here
[1]Nielsen’s 2010 Internet & Technology Report
[4]To obtain this discount, the combined monthly access fee of the customer’s services must be at least $89
[5] Min cost for $49.95 plan with HomeLine Plus, a 1-port self install modem and a Telstra post-paid mobile ($20) is $2,397.60, plus a $9.95 delivery fee.
Rest assured, all existing customers will be moved onto the new plans in the coming months. We’ll be letting customers know about the changes, but if anyone wants to make the change sooner, feel free to give us a call on 13 2200 or go online at the site above.
This is a big step in the right direction for our customers, and I hope you feel the same way too – I’m looking forward to your feedback.
New BigPond broadband pricing media release
Thanks Julian, not sure if this will be published though as three other posts of mine are still in limbo.
I have also again written to the Federal government to try and push this matter further, the initial reply is that they are aware of the fact that currently prices are too high (when compared to ADSL/Cable) of which was recognised by the Prime Minister. They are trying to get the opposition to come on board with the NBN as soon as possible so people like us can get a fairer deal than what we are now getting.
Cheers
GW
Hi fellow wireless users, some Christmas cheer,I entered the funniest Christmas blog competition, my contribution as follows.
It was a warm and fuzzy night, and the full moon hinted of dreams and Christmas wishes coming true,well the children hung up their Christmas stockings,and I went to bed in high spirits, imagine my shock, when in the shimmering lights through my bedroom window Santa Clause appeared and he said when you wake up there will be a new higher data family wireless plan, Santa took off on a flying pig. when I awoke I eagerly raced to my computer, and discovered the family wireless data increased from 12GB to 25 GB.
Thanks for entering to be Telstra Exchange Funniest Christmas Blogger.
Your entry has been saved and processed and you can expect to receive a confirmation email from us shortly.
Good luck!
Interesting item from http://www.itnews.com.au
http://www.itnews.com.au/News/237468,csiro-develops-wireless-bush-broadband.aspx?eid=1&edate=20101104&utm_source=20101104_AM&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=daily_newsletter&eaddr=parklea60@yahoo.com.au
Ngara technology offers 12Mbps via TV.
CSIRO has developed wireless technology that could bring 12Mbps connectivity to rural Australia via a television set-top box.
The so-called Ngara system provided up to six users with a constant data transfer rate, regardless of others’ uploads, within the spectrum of a single, seven-megahertz television channel.
According to Gartner’s wireless research director Robin Simpson, the network could use analogue television channels as Australia moved to digital technology.
“This means any rural property or business that can currently receive TV signals could in future connect to high-speed internet just by using a new set-top box,” he stated.
Ngara had a spectral efficiency of 20 bits per second per Hertz – 10 times the industry’s minimum standard, CSIRO claimed.
The researchers were currently testing the downlink component of the technology, which would also be 12Mbps per user, in accordance with the Government’s connectivity promises.
CSIRO ICT centre director Ian Oppermann said Ngara would enable those outside the National Broadband Network’s reach to access broadband internet.
“Even with just half of our system completed, CSIRO is already helping define the future of wireless technology,” he said.
Copyright © iTnews.com.au . All rights reserved.
Ive got one, this is hilarious!
” Telstra looks after their wireless customers”
Told you this was funny
Roo roo……
Gwmbox, Mark and others,
Thank you for continued feedback. I am aware that you have also contacted several other members of Telstra’s management team, so please accept this response on behalf of all that you have contacted.
The price and allowance changes we’ve just made to our mobile broadband plans have improved the value of the offer with a $30 reduction in the price of our top plan and a modest increase in the download allowance. I am sorry that this improvement in value has not met your expectations.
We do care about our mobile broadband customers. It is true that ADSL continues to offer higher usage allowances than mobile broadband for someone who does not need or use the mobility potential of a mobile service, but our pricing is influenced by a number of factors, including the higher costs of delivering services on a mobile network versus a fixed network.
I appreciate the effort you have taken to write and I’m sorry that I can’t offer a more positive response to your concerns at this point in time.
Unfortunately Rebekah this is where yourself and others at Telstra are missing the point. ” We don’t want mobile broadband, we have no other option”. If you could kindly get rid of this pair gained telephone line and run a new one that supports adsl, I would switch to it.
Julian
Rebekah, thanks for your response but I think that you and everyone else in Telstra are missing the point, the problem has not been about MOBILE BROADBAND but about those who, for no fault of their own, can not get a fixed line Broadband service.
In my case, and my sons also who lives next door to me in a small rural village called Gundaroo in NSW, we cant get even a standard telephone service, as the cabling has to be upgraded to the village and so we have been, to Telstras Credit, been supplied with a FIXED wireless telephone and a FIXED wireless broadband service. This service is not mobile it is fixed so we cant take it with us if we move around and the modem is a FIXED modem attached to our wall and our telephone and broadband is provided by an internal cable from this modem.
It is all good and well to change the name to mobile broadband however it is not mobile it is FIXED and this is the problem. Those who have been provided with a fixed landline can get ADSL but those with a fixed FIXED wireless, not mobile wireless, can not get anything that is anywhere near the service of ADSL. Those who have proper mobile service have done so by choice but those with FIXED wireless broadband do not.
Please look towards rectifying the problem for those with FIXED wireless broadband and we will then all go away and leave you in peace but until then we will continue to vent our anger.
Please also excuse the capitals in some areas but that has been done to emphasis the problem as people do not seem to really understand and only think they do, oh BTW I am 75 years young and have heard most of the excuses of “why we cant get things done” but believe me if all of us loyal Telstra customers walked away then I bet something could be done, to get us back.
Hi Mark, another Mark,
Just to say that I appreciated your input, and aggree 100% with your comments, it is just that Telstra just do not want to even go there, as they are always right, and the customers begging for a few crumbs are wrong,and a thorn in their short term profit only motives, they are the experts at lip service, using junior staff or case managers to stiffle any resistance. like you I will not go away,at least till I feel at the end of my contract, show no loyalty and go by my pocket bottom line as they do.I have initiated other forms of media coverage, as I feel outraged and disgusted with Telstras arrogant disregard for a few lousy GBs for forced Wireless sufferers.
Rebekah you may have heard that I received a phone call today about my requests for a better quota for wireless users of which was basically a no there will not be any increase in quota and no there will not be any new plans, at least not now but you never know what the future might be.
While an attempt to address my issues were discussed the end result is a tough luck situation. I still have no real reason why at least a shaping speed increase cannot be provided to the top plan but it would seem that I am not going to get anywhere further with this here.
I also don’t know if or when our local tower might be upgraded beyond 3.6mbps either.
Needless to say I am greatly disappointed once again and can now only look forward to the NBN rollout as I think that will be the only next change on the horizon.
So anyway this will be last post in this blog thread as I have pretty much been told to stop writing in comments on the blog and to simply shut up about it all, which it would seem is the direction that is being taken on TEX anyway in relation to my posts.
Thanks
GW
GW stated
Rebekah you may have heard that I received a phone call today about my requests for a better quota for wireless users of which was basically a no there will not be any increase in quota and no there will not be any new plans, at least not now but you never know what the future might be.
This is a statement from Telstra,(cut and paste)
and a glib fobbing, from an arrogant corporate body that puts its greed for the bottom line before ensuring customer retention. I will just wait out with a sad knowledge that nothing had or has changed with Telstra, in listening to its paying customers,and not just commercial lip service, they have all of our needs and request, better Data, and shaping speeds etc, at their disposal,and for my part, and other fixed wireless users, will be in a better position when contracts finally runs out, Landline, Mobile, and broadband.
2332 hrs: Turned mac book on to go online.
2333 hrs: Opened up Safari…. waited for home page to open..
waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting…………
2338 hrs: It opens, hmmm that was slow.. Surely I haven’t been shaped. For I have a massive 12gb per month and I’m only half way through the month…
Yep, shaped!
Thanks Telstra
Now get rid of this pair gained line so I can get some real data and not worry about being shaped!
Sick of being shaped…Give me some options… I’m over this…
Can’t wait for NBN….. Telstra just don’t care about their customers…period!
I have had a gut full of this…. Bought Call of Duty Black Ops on my Ps3, just got the kids to bed and thought I might have a game with a few mates online. Great theres a new patch that needs to be downloaded before I can get on. Looks like I won’t be able to play tonight…. Sick of being shaped, sick of the pathetic 12gb per month, sick of the slow shaped speeds and sick to death of Telstra not doing anything for us “FIXED WIRELESS USERS” Thanks alot!
Had some great news today. Got an email from xbox to inform me that I can now use my xbox360 to run Foxtel through for under $20 per month. Fantastic news, or is it? That’s right I’ll need a high speed connection with plenty of monthly data to use it properly. ” Once again, thanks TELSTRA for leaving us “FIXED MOBILE USERS” with no options…..
My family thanks you!
I really want to get rid of my current Internet supplier due to slowness and really want to get cable, the only option is Telstra. Optus dont have their cable past my home. The downside we have is I live with 4 other guys, when you add Tivo, PS3, 5 Laptops and 5 iPhones plus AppleTV and more plans out there just dont cut the mustard. We need more then 200GB which seems to be the highest on Telstra. Is that correct? I dont mind paying $120 or so for about 500GB plus but its hard to find? Dont ISP’s get it?
If you do not mind ‘paying $120′, then just get another account, have two, that is 400GB which should be more than sufficient for your groups usage.
Stop whining about 200GB’s, try surviving on 12GB and see how you go, at least you also have a 256kbps shaped speed.
GW
Nick you would need to look on the whirlpool broadband site for better plans. Lucky you are not on the Telstra Bigpond horror wireless top data plan of 12GB $89.95, there are families with children being punished with this obscene plan, then shaped half way through the month with a primitive dial up 64kbps!!!
Nick,
Seriously think about who you’re going to choose. If I had a choice I’d never use Telstra. As Mark mentioned, I’m one of the unfortunate families that have no options other than using Telstra wireless. They’re plans are overpriced and 12gb is not 12gb per month. More like 5gb where we get shaped to speeds slower than dial up for about 20 days per month……
Interesting reading the comments left by others!! We live in rural Victoria, not far from a major regional cente!! The only Internet access we can get in our area is Telstra wireless broadband!! We have ad many issues, often resulting in 3 hour phone calls to tech support, but to no avail!! All I am seeking is a reliable Internet connection!! We have been given new modems twice but still have the issue of the Internet dropping out!! I can access the net via my iPhone when the net is down!! What I was wondering is can telstra offer wireless broadband customers a more reliable service or enhanced coverage!! I have now ordered an external antenna for our house, and if that does not help, I will be calling telstr again!!!
Which modem do you have? If it is the Telstra/Bigpond Elite modem then that IS the issue. That modem built by netcomm is appalling and has a lot of know issues, actually all the modems built by netcomm are very poor quality.
I still do not understand why Telstra continue to use netcomm for their modems, they are rubbish and have been so for a very long time.
Here is some info for you that shows how bad they really are, it would just be good if Telstra would admit to the issue and dump netcomm
Link: http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum/?action=threads_search&f=14&fg=106&q=gateway
The evidence there speaks for itself.
My advice is if you have one of the Home Network Gateways is to request (repeatedly if you have to) for a newer USB Ultra fast modem, it is still not the best as again it is built by netcomm but reports suggest that it is at least better than the elite modem at least.
Again I cannot understand why Telstra continue to use netcomm, maybe a Telstra technician or person who makes these decisions can comment on that?
Cheers
GW
Rebekah O’Flaherty , many thanks for your reply, some time back, regarding your statements in addressing the many complaints and concerns of your fixed wireless users, (we never asked for mobile) you further stated the following comments.
The price and allowance changes we’ve just made to our mobile broadband plans have improved the value of the offer with a $30 reduction in the price of our top plan and a modest increase in the download allowance. I am sorry that this improvement in value has not met your expectations.
If this was an improvement?? what does it say for what was doled out to wireless users prior to this. I do acknowledge greater value and improvement took place on the 7GB plan after having to take out two other Telstra products at a further expence, in order to effect a better wireless broadband outcome.
Rebekah , our outrage centres around your very inadquate wireless 12GB top family plan, this is obscene within the real world internet expectations in meeting the customer requirements requirements, for their own personal use and the increasing demand of their childrens education needs etc, whilst 20GB is in itself a fraction of ADSL data value, it is far from unreasonable to expect that Telstra Bigpond could at least not ignore wireless demands, and take immediate action to win back the goodwill of their customers that expessed their goodwill by coming to Telstra, and committing to a 24 month contract. Also 252/525kbps shaping under the circumstances is the very least Telstra could do, 64kbps dial up adds further salt to the wound of those suffering this discrimination.
I don’t have Wireless Broadband, I do feel sad for those of you who do, and are experiencing such frustration.
Even on a ADSL2 line there are multiple issues with connectivity, and speeds. On my Linux system however not a hiccup, all specs are met, so I’m saying toodle OOH to Windows, just cos 200Mb/s is nothing like 2.1 Mb/s, go figure ?
Whoops, got my bit and pieces mixed up; 200Mb/s is nothing like 2.1 Mega Bytes/s, it’s a whopping difference.
It is a great pity that Telstra catered for the low user such as grandparents etc with a 2gb download and a disgusting 64kb shaping. The next plan is for over the top 50Gb download again shaped to dial up speeds. Telstra is the only ISP that charges for uploads as well and the only one with a shaped speed of 64K.
Why not a plan of about 10gb shaped to 256 like a lot of others and price it at about $30.00 without any other member garbage.
Telstras new bean counters almost have it right, just a little more thought and they will have many more signed up. The 2 gb plan is just to get you in and after a short time you realise it is not quite enough, just like the old 200meg plans of dialup and ADSL1. Sign them up then disgust them seems to be the standard attitude. Bugger the customer just get the numbers up.
Hi I fix and sell computers in country Vic My rural customers through no falt of their own are having to get bigger and more computer literate to compete in todays world. i am putting in more server enviroments etc all the time I have farm offices with up to 14 users on the internet. What internet plans have we got available for them when they cant get adsl??????? They want to use skype check emails on their sbs server log into their irigation computers etc. Yes i can tell them they can have mobile broadband at the price of renting a small island in bali. as if they dont pay enough already on fuel, labor, fertiliser, etc. Contend with floods droughts and so on. Then get shafted by coles and woollies on their prices. Why are the rural people in this country so poorly treated. At least with all this national broadband words being thrown around we can all rest easy?????? Why dosn’t the goverment scrap national broadbans billions of dollars spend, give every one in australia 1 million dollars and lower the price of nextg it would make everone a lot happier and be a lot cheaper……..
Hi John, I fully understand your situation but you are not going to get anywhere as I have all but exhausted attempts to try and get Telstra to see reason for providing additional quota to rural areas that have to use wireless, let alone satellite or dialup still.
The responses I am getting from Telstra Directors is sorry no new plans are being made available, in fact they are removing bundle options for even the wired users by end of week I am told. So that will make it even more difficult for those that are on wireless to ever get a fair deal.
The fact is that Telsra see wireless users as their cash cow and know we have little else to choose from so therefore charge what they do with the little data we get, there is no more going to be provided not even a faster shaping speed to enable us to surf the net when we reach our quota limits.
If I sound negative that is because I am, Telstra are not willing to make wireless broadband a fairer price for a fairer quota and that is that. Sucks hey.
GW
So I note the new pre-paid plans have been announced, and guess what more data is available to them which is adding to the overall net use.
http://www.telstra.com.au/abouttelstra/media-centre/announcements/smartphone-craze-goes-pre-paid—telstra-ups-value-and-unveils-first-9.xml
This just goes to show more data can be provided if Telstra wants to, they just choose not to for Telstra wireless Home Users.
GW
Hi GW,
You stated the obvious,
This just goes to show more data can be provided if Telstra wants to, they just choose not to for Telstra wireless Home Users.
GW
I sent an email recently to David Thodey, a picture of a little boy and his dog on their knees at the bedside praying, and I captioned it please God let David give us 20/30GB 0f Wireless data and a 256 shaping speed, as you know I got the cut and paste response about how tough things are financially in providing better data for Home fixed wireless users? when I responded back I stated that we all know that a Fixed line ADSL is so much cheaper, so why put out wireless if it is not profitable, just give me what I asked for, I’ll have what they are having, (anti climax) lol.
at least in their rare responses they told us what they are going to do about this gross injustice, rather than their negative fobbing off we could feel some level of respect for them , David you can never achieve better customer service when you cannot fully respond to customer communication
Same old problem, suck them in with a pre-paid hope they go on a plan then screw them and forget them. Users on a plan do not get any upgrades until their plan is up then the B/S starts again. How about rewarding current customers occasionally. No wonder we balk at plans when we get screwed.
Optus $30.00 you get $300.00 cap plus heaps more data. Too late I signed up with Telstra , bugger!
Incidently the captcha validation for this post was
“0 reasult”
How apt !!!
Hey Pooley, I understand where you are comming from but people need to check what their needs are going to be before they sign up with ANY Company, not just Telstra. I live in a rural village about 30 minutes drive from the centre of Canberra so I am not that far out of town, so to speak, and the only Company that can provide me with a service, particularly one that will work inside the house here is Telstra. All our friends on other service providers have to stand outside in the weather and then in most cases they only get 1 bar of service. So having said that Telstra gives the widest range of service, they might not be the best plan provider but they do give you a service. Oh by the way NO I dont work for them either I am just someone who, at 75, believes that it is a good idea to give credit where credit is due. Yes I would like to have more broadband similar to what is provided for people with ADSL but can’t because all my services, mobile phone, fixed phone and fixed (not mobile) broadband are provided by Telstra on the wireless spectrum and without them I would have no service at all but I hope that sometime in the future a miracle will happen and I will get at least 12gig for the price I am now paying for 7gig after all ADSL users get 50gig for far less than I pay for my 7gig.
When will Telstra advertise the National Broadband Network Fibre Optics Bundles & price for their customers?
More importantly Kevin, when will Telstra start doing things for their rural customers who cant get any of this “you beaut” stuff instead of concentrating on their urban customers who at least have access to ADSL even if it is only the basics. I pay more for a paltry 8gig of wireless broadband, the only thing I can get, than most urban people pay for a whopping (to me anyhow) 50gig of ADSL. You don’t know how restrictive this small limit, the only thing I as a pensioner can afford, until you are on it.