Internode goes for the mother lode: Naked ADSL2+

Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Wednesday, 12 March 2008 17:23

Your IT - Home IT

Internode now supplies Naked ADSL2+ bundled with a VoIP service to 350 phone exchanges in Australia thanks to an agreement with Optus Wholesale. Also promised is ‘long range’ ADSL to directly compete with 3.5G wireless networks for rural and regional customers within Internode’s reach.

Clearly not content to see competitors such as iinet, Gotalk and others steal all the Naked ADSL2+ limelight, Internode have shed their inhibitions and have firmly embraced the Naked ADSL2+ bandwagon.  

An Internode press release has some, but not all details of the rollout, which sees 350 telephone exchanges serviced by Optus now offered via Internode through an agreement with Optus Wholesale.

Internode’s Naked ADSL2+ service is being offered to residential and business customers, and brings to 450 the total number of exchanges under Internode’s umbrella.

As with other Naked ADSL2+ services, there is no dial tone on the naked line in use, precluding the use of fax machines, monitored security alarms and phone calls during a power failure, but coming with the benefits of no line rental (saving approximately AUD $30 per month), a VoIP package and superfast ADSL2+ speeds.

These speeds are up to 20Mbps when downloading and up to 820kbps when uploading, depending on the customer’s distance from an enabled telephone exchange, meaning those ‘up to’ speeds are not guaranteed as is the case with any ADSL2+ provider, ‘naked’ or not, although Internode say the “minimum assured bandwidth” of 1500/256 kbps.

Internode say that their Naked ADSL2+ packages start from AUD $59.95 per month, but also point out this means the ‘nett cost’ will be ‘as little as $29.95 per month – or less, if low cost call charges are included’, as you no longer have to pay the additional $30 line rental per month, although Internode does have a slight time related catch for some potential customers which is explained on page 2.

Hopefully non-tech savvy consumers are not confused by the ‘nett cost’ claims, as no customer on a Naked ADSL2+ will only pay $29.95 per month, the minimum charge will still be the full $59.95 per month, plus any calls made through Internode’s NodePhone1 VoIP service.

So, what is the catch for some customers who might have to wait before being able to connect, what are the Nodephone1 charges, how many gigabytes can you download for $59.95, what other plans are available, and what are Internode’s future plans? Please read onto page 2.