iiNet announces not so cheap NBN plans

Stan Beer
Monday, 19 September 2011 07:25

Your IT - Home IT

Anyone who thought that NBN would bring ubiquitous cheap broadband to Australia may have had their hopes dashed with the announcement of the new offerings from iiNet. A quick visit reveals that the new "flexible" and easy to understand plans on offer from Australia's top 3 broadband player are in the pricey bracket even at the entry level.

 

Although cheaper than its DSL offerings, iiNet's NBN starting price is still a hefty $50 for just 12Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload, with a 20GB peak and 20GB off-peak quota. This progressively rises with a range of in-between options to $100 a month for 100/40Mbps and 500/500GB quotas. And users will be required to sign on for a minimum of two years. Business plans start at $80 and go up to $130.

In its announcement of the new plans, iiNet has not attempted to justify the high prices unlike some more outspoken NBN providers who have said that they are hamstrung by the high wholesale price of access offered by NBN Co.

However, with the impending shutdown of competing fixed line services such as the existing copper DSL and HFC cable networks, the only price pressures on the Government owned NBN Co in future could possibly come from wireless broadband providers such as Telstra which is in the process of signing a 20 year non-competition agreement with NBN Co.

iiNet says its range of BoB modems will work seamlessly on the NBN and make set-up on the new network quick and easy.

iiNet's CEO, Michael Malone, said he has always been a strong supporter of the National Broadband Network.

'We have long recognised the power of a ubiquitous, open-access network to transform our business. The NBN allows us to deliver what we have always stood for: faster, more reliable broadband for less,' Mr Malone said.

'iiNet is particularly excited that the roll-out of NBN is focused on regions traditionally burdened with slower speeds and higher prices. Without the need for a fixed phone line, the customers on our most popular ADSL1 plan can move to NBN speeds and enjoy ten times the quota for the same price they're paying now."

'With standard off-net access charges offered by NBNCo 40 per cent less than currently available in regional areas, we can pass substantial savings on to our customers,' Mr Malone concluded.

iiNet's NBN plans cab be found here and NBN Business Plans are available here.