Telstra hoses down broadband pricing expectations - News - Business

To print: Select File and then Print from your browser's menu

--------------------------------------------------------------
This story was printed from ZDNet Australia.
--------------------------------------------------------------

Telstra hoses down broadband pricing expectations

By Iain Ferguson, 0
February 12, 2003
URL: http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/business/soa/Telstra-hoses-down-broadband-pricing-expectations/0,139023166,120272003,00.htm

Telstra's broadband services head has moved to hose down debate over DSL broadband service pricing as the telecommunications heavyweight prepares a huge marketing push to meet its goal of one million customers by 2005.

Justin Milne told ZDNet Australia any comprehensive restructuring of pricing was "not on the radar," with any adjustments likely to involve "tweaking" only.

Milne's comments follow a week of debate over pricing fuelled by the posting on broadband community site Whirlpool of questions asked by market researchers of Big Pond users regarding options for change to various aspects of the company's broadband offerings.

One of the questions asked was whether users would be prepared to pay a surcharge for a faster response time to "resolve" any technical issues Telstra may be having.

Milne said later some tech-savvy users of Telstra's DSL broadband offering may benefit from a cheaper plan that would include lower tiers of support.

However, Milne reiterated plans to continue surveying its customer base about various aspects of Bigpond broadband service. He foreshadowed the introduction of what he described as a "permanent online survey" through which users could provide feedback about their experiences.

He said part of his brief at Telstra was to re-energise the customer service focus of broadband staff at the carrier.

Telstra tonight in Sydney officially launches its DSL self-install product, which the carrier claims can bring service online in eight clicks in less than six minutes for some users and 12 minutes or so on average.