Telstra slashes broadband install costs

Telstra has moved to spark takeup of its BigPond broadband products, slashing AU$100 from the installation price for its satellite, cable and digital subscriber line (ADSL) offerings during March.

The move, which follows the recent release of a self-install kit for its ADSL product, comes as the telecommunications carrier seeks to spark customer takeup as part of its drive to achieve one million wholesale and retail broadband customers by 2005.

Telstra officials said the offer was available to new customers who signed an 18-month contract with Telstra during March. Those who signed up would receive an $AU100 rebate on their first bill.

The move brings the self-install cost of an ADSL service down to AU$29, the cost of an install using a Telstra truck-roll service down to $AU149, cable to AU$89 and satellite self-install to AU$8.90 plus equipment costs.

It comes after both Telstra and number two telecommunications carrier Optus launched Wi-Fi, or wireless broadband access services, in metropolitan hotspots such as cafes, airports and business centres.

It also comes amid increased interest in broadband from Optus, which has flagged proposals to access the residential ADSL broadband market.

In addition, AOL7, the joint venture between AOL, AAPT and the Seven Network, today launched a broadband service after four months of trials.

Talkback 16 comments

    How about actually getting the ...Anonymous -- 10/03/03

    How about actually getting the broadband to work. The amount of outtages we've had lately is ridiculous but we still pay full price for third rate service.

    I have moved twice since insta ...Anonymous -- 16/03/03

    I have moved twice since installing Cable and been hit by Telstra for 3 lots of installation fees. I did the connection my self the second and third times, and the second time the technician simply asked at the door was it working and left. Not much value for $199 !! If it wasn't a monoploy you wouldn't have to pay that sort of price for no service.

    WOW all I can say is WOW. How ...Anonymous -- 16/03/03

    WOW all I can say is WOW.

    How about slashing package prices, or for that fact increasing the download limits, and remove the fact that if I send 10 meg it counts towards my usage.

    I pay $30.00/mth for my dialup, and I get about 2Gb download if I use all my time, so when ADSL comes to the party to stamp out dial-up, I will stick with dialup.

    ADSL is just another rip of consumer product.

    If telstra were serious about ...Anonymous -- 20/03/03

    If telstra were serious about sparking interest in their broadband services they would make a more cost effective package available. One that compared favorably to dialup instead of requiring you to pay more per month for a lower download limit. When I talk to friends overseas they are shocked at the fact that we even have a download limit. USA has no limits for an average $40 per month. UK are just thinking about 1.5Gb per day. This kinda makes our average highest 3Gb per month for well over $100 look kinda ludicrous.

    I'd love to have it, but not t ...Anonymous -- 20/03/03

    I'd love to have it, but not the way it's currently set up in Australia.
    When I look at the service friends in other countries get, and the price they pay for it, even the best available here (which is NOT Telstra's) looks like a con job.
    So, I'm sitting pat with my slooow dial-up connection until the local suppliers wake up to themselves.

    Try TPG ADSL Unlimited for $69 ...Anonymous -- 20/03/03

    Try TPG ADSL Unlimited for $69.95 Plus good service with no hassles .
    Telstra only wants your money when they get it they forget you

    I d/l 3.5 gigs on a dailup las ...Anonymous -- 21/03/03

    I d/l 3.5 gigs on a dailup last month for 34.95
    TPG sounds allright but yet again the regional Aust cops in the hip pocket. I thought all Australians must have equal access to telecomunication services

    Good. Now how about lowering t ...Anonymous -- 22/03/03

    Good. Now how about lowering the expense of an ongoing account. There aren't any limits in the USA. Why do we need them here? At least they could increase the pitiful ones Telstra currently has in place. If Foxtel can deliver for $49.95 a month why can't Telstra deliver the same volume for that price....

    I can't even get broadband, du ...Anonymous -- 24/03/03

    I can't even get broadband, due to archaic Telstra exchange hardware in my outer suburban (Brisbane) area. Telstra cannot tell me when if ever a broadband service might become available.

    Yet another non-serviced cust ...Anonymous -- 28/03/03

    Yet another non-serviced cust bt Telstra. After viewing there webiste i went out and bought out my own ADSL Modem/Router (saving $150 of Telstra's crappy product price) only to then do 'battle' with Telstra for a month over not being able to get adsl due to 'invalid line card @ exchange' after a fone number change and a further month of delays still no joy. Telstra can stick there crappy over priced ADSL. Arachnet in perth have 3 gig 512/128 with unlimited DL between 8pm-8am daily and loacal intranet support through WAIS free of d/l restrictions for only $66/month. Beat that Telstra.

    I just wish Telstra would admi ...Anonymous -- 31/03/03

    I just wish Telstra would admitt there is a problem. Call centre staff are trained to convince us it is our equipment. I assume young Ziggy needs a new car this year!

    Telstra seem to be missing the ...Consumer -- 31/03/03

    Telstra seem to be missing the major point here..
    Its not the installation price that is the problem, it is their over-hyped and over-priced service that prevents me from EVER using a telstra internet service. I'll stick with my $31.95 unlimited dial-up package until one of the isp's provide a true unlimited adsl or cable package that i dont need to take a mortgage out on my house to pay for.

    end rant

    Wake up Telstra. You are only ...Anonymous -- 01/04/03

    Wake up Telstra. You are only serving your share holders and while you hold the monopoly on lines you will never lower your braodband access costs. Broadband in Australia is an absolute joke with download limits and the cost to use being ridiculous. The simple fact that you won't put in new cable in a new development unless there are corporate customers too serve, just proves how money hungry you really are. You have simply forgotten about the small people at home. Well heres one for you, the next time the company I work for wants to rethink their broadband strategy I will be pointing them else where. If you don't believe me, all of our phones are with Optus. You loose again Telstra

    I had ADSL, but have moved hou ...Tom Swann -- 30/04/03

    I had ADSL, but have moved house. I'm still in the same town, still the same telephone exchange, still the same phone number. But Telstra are unable to move my ADSL service because they have routed my exchange service to a RIM.

    I'm told that the service to the RIM is digital via optic fibre, with copper from the RIM to my house and that it is possible for an ADSL unit to serve up to 24 customers to be installed in the RIM. But that Telstra are unwilling to do this (because these units are expensive) till they have 19 confirmed orders for any particular RIM.

    Telstra how about spending a little of the billions in profit in actually making the service, which you spend so much time telling us is available, available to all customers.

    I checked telstra bigpond site ...Anonymous -- 04/05/03

    I checked telstra bigpond site, the installation fee for ADSL is $129.00 with 18 months contract, where is the $29.00 installation fee?

    I see Swiftel are launching a ...Anonymous -- 12/11/03

    I see Swiftel are launching a $40.00 (2Gig) ADSL service in Brissie this month. It's about time broadband was offered at a reasonably justifiable cost to the average home user! Most people I know can't afford most of the current prices, and that is for tiny D/L limits anyway.

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