Telstra has unveiled the first stage of what it describes as "a major infrastructure upgrade" for its BigPond broadband user base, with the introduction of an hourly, single-usage meter.

In an e-mail to customers today, the telecommunications company said the new system, slated for 1 May, will display detailed upload and download usage patterns, as well as customised information for hourly, daily and monthly access.

The meter was produced in-house while Deloitte Consulting developed the database and associated functionality. The consultancy has also delivered system integration for Infranet, the new rating engine for BigPond broadband.

Telstra's two existing usage meters would be integrated into the new offering. At present, an "unrated" meter provides usage guidance every two hours and the 24-hour "rated" meter calculates the actual bill.

A Telstra spokeswoman told ZDNet Australia the existing system--in place since the company released the two-hourly unrated meter in December 2001--has always been an interim arrangement. "Some customers find them confusing," she admitted.

She said due to the transition to the new system, customers would be required to notify Telstra of any changes to their broadband plan by midnight five days before the end of the month, from March until July, rather than midnight on the last day of the previous month.

The spokeswoman said the company had e-mailed customers today to give them sufficient notice should they wish to alter their existing broadband plan this month.

Telstra is advising customers to use the two-hourly meter until the new meter is introduced, with the 24-hour meter unavailable throughout April.

However, Telstra has sought to cover itself should the move cause difficulties. The e-mail states: "Telstra BigPond Broadband asks that you please be patient as we transition to the new infrastructure and apologises if you experience any inconvenience".

The infrastructure upgrade is likely to deliver a range of new offerings to broadband customers, with additional tools to help manage usage and a new online bill payment facility in the works.

ZDNet Australia understands the company is investigating an on-screen, "at-a-glance" view of download usage, improving users' ability to measure how close they are running to their limit. Telstra is also believed to be considering integrating its billing systems to allow broadband customers to merge their online credit card payment with that for any Telstra telephony or other services.

The company came under fire late last year after more than 60,000 customers nationwide had their usage underestimated. However, the Telstra spokeswoman said the problem related to back-end data collection rather than a usage meter or billing issue matter and the carrier took on the extra hit itself rather than attempting to bill customers for their true usage levels.

The announcement comes as Telstra comes under increasing pressure to revise its download caps, with its last move in the area a rise from 300Mb to 500Mb on the low-end plans from 1 December 2002.

The carrier has moved to boost takeup of its broadband services, recently launching an AU$129 ADSL self-install kit and slashing the prices of install for all services by AU$100 during March.

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