Wireless broadband in Melbourne
Omniconnect
With plans ranging from AU$99 to $1,995 per month for connections from 256Kbps up to 2Mbps, Omniconnect offers services throughout metropolitan, western, eastern and south-eastern Melbourne, with services running to the South Australian border. With a principal focus on the corporate market, Omniconnect is also working on specific projects to roll out services to regional areas and increase its presence in the wholesale market.
Datafast
With its recent acquisition of EFTel, Datafast offers services in every state in Australia, providing wireless broadband as an adjunct to dial-up, satellite and ADSL services. Focusing its wireless service on areas where other infrastructure is not available, Datafast offers an unlicensed service at $500 for installation, and $330 per month, with data charged at $0.16.5 per Mb with special rates for high usage. While its more reliable licensed spectrum can cost up between $40000 and $50000 to install, with a monthly charge $165 once the service is operational, data is then charged at $0.11 - $0.08 per Mb depending on usage. While the installation time on the unlicensed spectrum runs anywhere from a week to a fortnight, the licensed spectrum can take up to a month.
Access Providers
Offering premium services focused on the Melbourne market AccessProviers has a range of connections from symmetrical service ranging from 256kbps to 4Mbps which includes 5 IP addresses and DNS hosting. Functioning as a wholesaler and retailer, Access Providers offers a range of pricing from $0.14c per Mb after installation. Although it is predominantly a wholesale provider, Access Providers also offers a retail service with pricing upon application.
Lastmileaccess
Using Cisco technology, Lastmileaccess offers a premium service throughout the Melbourne metropolitan area, and all the way down to Dandenong in the East. Lastmileaccess offers symmetrical service ranging from 256KB installed at $1200 with a $320 monthly access fee and data rates at $0.11 Mb. For higher data rates the company offers 2Mbps at $2000 to install, and $750 monthly access fee and a 4M symmetrical account at $2500 to install, and $1190 per month access fee. The company stresses that data rates and fees are negotiable and come with a five day installation, and a service level agreement guaranteeing 99.9 percent uptime.
Megalink
Looking to roll out its services into areas where ADSL does not reach, Megalink resells a variety of wireless offerings on 18 month contracts, with a flat installation fee of $799 and 1Gb of data included in the purchase price. The services range from 384Kbps for $77 per month, with excess data charged at $0.13.5 per Mb, to 2Mbps for $195 per month with excess data costing $0.10 per Mb.
Wireless broadband in Tasmania
Broadband Wireless
Covering the areas of Hobart, Launceston, Devonport and Burnie, Broadband Wireless offers a range of services targeted at the home user, small business, and corporate markets. A standard installation costing $500 plus GST, and can generally occur within seven working and all excess data traffic is charged at a flat rate of $0.16.5Mb. Home connections range from $88 to $156 per month for 2-3Mbps, 500Mb data included. Small businesses are offered speeds between, 512Kbps and 4Mbps, at rates ranging from $275 to $1485, all services come with 1 to 8 IP addresses, 1000 to 6000Mb of downloads. At the top end of the range the corporate wireless offerings range from $462 for 512Kbps to $2750 for 4Mbps, with anywhere from 2000 to 10000Mb of traffic included along with a range of extra security services.
Wireless broadband in Perth
EFTel
Recently acquired by ASX-listed telecommunications provider Datafast, EFTel offers wireless service to the Perth metropolitan area and through to Mandura in the south of Perth. EFTel offers start at 128Kbps for a monthly fee of $149, with 500Mb symmetric data, and $0.12 Mb for excess data usage, and range through to 523Kbps for a $999 monthly fee with 15000Mb of data and excess usage charged at $0.10 per Mb. There is a standard installation fee of $499, with a higher fee associated with the installation of a mast to improve reception in low lying areas.
WestNet
An ISP since 1994, WestNet has been offering wireless services since 1999, and has rolled a service out to metropolitan Perth, as well a regional centres such as Kalgoorlie, Geraldton and Bunbury. The WestNet offering starts at 128Kbps for $249 per month, at $0.06 per Mb for excess data, through to 512Kbps for $499 per month, with corporate access as high as 3.2Mbps upon application. Installation attracts a flat fee of $350 plus staggered fees for equipment hire beginning at $715 for a 36-month contract and range through to $1650 if no contract is taken out.
Wireless broadband in Adelaide
Airnet
Opening officially in 1999, Airnet spent roughly 12 months researching and developing the product they were finally to launch. At the corporate end of the market Airnet offers speeds starting at 256Kbps, at a monthly rate of $300, with an installation cost ranging from $2500-$4000, and a lead time of four to six weeks. However, at the lower end of the market Airnet is currently rolling out a community wireless program which requires ten to twenty clients within the one suburb. Installation costs $499, with an ongoing monthly charge of $69 for 512Kbps. After an initial roll out in Mawson Lakes, Airnet plans to install the service in locations in Queensland and Victoria.
Internode
Already offering an extensive range of broadband services in the Adelaide area, Internode plans to extend its service to include wireless connectivity early in the new year. The product will be rolled out onto the Adelaide CBD and metropolitan region, and down to Coorong, south east of the city. The offering will start at $440 per month for 256Kbps with 360Mb of data, and excess data charged at $0.15, an initial installation fee of $2200. Higher capacity users can opt for a service of anywhere up to 1.5Mbps, with adjusted pricing, customers also have to option of providing their own terminating equipment where appropriate.
Wireless broadband in Sydney and surrounding areas
Planet Netcom
Penrith-based ISP Planet Netcom currently has a broadband wireless pilot program covering 2500 square kilometres in the outer western suburbs of Sydney. Due to be launched in February 2003, the service costs an initial outlay of $499 as a one of rental cost for antennas and wiring, and $110 in installation charges. Called Radioworx, the service comes with a 12 month contract, and starts at Radioworx 256 with 500Mb of downloads included and a speed of 256Kbps in both dirrections, all for a monthly charge of $59. At the other end of the scale is the Radioworx 1500, with of data 8Gb and a 1500Kbps symetrical service all for $379.
IDL Internet
Founded in 1995, IDL Internet currently offers a 802.11b 2.4GHz covering the Hunter region north of Sydney. Aimed at the consumer and small business market, the monthly rates start with a "Bronze Account" $55, with 300Mb of data included, and extra data charged at $0.19.8 per Mb. A step up is the "Silver Account, which offers connection at $77 per month with 1000MB of data included and additional charges of $0.16.5 per MB, while finally the "Gold Account" is offered at a monthly rate of $110 per month with 2000Mb of data included and an additional charge of $0.11MB. All accounts attract an installation charge of $499.
