Telstra has launched a flamboyant broadband advertising campaign, which just so happens to coincide with its decision to restrict broadband downloads -- a move that many users say will push them to switch carriers.

The advertising campaign, which comes with the tag line "Your Internet experience is about to become a whole lot bigger" hit the streets at the about the same time the telco giant announced it would cap Freedom Plan customers' broadband downloads to three gigabytes a month.

However, a Telstra spokesperson told ZDNet that the advertising campaign was planned well in advance and that there's no correlation between that and its decision to restrict data downloads.

"It's just a coincidence that these two things happened at the same time," he said.

The campaign, which consists of direct mail delivered to Telstra customers, as well as advertising in major metropolitan newspapers, promotes the carrier's "superfast" broadband connection, savings (up to 16.5 percent off an ADSL contract) and services such as permanent Internet access that doesn't tie up an existing phone line.

Telstra said in a previous interview with ZDNet, that it anticipated some users would opt to change carriers on the back of its announcement to cap downloads.

"The campaign is to attract new people to the broadband service," Telstra's representative said today.

Angry Telstra broadband customers have inundated ZDNet with complaints since the telco giant made its move to limit downloads, with many users saying they will switch services to Telstra's competitor Optus.

"I have sourced Optus and it is in my street," one disgruntled user told ZDNet. "My mobile phone and home phone line will also go to Optus as protest against the standover tactics that Telstra seems to think are alright."

"I am going to cancel my contract with them. I also expect them to refund me part, if not all, of my connection fee," another user complained. "Telstra should also pay back the percentage of money that I had paid towards the modem. I urge that other users demand the same."

It's too early to say how many users Telstra will lose following its capped download decision.

Customers will soon have access to a usage meter so that they can determine if it's in their best interest to opt out of the Freedom Plan -- they will then have 14 days to make up their minds, Telstra said.

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