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Australia Achieves Unlimited Broadband – Say ‘Goodbye’ to Internet Overcharging Schemes

Phillip Dampier February 14, 2010 AAPT (Australia), Competition, Internet Overcharging 7 Comments

While several American broadband providers contemplate limiting customer’s broadband usage or launching usage-based billing, Australia is headed in the other direction with today’s introduction of the country’s first truly unlimited and unthrottled broadband plan for a flat monthly price.

AAPT, part of the Telecom New Zealand Group, claims its new Entertainment Bundle will revolutionize broadband in Australia as its competitors are forced to adopt unlimited plans of their own to compete.

For $88US per month, AAPT offers ADSL2+ 20Mbps service that has no usage limits, no throttled speeds, and no metered billing. The plan also includes free home phone line rental and a monthly $50 voucher good for downloading from the AAPT In Song music store, offering one million songs. A Wi-Fi modem is also included in the plan.

AAPT's unlimited plan is the first to dispense with usage allowances, speed throttles, and metered billing for Australian broadband users

AAPT CEO Paul Broad said the company’s new unlimited plans would deliver Australians better broadband.

“You go to the United States and there’s no such things as caps – you get online and get an unlimited download,” he said. “Consumers don’t know what these caps mean.”

Broad

The plan requires a two year service contract. Australian broadband pricing always includes a total cost of the plan over the length of the contract. For this particular plan, it’s $2,129.34US for two years of service.

Previously, AAPT offered unlimited downloading only between the hours of 2am-8am local time. Daytime usage was limited to a maximum of 60GB per month, with speeds throttled to 64kbps for the remainder of the month if you exceeded your plan allowance.

“We were first to market with 2am-8am unlimited [service], then 8pm–8am unlimited, and now 24/7 Unlimited Broadband downloads plus music streaming,” Broad said.

The company still reserves the right to terminate service for grossly excessive usage, not specifically defined, but that is a common right reserved by virtually every service provider.

Would-be customers are finding AAPT’s website and broadband plans confusing because AAPT’s broadband plans page does not yet contain details of the truly unlimited plan, which can be found here.

AAPT invites those with questions to call them on 132 082.

Currently there are 7 comments on this Article:

KC says:

February 15, 2010 at 3:34 am

I’m happy for the Australians. All it takes is a provider that isn’t afraid to compete against the bigger guys instead of try to match them on everything, like in the US. Hopefully Google will be our AAPT and get our ISPs off the road to capped service. I really hope AAPT makes an example of the horrible ISPs in Australia and proves that people, when given a choice, will go with the unlimited provider.

It makes me all fuzzy inside when I see an ISP advertising “no download limits and no throttling” because its proof they all know its BAD and nobody wants that, ever. Get it through your thick skull, Britt! I will not “learn” that tiers and caps are the best thing for me as your customer!
Smith6612 says:

February 15, 2010 at 7:14 pm

I’m glad to see an Australian provider finally see the light. On my Steam list I have a few Australians who I know for a fact have caps on their connection. They have to go very easy on their large game/video/music/Windows downloads or else they won’t be able to play their games for the rest of the month due to the risk of overcharging and because the low speed makes gaming horrendous. They do envy the fact that I have unlimited connections here, and they’ve been longing for such a connection.
DTK says:

February 15, 2010 at 8:45 pm

Now if some company in Canada would follow the example set by Australia.
David whittle says:

February 17, 2010 at 8:12 am

I am very happy the Australians are get a unlimited broadband and not to pay overcharging. now in future the competitors are increase and many new changes are there. I really hope that Australians get a nice plan.
James says:

April 16, 2010 at 9:57 am

Yeah right … take a look again at the T&C of their packages.

http://www.aapt.com.au/services/personal-small-business/personal/broadband-phone-plans-bundles

“1If you go over your monthly download allowance, your speed will be reduced to 64Kbps at all times (including 2am-8am and 8pm-8am Unlimited periods) for that month.”

And your monthly download allowance ? Maximum (for a home user) at 20 GB.

20GB !! That’s hilarious.
- Phillip Dampier says:
  
  April 18, 2010 at 1:07 am
  
  The link you provided does not apply to the unlimited plan. It applies to their standard broadband plans.
  
  Here are the terms and conditions for the unlimited plan:
  
  http://www.aapt.com.au/services/personal-small-business/personal/legal-entertainment-pack
Matt says:

May 6, 2010 at 6:41 am

TPG already has unlimited and for less. . . aapt it far from leading the cause here. . . Please get informed with the link ^^

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