News

NewsNBN: The #1 mistake to avoid when picking a plan
NBN: The #1 mistake to avoid when picking a plan

NBN: The #1 mistake to avoid when picking a plan

Tags: Telco & Broadband
Last updated by Joe Hanlon on

When it comes to connecting to the new NBN network, it's understandable that many of us just want to find a service that works well and costs about the same as the plan we're currently using. We don't want all the bells and whistles, and we don't want to pay for them either. 

The trouble is that many who have already taken up an NBN service, and who chose the cheapest, slowest connection type are now regretting that decision.

We recently conducted research into how everyday Australians are finding the NBN and discovered that people who are using an NBN Basic service are the most dissatisfied, and are most likely to say that they wish they could go back to their old internet plan.

Of a sample of 1075 people, just over half of the respondents to our survey who use NBN Basic said they were satisfied with what they have (51%), compared with 74% of satisfied customers using a faster NBN Standard plan.

Given that an NBN Basic plan is designed to deliver half the maximum speed of an old ADSL plan, it is easy to see why it is failing to meet the expectations of this group.

If you are new to the structure of NBN plans, these are divided into four speed tiers that are explained at the bottom of this article: Basic, Standard, Standard Plus and Premium.

We also learned that a huge portion of people using the NBN didn't consider a change of provider when it came time to switch technologies. A whopping 79% of people using NBN  told us that they followed the advice of their current provider and migrated to an NBN service.

And, fair enough; it can seem like changing providers could be a real hassle. The truth though, is that it is surprisingly simple to do it, and switching to the NBN is the perfect opportunity. Once you find a plan that suits your needs, all you need to do is place an order. Your new provider will do the rest, including sending you a new modem and transferring your home phone number across to the new service.

To get you started, here is a selection of NBN Standard plans to take a look at. From our survey, the average monthly NBN bill is $77, but as you can see, there are plenty of cheaper options. How do these compare with your current internet bill?

Or, if you'd prefer more personalised results, follow this link and put in your address to see the plans available to you.

The 4 NBN Speeds to Choose From:
  • NBN Basic: download speeds up to 12Mbps, which many will find the same or slower than current ADSL services
  • NBN Standard: speeds up to 25Mbps, good for everyday use in small households
  • NBN Standard Plus: speeds up to 50Mbps, best for larger families with multiple people online at the same time
  • NBN Premium: speeds up to 100Mbps, designed for heavy users, but also a good choice for small to medium-sized businesses.

 

Joe Hanlon is the publisher at whistleout.com.au

Originally posted on .

Join the conversation

FiftyUp Club
NBN: The #1 mistake to avoid when picking a plan

Share your views with other members. 

Want to leave a comment? or .
Read our moderation policy here.
Judith
Judith from NSW commented:

I can't believe how expensive it is. I currently pay $125.00 for 12 months. I do run out at about 9 - 10 months, but it's doesn't cost the earth to renew it again. 

Alan
Alan from QLD commented:

Alan from Qld, I have had the NBN for a couple of years now, I am with TPG and I have fibre to the home I have the fastest speed 100/40 and unlimited data, when I do a speed test it is around 96/100 and 36/40 I am very happy with my speed and think it is because I have fibre to the home. 

Tracey
Tracey from NSW commented:

I dont use the internet at home , we just have a home phone - can I just opt for a phone line? 

Anthony
Anthony from NSW commented:

Munsie NSW. I used to have, and wish I could go back to until NBN works as promised, an ADSL2+ that consistently connected at 6.5Mb to 8.5Mb with download speeds or around 800Kbps. I now have NBN fixed wireless on a 25/5 1Tb plan, and paying dearly for it. Since it was installed early this year I've been contacting the ISP monthly trying to get somewhere near the speeds I'm paying for, each time they check that say everything is working properly and maybe I need to check my end. I have agreed to have them come out and check and pay the fee if they find it is my end but each time they do not show and the ticket is closed. On a good day my NBN connection reaches 5Mb on the speed test sites, late afternoon and early evening I'm lucky to break 3Mb. We can only watch one steaming service at a time and when that is running send and receive email times out. I have finally got an answer from NBN, they didn't realise the demand in my area and did not put in equipment to handle the peak times, I live in a large regional city with a population of over 120,000,just over 3Km from a Telstra Exchange how can this be acceptable. NBN should be fined for every connection that does not meet minimum standards, what can we do about this? 

Robert
Robert from NSW commented:

For what it's worth, iinet/westnet offer a cheap NBN plan for Senior Card holders, see http://blog.iinet.net.au/good-australian-seniors-cards/ which gives us ALL our old landline services and 50GB of data a month for $40 a month though probably at the slowest NBN speeds and, of course, the landline/VOIP part only works when the modem is turned on. (sidebar: wonder how much the government is now forcing us to pay in electricity charges just to keep that modem going? So much for energy relief pricing). Bob 

margaret
margaret from NSW replied to Robert:

My problem is I do not require 50 GB in a YEAR. I need 2GB per month and sometimes I could use 3 if I really fiddled around and wasted time. Speed is not a worry, I just do not care. It is the cost that is the problem. The cost of paying for far, far, more than I need. 

Robert
Robert from NSW replied to margaret:

In that case, and assuming you don't need a "landline" home phone once NBN comes through, I suggest you just invest in a mobile phone plan that gives you 5GB of data plus ALL your calls in Australia and ditch the NBN all together. That way you have all your internet, all your phone, and it works 24/7 wherever you are in Australia. Most modern mobiles can be used as a wifi hotspot so you can use your data on your home computer or whatever and if it sounds a bit too techie, there are plenty of Seniors groups that will show you what to do. Hope this helps, Bob 

margaret
margaret from NSW replied to Robert:

Thank you Robert. I am writing down your advice as I think that it would be the best I could do. 

Robert
Robert from NSW replied to Robert:

Having had this plan for a while, the problems are:     - - - - new line  -- - - - They charge per minute for calls to a mobile so you can't talk to the kids without paying extra.    - - - - new line  -- - - - They don't recognise 1900 numbers so you can't enter contests like the Today Shows "I wake up with Today " contest 

margaret
margaret from NSW commented:

I have a dongal 2gb per month $15, and rarely come anywhere near that. Do not need the large and costly plans. Had NBN for about 5 months then landlord sold flats. I moved to a new area without NBN and had to pay out NBN. It had taken5 weeks to get it connected, no phone, and if I emailed 'no phone' the reply was 'No phone, just ring xyz'. Weeks of sitting in neighbors flats , or they in mine trying to fix the problem. $60 per month and whilst I could understand it did not include overseas call or mobile calls, I found it did not include many of the basic 40 cent calls either so bill was always much higher. When I moved it took Telstra almost 4 weeks to connect the phone despite telling me it would be connected when I arrived as every thing was in place. My dongal was sent a week before I moved despite my telling them when I would move and therefore be there to receive it.This meant it was a 'return to sender' that vanished forever. I was now in a country town no phone no email, no car and a long, long way from anyone I knew After many ,many bus trips to the local Telstra shop (very kind and patient) they took pity on me and supplied me with a dongal. Now I could email Telstra about the lack of phone....reply ..."no phone just ring...' More bus trips to Telstra shop. Now my area is connected to NBN When I am cut off I will get a mobile and dongal and if there is any problem with retaining my dongal the local library is 4 minutes away. Never again. 

Someone
Someone from VIC commented:

There is so much rubbish out there. We have NBN with TPG and tried to switch to Aussie Broadband as per your recommendation . Aussie can't find our address and claim NBN is unavailable in our street! What a farce! 

Someone
Someone from NSW commented:

NBN create their own addresses! We were on a corner and NBN created an address in the other street not known to anyone , i.e. council, ph provider, electricity etc.. 

Mark
Mark from QLD commented:

I have a son who lives in London, one fast speed there for 5 pounds a month, none of this money making BS like here in Australia. 

Someone
Someone from QLD commented:

Each year I go to Victoria from Qland , tried if they stop my plan for that time, but got told NO, so have to pay the $99 each month, what a waist of my good money, Any help ? 'Tis is over the Xmas till Easter, , so 3 month., almost $300. tomstipan&icloud.com 

John
John from QLD commented:

Also thought everyone was supposed to have up to 18 months from when NBN is available at your address before having to switch from ADSL. Where as I have now been told won,t be available at my address until April 2018 and will be cut off from ADSL within 3 weeks. And to add insult to injury my next door neighbour has had NBN for at least the last 6 months although for a lot of the time hasn't worked & runs at a slower speed than there old ADSL both with Telstra. 

Comment Guidelines