Dodo started out in 2001, offering bargain basement dial-up internet services. The company has since expanded into mobile, mobile broadband, and in some states, power and gas. Dodo aims to offer the very cheapest prices on utilities, and consider phone, internet and mobile to be utilities.
Dodo owns very little infrastructure of its own; it primarily connects to the internet on Telstra’s network of DSLAMs, and uses the cheaper Optus Wholesale network where available to provide cheap Naked DSL connections. For mobile broadband and mobile phone services, Dodo uses the Optus Open Network.
Dodo has suffered from negative feedback on its customer service, ranking as the most complained about ISP to the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO) in 2007, despite connecting less than 3% of the market. Since then, CEO Larry Kestelman has made it his duty to turn around Dodo’s customer service. Currently, about 80% of Dodo’s customer service team of 900 is outsourced to the Phillipines, with 20% based in Australia. Thanks to updates in network equipment and a further focus on improving call wait times, Dodo now enjoys a 6th place finish in the latest TIO complaints table from 4th Quarter 2011, more commensurate with its market share.
Pros
• Widely available
• Great value
• Unlimited plans available without bundling
Cons
• Offshored customer service
Popular plans
ADSL Unlimited - $59.80/month x 24 months
Unlimited data + Free modem + free connection
Minimum $1435.20 over 24 months
Availability
Dodo can lease a port from almost any Telstra DSLAM, but have been known to deny connection where other ISPs succeed. Though no official records are available, it is believed that Dodo will avoid connecting customers on RIMs or with degraded copper lines, to avoid delivering a sub-par service.
