Becoming an online student next month.

I have checked the home phone number you have provided, and it looks like you have ADSL1 available through the Mooroolbark exchange. ADSL1 broadband allows speeds of up to 8mbps, and you will need to have an active home phone line. Most internet providers will allow you to bundle your ADSL1 broadband with a home phone, and they will reward you with either bonus data or a discount on your broadband cost. Judging from your proposed internet usage, I would say that you’ll need a plan with at least 12-20GB each month (if you are the sole internet user in your home). Being an online student you will be accessing the internet regularly, however if you’re not doing things like downloading movies every day, you won’t need a super heavy plan. Because you will be using the internet regularly, and you may be downloading audio or video content, I would recommend a speed of at least 1500kbps.This speed should also allow you to stream video content without waiting too long for it to load. iiNet has some bundle deals on the 1500kbps speed that start at $49.95 per month. This plan would give you 50GB to use during peak hours (8am-2am) and another 50GB to use during off peak hours (2am-8am). If you exceed your data limit, there are no excess fees – your speed will just slow down to 256kbps. Both uploads and downloads are counted toward your monthly quota. You can bundle this iiNet broadband plan with a home phone for an extra $29.95 per month, which would give you 20 cent local calls. The plan is available either on a no fixed term contract or a 24-month contract (and iiNet will give you up to $100 off the cost of a new modem). To find out more about iiNet’s plans, or if you wish to sign up to this plan, you can contact iiNet on 1300 106 571. Optus has some great ‘Fusion’ plans catered to people who use the home phone regularly to make calls. The ‘yes’ Fusion $89 plan includes the cost of 12GB of broadband, unlimited local and national calls, and unlimited calls to Optus mobiles within Australia. The phone line rental is also included in this price. Calls to non-Optus mobiles within Australia are 37c/min (and capped at $2 for the first 20 minutes). The contract term is 24 months; however you will also receive a standard modem included in the plan. If you order online through CompareBroadband.com.au, you will also receive $0 connection fee (save $79), and $0 delivery fee for your modem (save $19.95). There are no peak or off peak times, however you do need to be aware that once your reach the 12GB, for the next 2GB excess usage, you will be charged $0.15 per MB, so don’t forget to keep an eye on your usage through your Optus online account. If you feel that 12GB won’t be enough data for you (or if you choose to move up to a higher plan later on), Optus also has a ‘yes’ Fusion $129 per month plan (currently the price on this plan has been slashed to $99), which would give you 50GB, plus no excess download charges – your speed is just slowed to 256kbps. This plan would also allow you to make unlimited calls to any mobile in Australia (not only to Optus mobiles). To find out more about Optus ‘yes’ Fusion plans, or if you wish to sign up to the plan mentioned above, you can contact Optus on 1300 137 897.