I have been with Telstra for 30+years and the best they will do for us with internet and landline bundle is 2GB for an extra $22/mth (plus $30/mth landline).
How come TPG can give 10GB for $9.95 plus $30 landline? Is there any risk going with another provider? If not, why does anyone stay with these expensive internet providers?
20/05/2011
The reason TPG can supply you with much more data for a cheaper price when compared with Telstra is because BigPond is one of the least competitive ADSL broadband providers in Australia. However, like you, half of Australians still have their ADSL connections through Telstra BigPond. Why?
Other broadband providers offer cheaper deals than Telstra because it is their way of finding a place in the market. Telstra is a huge company that owns the main national telephone network, and so it doesn’t need to worry about attracting new customers as much as other providers.
The main point you should realise is the majority of Australian internet providers resell off of the Telstra network, so whatever quality service you have with BigPond, the other providers will offer the same. It’s interesting how you asked us if going to another provider has any risks involved. The truth is, many providers have better customer service and technical support teams than Telstra, as it is done on-shore as opposed to overseas. The actual connection is identical, as it’s running through the same copper wire infrastructure.
The main reason people stay with Telstra is because like you they have been with them for a long time, since it is was a government-owned company. However, after going private, other providers have entered the broadband market and made their mark with numerous deals that attracted a large amount of customers. These companies are now quite large, and they did this by offering cheaper prices, better plans, more bonus options and better service than Telstra BigPond.
People stay with expensive providers like Telstra simply because they fear change, or they don’t want to go through the process of changing providers. The TPG deal you mention is a great one, but it is only available in limited locations. Call us here on 1300 106 571 to see if you can get this TPG service in your location.
If you cannot get TPG, both iPrimus (1300 137 794) and iiNet (1300 106 571) have their customer service centres based in Australia, while Optus (1300 137 897) also has some quite competitive deals worth asking about. Don’t be afraid! Check out your broadband options.
