Broadband Advisor

Internode has launched its first Naked ADSL2+ broadband service – designed to appeal to 'early adopters' – which will be available at 350 telephone exchanges across Australia and deliver an ADSL2+ service over a dial-free phone line.

The Australian owned ISP says this is just the start of its Naked ADSL2+ plans with further enhancements expected this year – as it greatly extends its existing footprint of 100 ADSL2+ exchanges.

Internode will also release variations of its Naked ADSL2+ service this year, with features including Annex M (high-speed upstream), Annex L (long-range services) and support for number porting (allowing its customers to transfer their existing telephone number).

Customers should note that the Naked ADSL2+ services operate on a copper line that contains no dial tone, which means that the line does not support functions such as fax machines and phone calls during a power failure. This is an important consideration if planning to make the switch, although Internode's NodePhone product manager Jim Kellett said the new Naked ADSL2+ services were not intended as a direct replacement of a traditional telephone service.

"Our main target is customers who are just after a broadband service, not necessarily a voice solution, [this is designed for] high speed ADSL2+ seekers," he said.

Through its network agreement with Optus Wholesale, Internode has priced its entry-level Naked ADSL2+ plan at $59.95 for an ADSL2+ service with a 5GB monthly download limit, the NodePhone1 service, and untimed 18-cent national calls.

Kellett says, there is a set of seven residential plans, that go up in terms of quota and plan price, and there are two different flavours of business plans too, SOHO and Business.

The company estimates that the new service, with its potential for no third-party line rental charges, will offer customers a potential saving of approximately $20 each month when stacked up against paying for a separate voice line and broadband service.

"In numeric terms it will drive residential customers, but it is also attractive to small businesses," Kellett said. "There is more for them to save too, with many small businesses paying more for phone lines and they need high speed ADSL2+."

Following its four-month trial, which started in November using the Optus Wholesale footprint, Internode has decided to offer its Naked ADSL2+ service for new connections only, with a $149 setup cost. Plans to launch a service to convert existing 'voice lines' to Naked ADSL2+ mode are set for mid-year.