Terabyte broadband plans: Which ISP offers the best deal?
- — 24 August, 2010 14:43
Will you ever realistically need a terabyte of data on your broadband plan each month? Australian ISPs iiNet, TPG and Primus seem to think so, as they all launched broadband plans last week that feature a terabyte of monthly data.
Whether mainstream Internet users need this sort of capacity is debateable, but for early adopters, heavy movie downloaders and tech-savvy Internet junkies, a 1TB data plan is definitely good news. According to iiNet, a terabyte of data would allow a customer to watch the equivalent of more than 8000 half hour episodes of streaming television per month.
If you're thinking of switching over to one of the new terabyte broadband plans, we've rounded up some key information to help identify the best plan for your needs.
Australian terabyte broadband plans
| ISP and plan | Peak quota | Off-peak quota | Speed | Price | Off-peak time | Shaping speeds | Uploads counted? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iiNet ADSL2+ bundled | 500GB | 500GB | ADSL2+ | $99.95 | 1am – 9am | 256kbps/256kbps | Yes |
| iiNet ADSL1 bundled | 500GB | 500GB | 8000k/384k | $119.95 | 1am – 9am | 256kbps/256kbps | Yes |
| TPG ADSL2+ bundled | 500GB | 500GB | ADSL2+ | $69.99 | 2am - 8am | 256kbps/256kbps | Yes |
| iPrimus ADSL2+ unbundled | 511GB | 600GB | ADSL2+ | $99.95 | 2am - 10am | 256kbps/256kbps | Yes |
| iPrimus Naked ADSL2+ | 511GB | 600GB | ADSL2+ | $119.95 | 2am - 10am | 256kbps/256kbps | Yes |
On face value, iPrimus' "QUAD1" plan certainly looks like the most generous, with a monthly data quota totalling 1111GB per month — 111GB more than both iiNet and TPG's terabyte plans. iPrimus also offers the plan on Naked ADSL2+, though you'll pay an extra $20 over the standard plan.
TPG's "super bundle" is the cheapest of the lot, offering a one terabyte monthly data quota, home phone line rental, and six or 18 month contract options. iPrimus terabyte plan is only available if you agree to a 24 month contract, while iiNet is far more flexible, saving you up to $100 on a new modem if you sign up to a 24 month contract, but also offering the plan with no fixed monthly term. Keep in mind that TPG's new plan isn't expected to be released until 1 September, and according to the company will only be "available in limited TPG coverage areas." It also isn't available as a standalone plan, with TPG only offering it as a bundled plan.
iiNet's broadband plans now count both uploads and downloads as part of the included quota and, like TPG's, both the terabyte plans are only available as a bundled option. You'll pay $99.95 per month for an ADSL2+ terabyte plan, and $119.95 per month for the same plan on ADSL1.
Are you switching to one of these terabyte broadband plans? Let us know in the comments below. If you'll never use a terabyte broadband quota, why not check out our guide to the best $50 unbundled ADSL2+ plans.
Comments
Colin
Wed 25/08/2010 - 08:31
"Both iPrimus and iiNet's terabyte plans are only available if you agree to a 24 month contract."
-This isn't completely true, iiNet's plans are available on no contract option also.
Lach
Wed 25/08/2010 - 08:59
Given the peak time on the iPrimus Naked plan covers more than what I need and is less than i'm paying now with Telstra , the move is on .
MitH
Wed 25/08/2010 - 09:38
dont forget the well rounded unlimited plans already in the market
from my calculations unlimited take in (and take on) the 1tb plans
tpg and several other isps have them already
some have limits, some are limited availabilty (changing every day)
surely these should be factored into the matrix if trying to keep you with the jones
D
Michael
Wed 25/08/2010 - 09:41
"Both iPrimus and iiNet's terabyte plans are only available if you agree to a 24 month contract."
Might need to look into that - iiNet's plans don't require a contract.
The limited availability business from TPG is such a joke. Looking at their website i see no clear way of telling which of the exchanges it's available on.
Ross Catanzariti
Wed 25/08/2010 - 11:39
Hi all,
Thanks for the feedback.
Firstly, apologies on the iiNet contract error -- that was a mistake on our part and it has since been corrected :-)
MitH - we do plan to keep this article updated and will soon include the unlimited plans from other ISPs as a means of comparison.
If anyone has already switched, or plans to switch to one of these new terabyte plans, let us know!
MasterCATZ
Wed 25/08/2010 - 11:57
How ever the Uploads are being Counted , assuming to cut back on p2p
also rerember 10% Overheads on your Downloads so to download 900 gig you are uploading about 100 gig worth of requests
I pass on anything the counts and shapes Uploads
so thanks but no thanks
Michael
Wed 25/08/2010 - 12:12
Quota is one thing, but there is more things to an internet service.
iiNet has local support (not manila)
iiNet is not known as a company that over sells bandwidth.
Though saying that the TPG plan looks the best on paper.
Smithy
Wed 25/08/2010 - 14:43
You guys forgot to at the $25 per month for bundling your home phone with iiNet.
jigaboo
Wed 25/08/2010 - 15:22
I've switched to the iiNet plans via Netspace. I was already a Netspace customer and switched over to the Terabyte plan when it was launched last Friday.
Paying $99 ensured I was not on a contract which is a key differentiator as I want to be able to move to another ISP without paying a cancellation fee or contract termination fee.
So far so good
CVonV
Wed 25/08/2010 - 15:23
@ #5 Michael
take a look at this page.. it shows you which TPG exchanges have unlimited and their 500gb plan (which more than likely will also have the 1TB plan)
http://mattgallagher.com.au/cgi-bin/tpgexchanges?state=ALL
but yeah I don't consider any plans that count uploads.. I'm fortunate enough to have TPG's unlimited already, I just want their home phone bundle too. But unfortunately, there is no process to transfer existing customers from LSS to ULL.
also, Spin/Comcen are coming out with a 2TB plan too
Pixy Misa
Wed 25/08/2010 - 19:35
With 1TB of bandwidth, counting uploads isn't really an issue any more. Even with Annex M on iiNet's business plans, running flat out 24x7 you could only upload about 500GB a month, and with regular ADSL2 only half that. Since their new 1TB plan costs the same as their old 225GB plan, you can't lose.
emibel
Thu 26/08/2010 - 17:18
@7 MasterCATZ. If you're talking about downloading without using P2P, the uploads are only about 2% of the total, not 10%. That's always been the case with me, so plans which count uploads are not really a problem.
Rogue
Sun 29/08/2010 - 14:44
I am wondering why they have gone this way as they used to be downloads only ( Certain ISP's). For me I wont be changing my plan any time soon as I stream for a internet radio station so alot of mine is upload there is no why I would be able to provide the services I do at the moment if the quota counts for both.
lorro
Wed 25/08/2010 - 08:15
I am Currently on TPG 200GB premium and I am able to download well over 1TB per month and upload between 100-150GB. so total data ranges between 1.1-1.4TB, the problem for me is my distance from the exchange. This plan is shaped at 4,000Kbps, which is about 500kbps slower than my line speed, so there is minimal difference in my internet speeds once I go over my plan.