Your ideal (but realistic) broadband plan!

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jesseycy

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Topic # 7273 3-Apr-2006 00:01

It just strikes me, no plan out there seems that suited for me.. I just want something at a reasonably fast speed, generous data caps though.... I'm the typical heavy user, I download, surf the net, watch movie trailers, etc.. Right now, I'm using Actrix's 1M/128kbps, 700mb/day, $55/mth.

But the new plans that have been launched by the ISPs... Why this focus on speed? Personally, I think that a 1mbps connection, while not "great", is adequate for most users' purposes... It's a good speed, quite fast for downloads. Enough for watching movie trailers, streaming videos (most).... Much better than 256. So why won't ISPs offer these plans with a generous cap?

A good plan which I think will be quite popular (and reasonable for ISPs to offer), would be...

1Mbps/128kbps, 50gb, for $60. OR 2Mbps/128kbps, 50gb, for $70.

Personally, I think the 1Mbps plan will have quite good uptake!

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Reply # 32042 3-Apr-2006 00:13

I'd personally opt for the maximum speed the technology/network can handle on a per connection basis along with either no caps or very generous caps.

Its unrealistic of course but its my idea.

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STI

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Reply # 32058 3-Apr-2006 09:40

My ideal plan is 2Mbps/128kbps with 20Gb data cap for under $40.

JonC

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Reply # 32073 3-Apr-2006 11:55

TelstraClear's cable broadband service have responded to Telecom's upgrade by increasing data-caps for their cable broadband customers.

The downside is of course that you have get their phone service as well and therefore change phone number. They have a 2Mbps / 2Mbps, 20GB plan with a phone line for $102. If you're paying about $40 for a telecom phone line, then the internet portion is about $60. Then you can go up to 10Mbps / 2Mbps with a 80GB cap for $172 ($40 of which is phone, so $132).

Installation is free if you sign up for a couple of years.

See:

http://www.telstraclear.co.nz/products-res/packages/popular_packages_2.cfm

Jama

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Reply # 32074 3-Apr-2006 11:58

Not too worried about the speed. $10 p/month which includes 100MB then the ability for me to purchase 1GB chunks as required for $2.00 each. I hate being throttled. It should be like a pokie machine - feed coins in the slot.

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Aloha

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Reply # 32092 3-Apr-2006 14:50

I can tell you my ideal broadband plan was available back in my home country when I left and moved here to NZ.

I paid 100NZD per month (which is quite high) but I got 1MBps download and 128Kb upload speed with NO data caps!

I just checked on the net, now the same plan is for 89NZD and you have 2MBps download 192Kbps upload and NO data caps!
Plus as an extra you have 5 emails, each comes with a 100MB storage space and you have an extra 50MB for your webpage.

And finally they call it WLAN package, it comes with FREE WLAN router + installation!

I is a kollege stoodent. Bee nice.

sbiddle

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Reply # 32093 3-Apr-2006 14:53

JonC: TelstraClear's cable broadband service have responded to Telecom's upgrade by increasing data-caps for their cable broadband customers.

The downside is of course that you have get their phone service as well and therefore change phone number. They have a 2Mbps / 2Mbps, 20GB plan with a phone line for $102. If you're paying about $40 for a telecom phone line, then the internet portion is about $60. Then you can go up to 10Mbps / 2Mbps with a 80GB cap for $172 ($40 of which is phone, so $132).

You do not have to have a TCL phone line to get cable internet.

This policy was introduced with the plans released in November last year but with the release of these new plans has changed back again. The only exceptions are to the low end broadband plans which only come as part of a bundled package with a phone line.

riahon

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Reply # 32097 3-Apr-2006 15:31

My ideal would be 5GB, 3.5Mb/s both ways for $50.

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STI

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Reply # 32098 3-Apr-2006 15:34

Anyone seen new ihug broadband plans?

http://www.ihug.co.nz/products/broadband/plans/index.html

New plans are worse than the old ones if you ask me. For $50 with tolls you get 3.5Mbps/128kbps with 15gb data cap. Before for same price you get 2Mbps/128kbps with 20gb data cap.

paradoxsm

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Reply # 32114 3-Apr-2006 17:44

My ideal would be 1Mb BOTH UP AND DOWN, not this 128k-up bullsh*t

I'd honestly be happy with 5GB at $30 or $35. 10GB would be good.

Any data more than that is "backup" mpthreez, "backup" games and "backup" movies. really.

i've tried to exceed 10GB by having soulseek and limewire running and going on downloading a spree of torrented "backup software" onto a spare 10GB drive before I put a hammer through the noisy heap.
I was unsuccessful, got 8GB.

Obviously unless you stream or play online games you don't need huge bandwidth.

Truly ideal plan would be a plan which just charged in blocks.

$30 for 5GB
$35 for 10
$40 for 15
$50 for 30 etc and just goes up the more you use.

STI

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Reply # 32117 3-Apr-2006 18:06

Jaffa: Broadband will be changing (data cap wise) in about 3 months so you will just have to put up with the new plans till then :P

Is that when telecom release ADSL 2+?

STI

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Reply # 32121 3-Apr-2006 18:25

No worries, good to know that data cap will change.

alasta

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Reply # 32134 3-Apr-2006 19:28

sbiddle: You do not have to have a TCL phone line to get cable internet.

This policy was introduced with the plans released in November last year but with the release of these new plans has changed back again. The only exceptions are to the low end broadband plans which only come as part of a bundled package with a phone line.

The page on TelstraClear's web site which details their 'package' pricing does not give any details of broadband-only plans. The page which details their available cable plans appears to confirm that you are correct, because only the 1Gb and 5Gb plans have an asterisk which points to a footnote at the bottom stating that these plans must be accompanied by a telephone connection, but this particular page contains no pricing information whatsoever about the 10Gb+ plans. I clicked on the links to the Paradise and Clearnet sites on the expectation that pricing information would be available there, but those sites suggest visiting TelstraClear's site for pricing information.

It seems that they really need to get their act together.

jesseycy

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Reply # 32147 3-Apr-2006 23:15

Hey, those are cool plans that you all proposed... I would certainly love to be on one of those.....

But frankly, are they realistic? Sorry to burst the bubble, but bearing in mind Telecom's monopoly, and the data usage excess charges they impose, etc....

And besides, I don't get the ISPs obsession with speed. ALL the ADSL new plans out (incl Ihugs), except for Slingshot and Actrix as far as I'm concerned and know of, all of them boast a increase in speed... But together either with higher prices, or lower caps...

Kinda forcing you to upgrade, which is kinda unfair IMO... I can't say it for all, but most friends I talk with, they're pretty content if they can be given a 1-2Mbps download speed, hopefully 512kbps up (but I guess that's impossible with telecom refusing to buldge), and a generous data cap ~40-70gb.

So yea... Why this obsession with speed???? I was looking forward to the new ihug plans for any surprises, but they were disappointing IMO... I'll probably stick with my $55 Actrix 1Mbps 21gb... I even get a free upgrade to 2Mbps, best news for this month so far...

cokemaster

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Reply # 32148 3-Apr-2006 23:26

The question is then, what is realistic given the excessively high level of comeptition that Telecom exhibits here in New Zealand?

As far as I'm concerned they are only increasing the speeds for fear of regulation rather than for technology upgrades/competition/goodwill. Thus in my opinion it would be unreasonable to expect any improvement soon.

Though the news article about Telecom offering $4 million dollars cash in return for an extended monopoly tonight doesn't help change my mind either.

It is still my preference to have greater/no data caps over speed. Whats the point of having a 2mbps plan with minimal upload when you only have 10gb?

Please note I'm not trying to attack any one here even though the first part of my post gives that impression.

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STI

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Reply # 32149 3-Apr-2006 23:41

jesseycy: Hey, those are cool plans that you all proposed... I would certainly love to be on one of those.....

But frankly, are they realistic? Sorry to burst the bubble, but bearing in mind Telecom's monopoly, and the data usage excess charges they impose, etc....

And besides, I don't get the ISPs obsession with speed. ALL the ADSL new plans out (incl Ihugs), except for Slingshot and Actrix as far as I'm concerned and know of, all of them boast a increase in speed... But together either with higher prices, or lower caps...

Kinda forcing you to upgrade, which is kinda unfair IMO... I can't say it for all, but most friends I talk with, they're pretty content if they can be given a 1-2Mbps download speed, hopefully 512kbps up (but I guess that's impossible with telecom refusing to buldge), and a generous data cap ~40-70gb.

So yea... Why this obsession with speed???? I was looking forward to the new ihug plans for any surprises, but they were disappointing IMO... I'll probably stick with my $55 Actrix 1Mbps 21gb... I even get a free upgrade to 2Mbps, best news for this month so far...

There is a quite good deal from Quicksilver, but you need to get hold of a student card (a discount card for tertiary students), 3.5Mbps/128kbps 30 GB data cap for $55.

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