Find out how much internet providers are hiking up your bills
By
VanessaC
- Replies 11
With the constant evolution of technology, the good old days of reasonable internet bills seem to be ebbing away.
Now, millions are about to get a nasty surprise on their next bills as major telcos are set to increase their prices on certain home internet plans.
In the wave of this price surge, Telstra, Optus, Foxtel, and Aussie Broadband are amongst the telco companies that have announced hikes in their 25 and 50mb/s plans effective by the end of November.
Telstra is pushing its basic plan up by $5 a month, with Foxtel increasing their prices by $10 monthly.
Similarly, a range of Optus plans is set to increase by $6 a month for existing customers.
These changes come in the wake of the National Broadband Network’s (NBN) new pricing agreement, which is set to be implemented from 1st December of this year.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has given the agreement the all-clear.
While the cuts in prices will affect the 15, 25mb/s and 1000mb/s plans, those subscribed to the 50mb/s and lower speeds are still subject to a service cost referred to as CVC, this charge, which is being removed for high-speed plans, will be reduced yearly until it is removed completely by July 1, 2026.
Phillip Britt, Aussie Broadband’s Managing Director, has pinned this cost as the reason behind their looming price increase, saying, 'By not only continuing to charge CVC, but doing so on an individual basis, the NBN has effectively forced our hand to raise prices for the majority of our broadband customers—and at a time of heightened financial uncertainty.'
'Regardless of the reasons, we know this will hurt for some customers, and we are here to help.'
'Our customer service teams are ready to support our customers and find solutions to keep Aussies connected through financial hardship as best we can.'
However, both Telstra and Aussie Broadband will also be slashing prices on some plans.
Plans from Aussie Broadband at speed plans of 100mb/s and upwards will decrease. As for Telstra, the changes will come into effect starting Wednesday.
The telco has linked their price changes to factors such as lower profit margins on home internet plans, saying: 'We believe now is the right time for us to look at our plans and make some changes which respond to this and improve the economics of our fixed business'.
'Our Basic and Essential plans will increase by $5 a month as well as our Business Essential plan.'
Despite the increasing charges, Telstra empathises with their customers’ financial predicaments saying they have 'taken steps to protect concession and low-income customers' by keeping their Voice plan $10 concession credit and their $65 starter internet plan for vulnerable customers.
Moreover, Telstra’s Superfast plan will be down $5, and their Ultrafast plan will drop by $10.
On the other hand, Optus claimed they review their prices annually.
'Over the last three years, we've seen internet usage surge as more of our customers are working from home, gaming online, and streaming entertainment,' a spokesperson from the telco said.
'Optus is paying more to supply that NBN service, and it is necessary for us to adjust our in-market NBN prices accordingly.'
TPG Telecom, the company that manages both TPG and iiNet, expressed their appreciation for the NBN Co deal.
'However, we should also recognise this new pricing structure allows NBN to link the cost of its services to inflation, which will ultimately have a downstream impact on consumers,' a spokesperson from TPG Telecom said.
'From time to time, we review our pricing and customer offers across our brands with the aim to be competitive. We will always work to keep our customers informed if we make any changes to our pricing.'
Earlier in October, the ACCC stated that they had accepted NBN Co’s proposed variation to the Special Access Undertaking (SAU), which, according to them, includes 'measures designed to protect consumers from sharp price rises, reduce barriers to entry for new retailers and create incentives to fix systemic issues that drive poor NBN consumer experience'.
Basically, the SAU sets the rules for how providers access the broadband network.
'We are satisfied that NBN Co's latest SAU variation proposal promotes the long-term interests of Australians, which is the primary objective of the test that we have to apply,' said Anna Brakey, the ACCC’s Commissioner.
Furthermore, in a statement recently released by NBN Co, they said that wholesale prices had not increased in real terms during the past 10 years, and the recent changes to the calculation of costs would protect Aussies from price shocks down the line.
'NBN Co does not set retail prices; that is a matter for internet retailers,' said the spokesperson.
'However, with customers' data demand effectively doubling every three years or so, the wholesale and retail price of broadband services would likely be a lot more expensive in the future if we did nothing and did not change the structure of our wholesale prices.'
Members, what are your thoughts on this latest news? Let us know in the comments below!
Now, millions are about to get a nasty surprise on their next bills as major telcos are set to increase their prices on certain home internet plans.
In the wave of this price surge, Telstra, Optus, Foxtel, and Aussie Broadband are amongst the telco companies that have announced hikes in their 25 and 50mb/s plans effective by the end of November.
Telstra is pushing its basic plan up by $5 a month, with Foxtel increasing their prices by $10 monthly.
Similarly, a range of Optus plans is set to increase by $6 a month for existing customers.
These changes come in the wake of the National Broadband Network’s (NBN) new pricing agreement, which is set to be implemented from 1st December of this year.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has given the agreement the all-clear.
While the cuts in prices will affect the 15, 25mb/s and 1000mb/s plans, those subscribed to the 50mb/s and lower speeds are still subject to a service cost referred to as CVC, this charge, which is being removed for high-speed plans, will be reduced yearly until it is removed completely by July 1, 2026.
Phillip Britt, Aussie Broadband’s Managing Director, has pinned this cost as the reason behind their looming price increase, saying, 'By not only continuing to charge CVC, but doing so on an individual basis, the NBN has effectively forced our hand to raise prices for the majority of our broadband customers—and at a time of heightened financial uncertainty.'
'Regardless of the reasons, we know this will hurt for some customers, and we are here to help.'
'Our customer service teams are ready to support our customers and find solutions to keep Aussies connected through financial hardship as best we can.'
However, both Telstra and Aussie Broadband will also be slashing prices on some plans.
Plans from Aussie Broadband at speed plans of 100mb/s and upwards will decrease. As for Telstra, the changes will come into effect starting Wednesday.
The telco has linked their price changes to factors such as lower profit margins on home internet plans, saying: 'We believe now is the right time for us to look at our plans and make some changes which respond to this and improve the economics of our fixed business'.
'Our Basic and Essential plans will increase by $5 a month as well as our Business Essential plan.'
Despite the increasing charges, Telstra empathises with their customers’ financial predicaments saying they have 'taken steps to protect concession and low-income customers' by keeping their Voice plan $10 concession credit and their $65 starter internet plan for vulnerable customers.
Moreover, Telstra’s Superfast plan will be down $5, and their Ultrafast plan will drop by $10.
On the other hand, Optus claimed they review their prices annually.
'Over the last three years, we've seen internet usage surge as more of our customers are working from home, gaming online, and streaming entertainment,' a spokesperson from the telco said.
'Optus is paying more to supply that NBN service, and it is necessary for us to adjust our in-market NBN prices accordingly.'
TPG Telecom, the company that manages both TPG and iiNet, expressed their appreciation for the NBN Co deal.
'However, we should also recognise this new pricing structure allows NBN to link the cost of its services to inflation, which will ultimately have a downstream impact on consumers,' a spokesperson from TPG Telecom said.
'From time to time, we review our pricing and customer offers across our brands with the aim to be competitive. We will always work to keep our customers informed if we make any changes to our pricing.'
Earlier in October, the ACCC stated that they had accepted NBN Co’s proposed variation to the Special Access Undertaking (SAU), which, according to them, includes 'measures designed to protect consumers from sharp price rises, reduce barriers to entry for new retailers and create incentives to fix systemic issues that drive poor NBN consumer experience'.
Basically, the SAU sets the rules for how providers access the broadband network.
'We are satisfied that NBN Co's latest SAU variation proposal promotes the long-term interests of Australians, which is the primary objective of the test that we have to apply,' said Anna Brakey, the ACCC’s Commissioner.
Furthermore, in a statement recently released by NBN Co, they said that wholesale prices had not increased in real terms during the past 10 years, and the recent changes to the calculation of costs would protect Aussies from price shocks down the line.
'NBN Co does not set retail prices; that is a matter for internet retailers,' said the spokesperson.
'However, with customers' data demand effectively doubling every three years or so, the wholesale and retail price of broadband services would likely be a lot more expensive in the future if we did nothing and did not change the structure of our wholesale prices.'
Key Takeaways
- Major Australian telecom companies Telstra, Optus, Foxtel and Aussie Broadband have announced they will be increasing the prices of their home internet services, particularly on their 25 and 50mb/s plans.
- This announcement follows the National Broadband Network's (NBN) new pricing agreement, which lowers wholesale prices on all but one data plan, but maintains a service cost known as CVC for speed tiers of 50mb/s and below.
- The pricing changes are set to come into effect by the end of November, with some plans increasing by up to $10 a month.
- However, some high-speed plans will see a price reduction, and Telstra has made provisions for concession and low-income customers to maintain affordable rates.