Some Broadband ISP’s do utilise the Telstra ADSL2+ equipment in various telephone exchanges around the country, and are therefore able to offer ADSL2+, without having to install their own equipment.

Not all telephone exchanges around the country have extra space to allow independent ISP’s to install their own DLAMS, therefore causing the inability of those ISP’s to offer ADSL2+ to their customers.

The following Broadband ISPs are shown to be using Telstra ADSL2+ DSLAMs. This means that they should be able to offer ADSL2+ service in almost allocations.

Ace Internet Services
ASKOM
AuNix
Beagle Internet
Broadband Solutions
Bushtech Internet
Comcen Internet
Connexus
CyberOne
EscapeNet
gotalk
Grapevine
HugoNet
IF Telecom
Internode
iPrimus
iSage Internet
Locall Australis
Montimedia
OntheNet
Pacnet
People Telecom
Spacelink
Spidertel
Spin Internet
Telaustralia
Telcogreen
Telcotalk
Telstra BigPond
Vintek
Westnet

It is often said, by many people, that Internet speeds in Australia are not as fast as some other countries, and very few options are available for unlimited downloads.

However, this is not born out by the figures issued by ZDNet, one of the main Internet speed testing websites in Australia.

ZDNet ranks Australia in position 29 in the world, out of 193 countries, with an average Internet speed of 4,767kbps.
This compares to the United Kingdom in position 35 with an average speed of 4,436kbps.
In reality, both these countries end up looking very much the same.

These figures were based on the average of 215,408 tests in Australia and 331,981 tests in the United Kingdom.
Latest results can be checked at: http://www.zdnet.com.au/broadband/results.htm?show=all

Korea comes in top spot with its 23,546kbps speed.

The future of the Australian Internet

The current Australian government has a plan to introduce a new National Broadband Network (NBN) capable of delivering internet speeds beyond 100Mbps to 90 per cent of the nation, at a cost of about $43 billion.

The current Australian Internet pricing

Telstra is the main wholesaler for most Internet options, but many other suppliers offer better pricing.

As an example of pricing, my provider, aanet, currently offers the following ADSL2+ plan for $39.95 per month (Dec 2009): Speed 24.576 MBs with 75 GB download limit, and an extra 75 GB off peak download limit (Overlimits are charged at $1 per GB)

Internet Providers in Australia include the following;

• 3Mobile – www.three.com.au
• aaNet – www.aanet.com.au Promotion Code: AANET893
• Dodo – www.dodo.com.au
• EFTel – w3.eftel.com
• Engine – www.engin.com.au $50 credit* with referral code: 90025978
• iiNet – www.iinet.net.au
• Internode – www.internode.on.net
• Netspace – www.netspace.net.au
• Spin Internet- www.spin.net.au
• SuperNerd – www.supernerd.com.au
• Telstra Bigpond – www.bigpond.com
• TPG – www.tpg.com.au
• Westnet – www.westnet.com.au

How to find a suitable broadband plan in Australia

Whirlpool have an excellent system to search for the best Internet options in Australia at their website: http://bc.whirlpool.net.au.  You enter the details of the service you require and you get a list of the providers  and prices of the ISP Plans best suited to your needs.

The controversial Australian Internet filter

Australia is going ahead with plans to introduce the Internet filter, that has been discussed for some time.
Communications Minister Stephen Conroy said that the new laws would be introduced to ban access to “refused classification” (RC) sites featuring criminal content such as child sex abuse, bestiality, rape and detailed drug use.
Many opponents of this filter are using the term “nocleanfeed” in their opposition, and are concerned about other material also being blocked.

The Australian Sex Party said that blocking RC websites would cut off access to 95 per cent of the world’s 4 million adult websites.

December 2009

An ABC article on this, dubbed the “Great Firewall of Australia”  is at: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/12/15/2772781.htm
A BBC article is at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8413377.stm

Unlimited Internet in Australia

As at December 2009, at least one ISP is being shown on the Whirlpool.net.au list of ISP’s, offering 100% unlimited downloads, but only for their 1512k plan.  The cost is shown at $99.95 per month.

Speed Test for your Internet connection:

• http://www.zdnet.com.au/broadband/speedtest.htm

* Referral credits are subject to conditions.

A cheap way of using a home or business phone system, using your ADSL or Cable internet connection.

Some VoIP services, normally the free ones, use your computer to call another persons computer, and this means that both parties must be sitting at the computer at the same time.

Others are able to use your computer to call landlines anywhere else in the world. Only you need to sit at the computer for this one.

The more popular VOIP systems involve using your broadband connection to connect a telephone in your property to call landlines anywhere else in the world. Neither parties computers need to be on for this system to work, as calls are passed via your Internet Modem directly to the regular phone networks.

Examples of popular VOIP services in Australia

Engin offer a range of VOIP packages including one with Free calls all over Australia and to the United Kingdom, United States and various other countries for only $20 per month. Special bonus may be available for new signups; use promo code 90025978 if you are asked for one.

MyNetFone have VOIP plans starting from Free, although with no included free calls

• Telstra The Main Australian household phone provider
• Optus A Major Australian household phone provider
• AAPT A Major Australian household phone provider