DSL Providers
A DSL provider needs to supply good value in terms of both probable connection speeds as well as good value in the amount of data transfer you are allowed each month. The connection speed you choose from a DSL provider can have a distinct effect on the download limits placed on your use each month, with distant from the an exchange being an issue as well if you are using ADSL from a DSL provider.
If you are living in Australia, you have many options for a DSL provider. Not every DSL provider offers a good package at every DSL speed, however, and ISPs in Australia have often been criticised for charging a high price for Internet access compared to the average DSL provider in many other developed nations worldwide. Below are some of the most widely used DSL providers in Australia, with a brief description of the kinds of service offered by each DSL provider.
aaNet DSL
aaNet DSL offer fairly standard data allowances for their ADSL2+ plans when compared to the average DSL provider. Where they differ is in the manner of the aaNet DSL offpeak bonus. Instead of offering a separate offpeak data allowance, offpeak downloads on aaNet DSL count as worth half of what they actually are. A downside to aaNet DSL is a lack of fat-rate plans, with excess usage on aaNet DSL being charged on top of usual monthly costs instead of shaping speed after the data allowance has been exceeded.
AAPT DSL
AAPT DSL is a fairly straightforward DSL provider, though AAPT DSL has a tendency to focus more on providing good value for phone plans than for DSL plans. AAPT DSL offers a single data allowance with no offpeak bonus and uploaded data is counted against this allowance, when the average DSL provider will not count uploads. AAPT DSL may be good value when packaged with a home phone plan and for lower usage users, but heavy users will likely find better value elsewhere.
Dodo DSL
Dodo DSL has options to suit almost every price range and every kind of user. The best value with Dodo DSL, as with many a DSL provider these days, is using its ADSL2+ service, with plans which can provide hundreds of gigabytes of data per month. The best packages must be bundled with a Dodo home phone plan, however.
iiNet DSL
iiNet DSL provide reasonable value with average peak and offpeak data allowances for the prices of their plans. With a reasonably long offpeak period, this makes iiNet DSL better value than a DSL provider offering a similar amount of offpeak data with a smaller window to use it in.
Internode DSL
Internode DSL offer a good amount of data to cost on their lower priced plans, but their higher priced plans are closer to the average amount of data allowance for the cost. A mixture of flat-rate plans and plans which charge for excess usage are available through Internode DSL.
iPrimus DSL
iPrimus DSL varies in the value for money that its plans provide. Low use users will find plans to be fairly good value, mid-range users will likely find iPrimus DSL plans to be poor value compared to other DSL providers, and heavy users can expect exceptionally good value from using iPrimus DSL.
OptusNet DSL
OptusNet DSL offers plans to suit the needs of low to medium level users of DSL, but they do not really cater to heavy users. OptusNet DSL plans also count both uploads and downloads against downloads, which could make its fairly low data allowances difficult to stick to.
Telstra DSL
Telstra DSL has a substantial amount of control over every other DSL provider in Australia, but their own plans do not compete very well on pricing compared to many of the other DSL providers. The best value is found in bundled packages, as this telecommunications giant places much of its focus on total communications packages.
TPG DSL
TPG DSL offers fairly good value for money at every level of use. With plans to suit light to heavy users at a wide range of prices, TPG DSL is worthy of consideration against any other DSL provider.
