If a company’s mission statement is any indication, then Exetel is a company to reckon with. As their mission statement goes, the promise to provide cheap broadband and telephony services to the Australian population with consistent speed and top quality – it all sounds very tempting. And when you look at the company’s track record and total subscribers – 125,000 in all – you can tell that the company is doing something right or living up to its promise.
125,000 might not seem an impressive number when compared to other telecommunications companies who have even more. However, when considering the length of time the company has been in operation, this number is considered a big feat that was accomplished through hard work and dedication.
Exetel is an internet service provider based in North Sydney with a switching company in the central business district of Sydney. The company burst into the Australian telecommunications scene in 2003; thus, it is definitely a very young company. Prior to joining the telecommunications bandwagon, Exetel was a technology consulting company which was established in the 90s. Exetel has been one of the fastest growing companies in Australia, that in 2007 Deloitte and Touche acknowledged them in their Top 50 list of the fastest growing technology companies with a 156% cumulative growth in a span of two years. To date, Exetel has 100 employees under its fold.
Exetel used to only sell ADSL services, but as it progressed it started offering ADSL2+, SHDSL, and wireless broadband products to its customers. Now, the company also sells VoIP services, VPN, mobile broadband, and HSPA services. Exetel also resells Optus and Verizon Business, NBNCo, Telstra, AAPT, and Big Air internet plans.
The Exetel Difference
Telecommunications companies are vying to get the lion’s share of the broadband market. With the stiff competition, each has plans and offers which have their pros and cons. Exetel also has its own ace under its sleeves – cheap broadband, reliable service, no or short-term contract, and a wide range of products and features.
- Cheap Packages - Exetel has one of the cheapest plans available in the broadband market. Whether you go for a contract or non-contract plan, the monthly cost will not leave you with high monthly fees. Local calls are untimed at 20¢ per minute. You can also choose to bundle it with a fixed line. Furthermore, the monthly data allowances are huge – the maximum is up to 1000GB.
- Flexible Contract – Unlike other telecommunications company which will lock you in a 12 or 24-month contract, you have the option at Exetel. No contract plans cost higher than contracted plans; however, this does not mean that you have to pay exorbitant monthly fees. A non-contract plan can only cost you $55 every month with a 1000GB data allowance. If you want contracted plans you can choose between a 6 or 12-month contract.
- Reliable network – Exetel has 1,200 ADSL2+ telephone exchanges all over Australia. Add to that the backhaul services of other internet service providers which include Telstra.
- 24/7 Customer Support – Products, no matter what kind they are, can be rendered useless if you don’t know how to use it or are experiencing some problems with them. However, with a 24/7 customer support, you can rest assured that there is always someone you can call if ever you needed some technical help.
Exetel Products and Packages
What makes Exetel different from the other service providers, is its flexible contracts. In Exetel, you get to choose what the best plan is for you. Whether it is for residential or business use, there are additional features to these cheap plans. Some of these additional features include free uploads, free VoIP DID number, Keyboard SMS capabilities, 30 e-mail addresses, 200MB of web space, and a static IP address.
Its business plans, on the other hand, include free web site, e-mail, and DNS hosting. It is also keyboard SMS and fax capable.
- ADSL2+ - Exetel has ADSL2+ plans for residential and business use. If you want a broadband connection for your home, Exetel’s Residential Premium Plans give you an alternative to have bigger savings than expenses. You can choose between a 75GB and 300GB from their ADSL and ADSL2+ plans.
Their Business ADSL plans, on the other hand, are also cheaper compared to their competition. This is ideal for small or medium sized businesses with a few employees. These plans have free local, national, and Optus calls. Furthermore, their $79 Business Package has a VoIP service which can cater to an office or business with up to 6 people.
- Mobile Broadband – The Standard Mobile broadband for residential use starts at $15 with a 1.5GB monthly data allowance; while the most expensive is $74 for 18 GB. In contrast, it Premium Broadband, is only $15 with a 1GB data allowance and $45 for 5GB. Furthermore, Premium Broadband gives you extra features which include your own permanent static IP address, 20MB of web space, and 10 emails.
Business Mobile Broadband Plans do not lock you in a contract and can have up to 100 or more number of services. Moreover, there are no setup fees – all you have to do is buy a USB modem and purchase a SIM from Exetel. Insert it into your modem and follow the setup instructions to get connected.
- Fibre and Fixed Wireless – Since the introduction of NBN, most internet service providers have offered fibre optic network which runs on the NBNCo network. These plans do not just offer fast internet speeds for you, but interesting features as well, such as the 20MB web space for your hosting needs, 30 e-mail addresses, 1 permanent static IP address, free VoIP DID Number, and keyboard- enabled SMS and Fax. It also includes user facilities which enable you to have total control to every aspect of your services.
However, it should be noted that since NBN has not completed its rollout, there are still areas where fibre optic is not yet available. You can either call Exetel or use their online Location Checker to determine if the service is available in your area. For these types of scenarios, Exetel has provided alternatives through their Telstra and Opticomm networks.
- Telephone Services – Exetel not only offers broadband services, but also telephone services. For residential telephone services, the company has three types of landline offers which are delivered through the public switched telephone network or PSTN.
Business telephone services, in contrast, are delivered over two types of network – the public switched telephone network (PSTN), and integrated service digital network (ISDN).
- Web Hosting – Aside from the broadband, Exetel also has web hosting plans whether for your business or personal needs. The company’s web hosting facilities have a Class A rating from the Australian Standard with the highest specifications from the best computer manufacturers in the industry such as Cisco Systems.
Setting up your web site is fast and easy. All you need to do is fill out an online form and fill it in with all the necessary information before submitting it. An onsite engineer will set up your web site and within 48 hours, you can have it up and running.
Exetel continues to find ways how to bring cheap but top quality products. With a kind of outlook, Exetel is changing the way how people look at “cheap”. Signing up is easy - you can either contact them through phone or email.
