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Compare Westnet’s ADSL2+ Option 1 Broadband plan Compare ADSL2+ Broadband

Posted February 16th, 2012

Westnet is an Australian internet service provider (ISP) that strongly bases its company policy on high quality customer service. It has won several industry awards in recent years because of this approach to its business. In fact 75 percent of Westnet’s staff of 553 are in positions where they interact with consumers. Today Westnet has around 200,000 members who have acquired a wide range of ADSL and ADSL2+ broadband, phone,web-hosting, email protection and email services, from the company which is based in Perth, West Australia.

Westnet was founded in the remote outback town of Geraldton by local entrepreneur, Chris Thomas, in 1994, in the spare bedroom of his home. By 1996 its potential was recognised by another Geraldton business, Mitchell and Brown Communications, who purchased it from Thomas. It continued to flourish under its new management and in 1999 was forced to relocate to Perth where it obtained larger premises to work out of to more efficiently accommodate its staff and resources. By 2004 is entered the telephone business as well as providing fast broadband internet products and was by now referring to itself as being a telecommunication service provider, rather than the more restricted ISP tag. The big change came in 2008 when it was acquired by another major West Australian ISP, iiNet, in an $81 million takeover. Despite this acquisition it was decided to continue operating the two companies as separate brands. This policy has continued to this day.

Westnet has always taken pride in keeping abreast with the latest developments in fast broadband delivery. It has done this while keeping its prices at the lowest level possible. This means it has been able to offer shorter contract periods than other ISPs. In fact it is normal for a Westnet broadband contract to be no longer than six months in duration. One such contract is the Westnet’s ADSL2+ Option 1 Broadband plan.

Westnet ADSL2+ Option 1 Broadband plan Details

This plan is one of the faster Westnet broadband plans in that it is of ADSL2+ technology. The speed from this latest development in broadband internet means that the speed obtained in mainly limited only by the exchange you are located closest to, as well as the wire connection from the exchange to your computer.

Other details include the following:

  • It is not a stand alone contract as are many other Westnet broadband products. This Westnet ADSL2+ Option 1 Broadband plan can only be obtained if you bundle it with your home phone.
  • The contract is in line with other Westnet broadband products in that it can be taken out over a six month period. The minimum contract cost is $439.35 meaning the monthly repayments are from $59.90. There is a set up fee of $79.95 to take into consideration but once this fee is paid the only other costs you will encounter with be the monthly payments over the following six months.
  • Data download allowance. You will be allowed  5GB of data downloading during both peak and off peak periods. This gives it a total of 10GB overall. This is an average data quota that should be sufficient for most people who don’t download large files regularly, such as music tracks and movies. Off peak is between 2am and 8am or 1am and 9am. Once you quota has been reached for either peak or off peak, your connection speed will be automatically lowered to 64 Kbps. There is no charge made for exceeding the data download limit. Downloading only is affected when your quota is shaped. Game servers, iiNet FTP, Freezone or VoIP are not affected.
  • You can have a dial-up back up. If you feel you need it you can arrange to have a dial-up service provided as a backup, at no cost..
  • It can also be bundled with VoIP. By doing this you will be able to access very cheap phone calls over the internet which will include local, national and international. Although to be eligible to purchase this particular plan you will have to bundle it with that of your home phone.

Acquisition Creates Giant ISP

When iiNet and Westnet joined forces it instantly created the third largest ISP company in Australia in regard to the number of combined customers.  Business continued as usual for both companies and there was no disruption to staff, policy or customer care. In fact it was business as usual in all ways. The benefit to Westnet was that it stood to inherit iiNet’s successful growth strategy. It also now had access to iiNet’s  successful products such as naked DSL, VoIP, as well as a notable expansion in ADSL2+ availability for its customers.

Westnet has come a long way since its inception in 1994. It has had an advantage over many other ISPs since then as it was born in the bush. Its management understands country needs and aspirations, and as it goes forward this experience will no doubt prove to be invaluable in its future as it has in its past.

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