Telstra unveils its web package

Allan Freeth

TelstraClear has launched a new broadband package based on the commercial deal it struck with Telecom this year for pricing on access to its broadband network.

Chief executive Allan Freeth said yesterday that the company was "back and back with a vengeance".

Last week, TelstraClear said it would invest $50 million in a high-speed third-generation cellular network that would deliver phone, broadband and mobile services, starting in Tauranga next July.

Freeth said the new unbundled bit stream package would be priced from $26 a month for 256kbps download speed and 128kbps upload speed, to $66 a month for 3.5mbps download speed and 512kbps upload speed.

The monthly bill would vary depending on how many 1 gigabite or 10 gigabite packs were needed in a month, and customers would not be charged a premium for over-usage.

TelstraClear's package comes after an agreement covering wholesale pricing for home phone lines and other wholesale services, interconnection and unbundled bit stream was struck with Telecom in January.

Consumer markets chief Steve Jackson said: "Six months sounds a long time but given our track record over time it is amazing that we pulled this together so quickly."

TelstraClear has 20,000 broadband customers and Jackson said it would be aggressively marketing the product, especially to its 200,000 internet customers on dial-up.

Freeth said: "We're looking forward to joining the nationwide broadband market at last."

The market was very active and TelstraClear was considering acquiring internet service providers, he said.