JETSTREAM CHANGES DELIVER MORE SPEED AND FLAT RATE PLANS

Internet users will enjoy faster speeds and flat rate prices through a new range of broadband plans to be launched on 24 October.

Telecom today announced significant changes to its JetStream portfolio including the introduction of a 2 megabit per second (2Mbps) service which is 8 times faster than the current plan of the same price.

Telecom is also introducing flat rate services across its range of residential JetStream plans, providing customers with more certainty around their monthly plan fees.

Telecom’s Head of Broadband and Internet Chris Thompson, said the flat rate plans reflect New Zealanders’ changing broadband use.

“Kiwis are obviously using broadband more and accessing increasingly sophisticated content,” Mr Thompson said. 

“The move to flat-rate plans ensures customers can enjoy the exciting content that broadband offers without the worry of surprise charges on their monthly bills.”

With flat-rate plans, customers only pay the set monthly plan charge and instead of incurring additional fees, their plan’s speed is reduced to 64 Kilobits per second when the monthly plan allowance is exceeded. 

Customers who want unlimited access to high speeds are well catered for. The new 2 Mbps service has a 10 gigabyte allowance and is available as both a flat-rate or overage-incurring option (2 cents per MB), depending on what the customer wants.

“The 2 Mbps plan is great news for advanced broadband users,” Mr Thompson said. “We were keen to design a plan that suits customers who access a lot of video and audio. This plan gives those customers more speed for the same price as the current Surf 10 GB plan.

“Telecom is committed to delivering the benefits of broadband to 250,000 New Zealand households by December 2005.  The new JetStream plans are the next step towards that goal.  They’ll make it easier for people to see the potential of broadband,” Mr Thompson said.

In addition to the new plans, Telecom is taking steps to configure the network for much higher broadband use. Telecom will be changing the point in the network where the customer’s DSL speed is set. It will now be set at a customer line level rather than further back in the network.

Managing line speeds in this way ensures the network is optimised for future growth in broadband volumes and improves the reach of the DSL technology.

Some customers will notice a change in their pop-up connection message, as this will now more accurately reflect the prescribed connection speed of their plan.

“Managing the line speeds ensures that performance of existing customers’ connections will not be degraded in the future as we reach scale on the DSL network,” Mr Thompson said.

“It also means some customers who would not otherwise be able to get DSL broadband may be able to in the future.”

All existing Surf customers will automatically receive the benefits of flat-rate internet on their current plan during November and do not need to do anything to make this change.

Existing JetStream customers will be advised of the changes to the JetStream services over the next month, and can request to move to a faster or more advanced plan if they wish.

JetStream Home 500 and 1000 plans will no longer be sold, as the new fast plans offer better value, but existing JetStream Home customers can remain on the plan if they wish.

The new JetStream plans will be launched on 24 October, and will be available from Xtra and other Internet service providers.

New JetStream Plan Line up

Xtra as ISP

1. Monthly plan charges include a $10 discount for Telecom home line and calling customers only

2. Monthly plan charges for customers who do not have Telecom home line and calling

3. For plans excluding JetStream Swift, speed may be reduced to a maximum of 64 Kbs once monthly allowance is exceeded

Other ISPs (ISP fee will be added)

1. Monthly plan charges include a $10 discount for Telecom home line and calling customers only

2. Monthly plan charges for customers who do not have Telecom home line and calling

3. For plans excluding JetStream Swift, speed may be reduced to a maximum of 64 Kbs once monthly allowance is exceeded

For more information please contact:

Nick Brown
PR Specialist - Broadband & Internet
Telecom NZ Ltd
phone: 64 9 363 4776
mobile: 027 254 9867
email: nick.brown@telecom.co.nz