Conroy defends iiNet NBN pricing

Following the recent release of pricing by communications giant iiNet in relation to NBN access, the communications minister has stepped in to defend the pricing.

The Australian communications giant iiNet recently released its pricing for access to the government’s National Broadband Network. However, after the pricing was released, the coalition made claims that the pricing from the Internet Service Provider was far too costly and that is showed that the NBN would not provide Australians with access to cheaper broadband.

The cost of the plans from iiNet range from nearly sixty dollars per month for entry level access to nearly one hundred and ten dollars per month for a superfast terabyte package. Whilst many believe that these prices are competitive and comparable to the ADSL broadband prices offered by the provider, the coalition believes that it proves that the government’s claims that the NBN will provide affordable broadband are false.

Speaking about comments made by the coalition’s Paul Fletcher, communications minister Stephen Conroy stated: “Mr Fletcher is continuing his extraordinary attack on retail service providers – having already attacked Dodo and Exetel – for providing consumers with low, competitive prices and is deliberately attempting to mislead people with calculations that simply do not stack up.”

He also said that the Liberal MP had focused on comparing certain broadband services in order to come to his conclusion, adding: “If Mr Fletcher had done the honest thing and chosen iiNet’s $59.95 plan – one that is still cheaper than the “entry level” naked DSL product he cites – he would have found a product that is $10 per month cheaper, more reliable, and with two times more included data.”

Source – Delimiter