🚀 go-pugleaf

Recent articles in Robert Seidman's newsletter "Seidman's Online
Insider" prompted me to think about how much Australians pay for
Internet access via Internet Service Providers [ISP]

Below are some quotes from his newsletter referring to ISP charges in
the USA.

From the Sun, 2 Jun 1996 issue:

"Pacific Bell officially announced the availability of its Internet
service in California.  There is an unlimited plan for $19.95 a month.
A "Carefree Access Pricing" (I am NOT making this up!) plan which is
$14.95 for 20 hours, with additional hours being $.50, up to a maximum
of $19.95 a month.  There is also a "Basic Access Pricing" plan at
$9.95 for ten hours with additional hours costing $1."

From the  Sun, 14 Jul 1996 issue 

"ZipLink will offer unlimited access for $16.95 a month. ...
Meanwhile, GTE is the latest of the telephone companies to enter the
ISP market, announcing immediate availability of service in more than
250 cities (representing 46 states). Users can opt for $8.95 a month
for five hours of service, with additional hours billed at $1.95 each,
or $19.95 a month for unlimited service. ..."

I recently posted a message in a UK newsgroup, asking how much readers
in that country are paying for Internet access, below is a selection
of quotes from that newsgroup.

Gary Jones wrote:

"I use Demon Internet Services.

They charge a flat fee of 10ukp [UK pounds] per month plus tax which
comes to 11.75ukp per month. There is no limit to the log-in time per
month."

stalin wrote:

"Net access is available for 10 [UK pounds] per month unlimited hours
at 57,000 bps."

Martin Hunt wrote:

"I get charged 11.75 UK pounds per month for unlimited access. 
Cheaper than Australia and cheaper than the amount mentioned for the
US."

What's the situation in Australia?

My ISP charges me $50.00 per month base rate for which I get 10 hours
connection time, I then pay $2.50 per hour for every hour after that.
I reckon that's too expensive particularly compared to the prices
mentioned above.

I've no complaints about the quality of the service that I get from my
ISP, [ well maybe just a few minor ones  :-) ] and as far as I know,
they are no more expensive than most of the other major ISP's.

 Why is Internet access so much more expensive in Oz?


SR

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Steve Reynolds - Adelaide - South Australia
Home: spr@ozemail.com.au - Work: reynoldss@wp.ssa.sa.gov.au
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