Internode has gone back to basics, removing its confusing "flat rate" plans, significantly increasing quotas across the board, and introducing a new wireless service.

Internode's unique "flat rate" plans were introduced in December 2002, and included variable throttling based on how much the user downloaded. It was touted as Internode's answer to unlimited plans, but in the end it proved confusing for users because the criteria for throttling was not clearly defined.

Replacing flat rate is a new set of high quota "SOHO" plans, each at the same price point as the old flat rate plans. They start at $69.95 for 60GB at 256/64, and go up to $149.95 for 90GB at 1536/256. Customers on ADSL2+ enabled exchanges get 90GB for $139.95. Internode MD Simon Hackett says that these plans will cater for 90% of existing flat rate users. Being SOHO plans, they also feature 128Kbit/s shaping once the quota is reached.

Most existing ADSL plans have all had quota increases of between 33% and 300%. For instance, the "HOME-512-Starter" plan goes from 2GB to 8GB, and the high end plans go from 60GB to 80GB. Pricing for these plans stays the same. Business ADSL plans have also had an update.

With iiNet warning of imminent wholesale ADSL cost increases, and ISPs such as Curl already raising prices, it is interesting to see Internode make significant plan changes to its ADSL offerings at this time.

Internode also launched a new wireless service last week, which uses Unwired infrastructure. Coverage at this stage includes most of metropolitan Sydney. The service features the same benefits as Internode's ADSL plans, such as unmetered content. The plans have also had quota increases today, with pricing now starting at $39.95 for 8GB at 256/64, and going up to $129.95 for 40GB at 1024/256.

Links:

• Plan change details  (Internode, 5 Dec 2005)
• New pricing  (Internode, 5 Dec 2005)