Seniors Broadband Plans

NBN Sky Muster - 150GB Standard
- PlayOn Cloud free for 3 months
- No Lock-in Contract
- 15GB peak, 135GB off peak data
- No excess usage
- No setup and cancellation fees
- Australian-based phone support
- BYO router or purchase from Activ8me (additional $15 delivery charge)

NBN Sky Muster - 150GB Sonic
- PlayOn Cloud free for 3 months
- No Lock-in Contract
- 15GB peak, 135GB off peak data
- No excess usage
- No setup & cancellation fees
- Australian-based phone support
- BYO router or purchase from Activ8me (additional $15 delivery charge)

NBN Sky Muster - 175GB Standard
- PlayOn Cloud free for 3 months
- No Lock-in Contract
- 45GB peak, 130GB off peak data
- No excess usage
- No setup & cancellation fees
- Australian-based phone support
- BYO router or purchase from Activ8me (additional $15 delivery charge)

NBN Sky Muster - 175GB Sonic
- PlayOn Cloud free for 3 months
- No Lock-in Contract
- 45GB peak, 130GB off peak data
- No excess usage
- No setup & cancellation fees
- Australian-based phone support
- BYO router or purchase from Activ8me (additional $15 delivery charge)

NBN Sky Muster - 200GB Standard
- PlayOn Cloud free for 3 months
- No Lock-in Contract
- 65GB peak, 135GB off peak data
- No excess usage
- No setup & cancellation fees
- Australian-based phone support
- BYO router or purchase from Activ8me (additional $15 delivery charge)

NBN Sky Muster - 200GB Sonic
- PlayOn Cloud free for 3 months
- No Lock-in Contract
- 65GB peak, 135GB off peak data
- No excess usage
- No setup & cancellation fees
- Australian-based phone support
- BYO router or purchase from Activ8me (additional $15 delivery charge)
Min Cost - $175 over 1 month ($120 setup & modem incl.)
- $10/mth off for the 1st 6 mths! Ends 15/03
- $10 off w/ electricity & gas on selected areas
- No Lock-in Contract
- Includes landline service w/ pay as you go calls
- Pay as you go calls or add calling packs from $10/mth
- 20Mbps typical evening speed during 7pm - 11pm
- Up to 4 devices
- Music streaming
- HD video streaming
- Online gaming
- 25GB Off-peak & peak data
- No Lock-in Contract
- 25Mbps+ typical evening speed
- Peak is throughout the day from 7am to 1am and off-peak is late night from 1am to 7am
- Typical evening speed subject to network capacity
Min Cost - $720 over 12 months
- $10/mth off for the 1st 6 mths! Ends 15/03
- $10 off w/ electricity & gas on certain areas
- 12 Month Contract
- No setup & modem fees
- Includes landline service w/ pay as you go calls
- Pay as you go calls or add calling packs from $10/month
- 20Mbps typical evening speed during 7pm - 11pm
- Up to 4 devices
- Music streaming
- HD video streaming
- Online gaming

NBN Sky Muster Plus - 50GB PLUS
- PlayOn Cloud free for 3 months
- No Lock-in Contract
- 25GB peak & off peak data
- No setup & cancellation fees
- Powered by nbn™ Sky Muster™ Plus
- Unmetered content: basic web browsing, OS updates, email
- BYO router or purchase from Activ8me (additional $15 delivery charge)
- Inc. $5/mth Discount
- 24 Month Contract
- Internet & home phone
- Unlimited local & national calls
- Included modem
- 10Mbps typical evening speed
- Includes nbnTM broadband $45, 100GB Data (S)
- VoIP (M)
- $5 discount from nbnTM plan. Discounted rate ($40)
- Limited Offer Plan reverts to Standard monthly fee of $45 after 24 months
Min Cost - $780 over 12 months
- $10/mth off for the 1st 6 mths! Ends 15/03
- 12 Month Contract
- No setup & modem fees
- Add Fetch from $25/mth for 12 mths + your choice of channel pack
- Pay as you go calls or add calling packs from $10/month
- 41Mbps average sampled evening speed
- Up to 4-6 devices
- Music streaming
- HD video streaming
- Online gaming
Min Cost - $180 over 1 month ($120 setup & modem incl.)
- $10/mth off for the 1st 6 mths! Ends 15/03
- No Lock-in Contract
- Pay as you go calls or add calling packs from $10/mth
- 41Mbps average sampled evening speed
- Up to 4-6 devices
- Music streaming
- HD video streaming
- Online gaming

NBN Sky Muster - 225GB Standard
- PlayOn Cloud free for 3 months
- No Lock-in Contract
- 80GB peak, 145GB off peak data
- No excess usage
- No setup & cancellation fees
- Australian-based phone support
- BYO router or purchase from Activ8me (additional $15 delivery charge)
- No Lock-in Contract
- Landline w/ pay as you go calls
- 20Mbps average sampled evening speed
- $99 setup & modem costs
- Add $10 for Unlimited Landline & Mobile calls
- Add $30 for Unlimited Landline & Mobile calls + 2000 International minutes
- 12 Month Contract
- Setup fee included + modem
- Landline w/ pay as you go calls
- 20Mbps average sampled evening speed
- Add $10 for Unlimited Landline & Mobile calls
- Add $30 for Unlimited Landline & Mobile calls + 2000 International minutes

NBN Sky Muster - 225GB Sonic
- PlayOn Cloud free for 3 months
- No Lock-in Contract
- 80GB peak, 145GB off peak data
- No excess usage
- No setup & cancellation fees
- Australian-based phone support
- BYO router or purchase from Activ8me (additional $15 delivery charge)

NBN Sky Muster Plus - 100GB PLUS
- PlayOn Cloud free for 3 months
- No Lock-in Contract
- 50GB peak & off peak data
- No setup & cancellation fees
- Powered by nbn™ Sky Muster™ Plus
- Unmetered content: basic web browsing, OS updates, email
- BYO router or purchase from Activ8me (additional $15 delivery charge)
- 50GB Off-peak & peak data
- No Lock-in Contract
- 25Mbps+ typical evening speed
- Peak is throughout the day from 7am to 1am and off-peak is late night from 1am to 7am
- Typical evening speed subject to network capacity
- 12 Month Contract
- Landline w/ pay as you go calls
- Add Fetch from $10/mth with 1 free channel pack
- Setup fee included + modem
- 20Mbps average sampled evening speed
- Add $10 for Unlimited Landline & Mobile calls
- Add $30 for Unlimited Landline & Mobile calls + 2000 International minutes
- No Lock-in Contract
- Landline w/ pay as you go calls
- Add Fetch from $10/mth with 1 free channel pack
- 20Mbps average sampled evening speed
- $99 setup & modem costs
- Add $10 for Unlimited Landline & Mobile calls
- Add $30 for Unlimited Landline & Mobile calls + 2000 International minutes
- No Lock-in Contract
- Landline w/ pay as you go calls
- 41Mbps average sampled evening speed
- $99 setup & modem costs
- 12 Month Contract
- Setup fee included + modem
- Landline w/ pay as you go calls
- 41Mbps average sampled evening speed
- Add $10 for Unlimited Landline & Mobile calls
- Add $30 for Unlimited Landline & Mobile calls + 2000 International minutes
- Inc. $5/mth Discount
- 24 Month Contract
- Internet & home phone
- Unlimited local & national calls
- Included modem
- 10Mbps typical evening speed
- Includes nbnTM broadband $55, Unlimited Data
- VoIP (M)
- $5 discount from nbnTM plan. Discounted rate ($50)
- Limited Offer Plan reverts to Standard monthly fee of $55 after 24 months
- Inc. $20/mth Discount
- 24 Month Contract
- Internet & home phone
- Unlimited local, national & mobile calls
- Included modem
- 19Mbps typical evening speed
- Unlimited nbnTM Broadband Standard $75/mth
- VoIP Large $30
- Bundle $75 limited offer includes a $20 per month discount for the first 24 months then this bundle plan reverts back to $95 per month
- 12 Month Contract
- Landline w/ pay as you go calls
- Add Fetch from $10/mth with 1 free channel pack
- Setup fee included + modem
- 41Mbps average sampled evening speed
- Add $10 for Unlimited Landline & Mobile calls
- Add $30 for Unlimited Landline & Mobile calls + 2000 International minutes
- No Lock-in Contract
- Landline w/ pay as you go calls
- Add Fetch from $10/mth with 1 free channel pack
- 41Mbps average sampled evening speed
- $99 setup & modem costs
- Add $10 for Unlimited Landline & Mobile calls
- Add $30 for Unlimited Landline & Mobile calls + 2000 International minutes
- Free BINGE Standard for 3 months
- No Lock-in Contract
- Buy online: no connection fee
- #1 provider to stream Netflix
- Telstra Smart Modem included (with 4G back up)
- Unlimited standard local, national and Australian mobile calls
- 30-day NBN satisfaction guarantee
- Broadband Protect: Online security to keep your family safe
- Telstra Air® included
Min Cost - $195 over 1 month ($120 setup & modem incl.)
- $10/mth off for the 1st 6 mths! Ends 15/03
- No Lock-in Contract
- Pay as you go calls or add calling packs from $10/mth
- 82Mbps typical evening speed during 7pm - 11pm
- Up to 6-9 devices
- Music streaming
- Online gaming
- 4K video streaming
- No Lock-in Contract
- Optus Sport monthly subscription included
- Stream Premier League, K League & more live and on-demand
- 44Mbps typical evening speed
- Landline with PAYG calls
- Pay no modem cost if you stay connected for 36 months
- Option to add Fetch Mini for $5/month
- Add $10 for unlimited local, national & mobile calls
Min Cost - $960 over 12 months
- $10/mth off for the 1st 6 mths! Ends 15/03
- 12 Month Contract
- No setup & modem fees
- Add Fetch from $25/mth for 12 mths + your choice of channel pack
- Pay as you go calls or add calling packs from $10/month
- 82Mbps typical evening speed during 7pm - 11pm
- Up to 6-9 devices
- Music streaming
- Online gaming
- 4K video streaming
- No Lock-in Contract
- Ideal for households of 3-4
- For gaming & video streaming
- 38Mbps typical evening speed
Min Cost - $2,100 when you stay connected for 24 months, and may change if the month-to-month plan price changes. New customers only.
- New customers: $10/mth credit for 6 mths
- Free BINGE Standard for 3 months
- Buy online: no connection fee
- No Lock-in Contract
- #1 provider to stream Netflix
- Telstra Smart Modem included (with 4G back up)
- Unlimited standard local, national and Australian mobile calls
- 30-day NBN satisfaction guarantee
- Broadband Protect: Online security to keep your family safe
- 50Mbps typical evening speed
- Telstra Air® included
- Free BINGE Standard for 3 months
- No Lock-in Contract
- 20,000 Telstra Plus Bonus Points
- Buy online: no connection fee
- #1 provider to stream Netflix
- Telstra Smart Modem included (with 4G back up)
- Unlimited standard local, national and Australian mobile calls
- Stream it all on the new Telstra TV
- 30-day NBN satisfaction guarantee
- Broadband Protect: Online security to keep your family safe
- Telstra Air® included
- No Lock-in Contract
- Landline w/ pay as you go calls
- 82Mbps average sampled evening speed
- $99 setup & modem costs
- Add $10 for Unlimited Landline & Mobile calls
- Add $30 for Unlimited Landline & Mobile calls + 2000 International minutes
- 12 Month Contract
- Setup fee included + modem
- Landline w/ pay as you go calls
- 82Mbps average sampled evening speed
- Add $10 for Unlimited Landline & Mobile calls
- Add $30 for Unlimited Landline & Mobile calls + 2000 International minutes
- Inc. $20/mth Discount
- 24 Month Contract
- Internet & home phone
- Unlimited local, national & mobile calls
- Included modem
- 38Mbps typical evening speed
- Unlimited nbnTM Broadband Turbo $75/mth
- VoIP Large $30
- Bundle $85 limited offer includes a $20 per month discount for the first 24 months then this bundle plan reverts back to $105 per month

NBN Sky Muster - 250GB Standard
- PlayOn Cloud free for 3 months
- No Lock-in Contract
- 90GB peak, 160GB off peak data
- No excess usage
- No setup & cancellation fees
- Australian-based phone support
- BYO router or purchase from Activ8me (additional $15 delivery charge)
- 12 Month Contract
- Landline w/ pay as you go calls
- Add Fetch from $10/mth with 1 free channel pack
- 82Mbps average sampled evening speed
- Setup fee included + modem
- Add $10 for Unlimited Landline & Mobile calls
- Add $30 for Unlimited Landline & Mobile calls + 2000 International minutes
- No Lock-in Contract
- Optus Sport monthly subscription included
- Stream Premier League, K League & more live and on-demand
- 44Mbps typical evening speed
- Fetch Mighty included w/ 1 Premium Channel pack
- Landline with PAYG calls
- Pay no modem cost if you stay connected for 36 months
- Add $10 for unlimited local, national & mobile calls
- No Lock-in Contract
- Landline w/ pay as you go calls
- Add Fetch from $10/mth with 1 free channel pack
- 82Mbps average sampled evening speed
- $99 setup & modem costs
- Add $10 for Unlimited Landline & Mobile calls
- Add $30 for Unlimited Landline & Mobile calls + 2000 International minutes

NBN Sky Muster - 250GB Sonic
- PlayOn Cloud free for 3 months
- No Lock-in Contract
- 90GB peak, 160GB off peak data
- No excess usage
- No setup & cancellation fees
- Australian-based phone support
- BYO router or purchase from Activ8me (additional $15 delivery charge)
- No Lock-in Contract
- Ideal for households of 3+
- For gaming & HD video streaming
- 76Mbps typical evening speed

NBN Sky Muster Plus - 150GB PLUS
- PlayOn Cloud free for 3 months
- No Lock-in Contract
- 75GB peak & off peak data
- No setup & cancellation fees
- Powered by nbn™ Sky Muster™ Plus
- Unmetered content: basic web browsing, OS updates, email
- BYO router or purchase from Activ8me (additional $15 delivery charge)
Min Cost - $2,580 when you stay connected for 24 months and may change if the month-to-month plan price changes. New customers only.
- New customers: $10/mth credit for 6 mths
- $30/mth off speed add-ons for 6mths! Ends 30/04
- Free BINGE Standard for 3 months
- Buy online: no connection fee
- No Lock-in Contract
- Buy online: no connection fee
- #1 provider to stream Netflix
- Telstra Smart Modem included (with 4G back up)
- Unlimited standard local, national and Australian mobile calls
- 30-day NBN satisfcation guarantee
- Broadband Protect: Online security to keep your family safe
- 100Mbps typical evening speed
- Telstra Air® included
- Free BINGE Standard for 3 months
- Xbox One S console with 4K Ultra HD streaming
- No Lock-in Contract
- Access to over 100 games
- Buy online: no connection fee
- Telstra Smart Modem included (with 4G back up)
- Unlimited standard local, national and Australian mobile calls
- Stream it all on the new Telstra TV
- 30-day NBN satisfaction guarantee
- Broadband Protect: Online security to keep your family safe
- Telstra Air® included
- 10GB mobile data
- 24 Month Contract
- Internet, mobile & home phone
- Unlimited mobile talk & text
- Included modem
- Unlimited local, national & mobile calls
- No Lock-in Contract
- Landline w/ pay as you go calls
- $99 setup & modem costs
- Add $10 for Unlimited Landline & Mobile calls
- Add $30 for Unlimited Landline & Mobile calls + 2000 International minutes
- 12 Month Contract
- Setup fee included + modem
- Landline w/ pay as you go calls
- Add $10 for Unlimited Landline & Mobile calls
- Add $30 for Unlimited Landline & Mobile calls + 2000 International minutes
- 100GB Off-peak & peak data
- No Lock-in Contract
- 25Mbps+ typical evening speed
- Peak is throughout the day from 7am to 1am and off-peak is late night from 1am to 7am
- Typical evening speed subject to network capacity

NBN Sky Muster Plus - 200GB PLUS
- PlayOn Cloud free for 3 months
- No Lock-in Contract
- 100GB peak & off peak data
- No setup & cancellation fees
- Powered by nbn™ Sky Muster™ Plus
- Unmetered content: basic web browsing, OS updates, email
- BYO router or purchase from Activ8me (additional $15 delivery charge)
- 12 Month Contract
- Landline w/ pay as you go calls
- Add Fetch from $10/mth with 1 free channel pack
- Setup fee included + modem
- Add $10 for Unlimited Landline & Mobile calls
- Add $30 for Unlimited Landline & Mobile calls + 2000 International minutes
- No Lock-in Contract
- Landline w/ pay as you go calls
- Add Fetch from $10/mth with 1 free channel pack
- $99 setup & modem costs
- Add $10 for Unlimited Landline & Mobile calls
- Add $30 for Unlimited Landline & Mobile calls + 2000 International minutes

NBN Sky Muster Plus - 250GB PLUS
- PlayOn Cloud free for 3 months
- No Lock-in Contract
- 125GB peak & off peak data
- No setup & cancellation fees
- Powered by nbn™ Sky Muster™ Plus
- Unmetered content: basic web browsing, OS updates, email
- BYO router or purchase from Activ8me (additional $15 delivery charge)
- 150GB Off-peak & peak data
- No Lock-in Contract
- 25Mbps+ typical evening speed
- Peak is throughout the day from 7am to 1am and off-peak is late night from 1am to 7am
- Typical evening speed subject to network capacity

NBN Sky Muster Plus - 300GB PLUS
- PlayOn Cloud free for 3 months
- No Lock-in Contract
- 150GB peak & off peak data
- No setup & cancellation fees
- Powered by nbn™ Sky Muster™ Plus
- Unmetered content: basic web browsing, OS updates, email
- BYO router or purchase from Activ8me (additional $15 delivery charge)
Show all plans
Last audited 22 February 2021
Broadband Guide for Seniors and Pensioners – Everything You Need to Know
As everyone knows, the internet is now a major part of everyday life – and for more regular, everyday stuff than many people think. It has the ability to make life easier and much more convenient in many ways. Shopping for groceries or wine online and having them delivered to your door, doing the banking, paying bills, even doing your taxes. Far from being a thing that only the technically-minded can understand and get the most out of, the internet is an essential utility for everyday life – once you get used to it being around.
That’s where broadband plans tailored to Seniors comes in. Instead of needing to connect to the internet every time you want to use it, broadband is “always on” and, combined with a household computer, laptop or even an iPad, can be your access point to a great many useful things, from the essentials to entertainment.
The technology behind broadband has moved forward incredibly fast, though, and for older people who have more important things to do in life than keep an eye on the latest in the world of tech, all the terminology can be confusing. And then you get a letter saying your home is about to be connected to the NBN and you’ll need to pick a broadband provider, even just to keep the home phone working. There’s so many different plans, bundles and deals, and different options within all of them – so which should you choose?
And what about if you don’t have access to the NBN yet, but want to get connected to the internet anyway? Fear not – it’s a lot easier than it seems, and we’ve got all the info you need to get you started!

Types of Broadband
There are several different ways of setting up a broadband connection – all of which will eventually be replaced by the NBN. But even without the NBN, you can easily get connected right now, and then convert to the new network later (ideally, with a company that will get all that done for you).
No matter what type of connection you have, you still connect to the exact same internet – the difference comes with the speeds of the different technologies (how fast they can display things like web pages, photos and videos) and in some cases, the cost.
NBN
This is Australia’s new national broadband network (which is what the letters stand for!). It’s being built by the federal government as a way of replacing the very old telephone network across the entirety of Australia, making sure it works for decades into the future and providing much faster speeds to meet future needs as well.
You’ve probably heard or read about the NBN in the news – it’s become a bit of a political football – but ultimately, everyone will be connected to it, and it will handle not only your broadband internet, but your home phone line as well. There are various different ways of connecting to the NBN, but you don’t get to choose which one you get – that will be decided for you based on where you live. The whole idea is to make it simple and easy to get connected and, for the most part, it does. You do, though, have some options to choose from when signing up, which we’ll get into detail about below.
ADSL
For decades, people have been using the existing phone network to connect to broadband, and ADSL is the technology that allows it all to work. With the NBN rolling out to more and more areas at a rapidly increasing pace, ADSL is becoming rarer, but it’s still available for those who need it. If you still have your regular home phone and haven’t been asked to switch yet, then ADSL is likely to be your best option. It has its inconveniences – mostly the length of time it can take for it to get set up once you order a service – but it’ll still do just fine until the NBN comes along.
Cable
Cable broadband operates through the pay TV cables that run past your home – the ones on the poles owned by Optus or the ones in the ground owned by Telstra and used for Foxtel. For many years it provided an alternative method of getting broadband if you were lucky enough to have a cable in your street. With the arrival of the NBN, the Optus cable network is being decommissioned and the Telstra cables will become NBN cables, with Foxtel eventually leaving them. Some parts of the NBN will move onto these cables, but you can still connect to cable broadband through Telstra and Optus in the meantime.
Mobile, Fixed Wireless and Satellite
Far less common – and usually only used when there’s no other alternative – these types of broadband can help get people in remote areas connected even though there’s no suitable cable running past their home. The NBN will use fixed wireless and satellite where it needs to, while mobile broadband (basically home broadband connecting via the mobile phone network) can be used anywhere but is generally only a temporary measure while you wait for a more permanent connection.
Getting Help Getting Connected
The Australian Government has run various programs over the years to assist seniors in making the transition to broadband and into the digital world, and their current initiative – called Be Connected – is something well worth looking into.
The program provides customised, easy to understand training courses in just about every aspect of broadband at the internet, from the basics right through to managing safety and security online and using apps and programs. It’s backed up by support from hundreds of local libraries and community centres, where you can go to access the internet for free and get first-hand help.
There’s also an excellent book available to download, Meet Your Ancestors, which gives you a wealth of tips for one of the most popular things to do online – researching your family’s history using the vast trove of international information on the internet.
Meanwhile, if you have a Centrelink or Veteran’s Affairs pension card, you can get pensioner discounts from Telstra on some aspects of your connection, including connection charges, home phone calls and bills.
NBN Speed Tiers Explained
Once you start looking around for broadband plans, you’ll quickly find that you’re given a choice between various “speeds”. Without knowing what these speeds actually mean in the real world it’s hard to make a decision about which one to go for – but there’s no need to pay for speed you won’t use, and you can save yourself a lot of money by choosing the right one.
The speed tiers are usually designated by a number that is a rough estimate of the actual speed of the connection; the faster the speed, the faster that data can be sent to you. But while the extremely fast speeds of the NBN can be great for people who need to deal with very large files, it has little impact on how fast web sites load or how well apps work. As an idea of what you should aim for, here’s some examples:
NBN 12: Web browsing, online banking, phone calls, social media like Facebook.
NBN 25: Video streaming from services like Netflix and Stan, online phone calls using Skype
NBN 50: Streaming video for families, downloading and uploading family videos and photos
There are even faster speed tiers than that, but those can get expensive and are aimed more at people who really have a need for the fastest connection possible.
If you’re not sure about the speed you need, don’t overspend if you don’t want to – just pick a provider that will let you change to a higher speed if you find that you need it. The NBN 12 speed tier is seen less and less now, which is great for everyone – 25 is a perfect balance of price and speed for most people.
What About Data Allowances?
Another thing you’ll see when browsing broadband plans is mention of a “data allowance”. This is the total amount of data you can both download and upload each month before your connection gets slowed down for the remainder of the month. You’ll see many providers now offering “unlimited” plans, and they do what the name suggests, removing that data limit completely so you don’t have to worry about it.
However, this is another situation where a Senior looking for the best plan shouldn’t pay for what you don’t need. If you’re planning on using your broadband connection for just the basics – web browsing, bills, emails, catching up with family – then you’re unlikely to use very much data at all. Even if you decide to get into Netflix, you’d be surprised just how many hours of viewing can fit into even a modest 100GB allowance (though if you start using Netflix as your prime source of viewing, a bigger allowance might be a good idea!).
Choosing a data allowance that suits your needs can reduce the cost of your broadband connection even further, so keep it in mind when looking at plans.


What Seniors Need from Broadband Plans
When shopping for a broadband plan, it can make great sense to opt for a “bundle” – basically a package of services from the one company, billed as one and saving you money in the process. With bundles, you can combine your broadband, home phone, a mobile phone and even TV entertainment and have the convenience of everything being set up and billed by the same people.
It’s a very competitive market since the rollout of the NBN started, and that’s great news for you – there are some really great value bundles around that are well worth looking at.
A fair deal
This is most relevant to seniors who are careful with their funds. Having a broadband connection isn’t really on top of a senior’s needs, but it does help them lead more convenient and safer everyday lives.
That said, if you are the kind of person who likes to keep costs down, then you’ll want a broadband connection that delivers what you need but doesn’t charge a premium rate. It also works to your advantage if the plan comes with other bonuses and perks. And even if you want a connection with all the bells and whistles, it still pays to know you’re getting it for a good rate.
A good connection
A decent connection is a must for everyone. It doesn’t matter what you are using the internet for —– if it doesn’t work when you need it to work, then you’re not really getting your money’s worth at all.
There are several factors involved in getting a good connection, and some (like the number of people online in your area), which are beyond your control. But you can help make the connection better by using modern modems with an upgraded connection. This means you need a reliable NBN connection, preferably on the NBN 25 tier, which is enough for everyday online tasks. Alternatively, an ADSL2+ connection that’s close to an exchange would also help.
A reasonable data cap
Australia is one of the few first-world countries that still has data caps on broadband plans. Providers in many other countries ditched data caps in favour of speed tiers years ago. But in this article, this quirk works in our favour, as it lets us choose plans that are made cheaper by limiting the amount of data available per month.
Seniors may not exactly have a lot of use for unlimited data on a monthly basis, which makes data-capped plans a good enough deal for what they need. Anything from 100 to 500GB should already work for light internet tasks.
Added perks and bonuses
Getting a good deal from broadband providers can include added benefits and perks that can be of use for seniors and pensioners.
Good news is, most of Australia’s leading providers do offer packed plans and bundles that certainly give more bang for your buck. Whether it’s a streaming TV and broadband bundle, or perhaps a home phone line inclusion — which is something that seniors do have a practical use for — there’s a lot to choose from when it comes to plans that come with amazing bonuses without costing you beyond what you’re willing to pay for.
What About TV?
If you’re keen to explore the possibilities offered by broadband in the world of TV entertainment, there’s some very nice options available, though some can be on the expensive side – like Telstra’s top broadband bundles a Telstra TV box to view it on. It’s great value if you want access to Foxtel channels without the hassle of getting Foxtel installed, but may be more broadband than you need with its unlimited downloads and high speeds.
Besides the option to bundle Telstra TV with broadband, Telstra also offers Foxtel’s entertainment packages, such as Sports and Movies in HD for easier, more convenient access. Again, a great way to bundle all your internet and entertainment needs in one simplified service that’ll save seniors and pensioners time and effort.
Another entertainment + internet option for seniors is iPrimus and Fetch TV’s bundling. Signing up for an unlimited data gives the option to add Fetch from $10 or $20 per month, which includes one premium channel pack of your choice. Dodo also offers Fetch bundling though it starts from $25/month.
The NBN Switch – When Will It Happen?
As we mentioned above, ultimately everyone will be switched over to the NBN – and that will mean a change to how your home phone works, alongside the huge increase in available broadband options.
When your area is about to switch, you’ll be notified well in advance by the NBN themselves. The switch won’t cost you anything, and your existing phone provider should switch you over automatically. If you’re on ADSL broadband when the NBN switch happens, your existing provider may also automatically switch you – but that is a good time to look at what they’re offering with their NBN plans, and compare it with other offerings like the ones we mention above.
Just remember one thing – no matter what your existing provider says, you are not obliged to stay with them (unless you’re on a contract). The NBN opens you up to a large choice in providers, and it pays to shop around!

Don’t Panic!
It’s good advice for most occasions, but especially when it comes to broadband and the NBN. It might seem like a complicated, confusing mess of strange terms and concepts, but it’s not as bad as it seems. Broadband these days is easy to connect to and easy to use, and modern devices and computers make it easy as well. And when you start discovering all the new ways it connects you to friends, family and the wider world, you’ll realise it’s worth it!
Broadband Plans for Seniors from Top Providers
Seniors need internet plans and packages that are simplified and budget-friendly. Some will opt for standalone broadband or one with a phone line while other pensioners will want an internet service with entertainment attached to it for some good TV. Whatever the need is, Australia’s top providers are loaded with valuable choices that seniors will find conveniently appealing. As for NBN, the options are endless — almost.
Southern Phone offers NBN plans and bundles from $60/month, while MyRepublic focuses on speed with NBN25 and NBN50 plans that excel in performance and value. iPrimus and Dodo also offer affordable NBN plans that include a landline connection with pay as you go calls. Telstra’s extensive internet, phone, and entertainment bundling is also something that’s worth considering.
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