One of the great things about getting older – aside from having a lot more time to do the things you want to do – is the Seniors Card which the various state governments issue to older Australians, usually from the age of 60. These cards give a range of benefits ranging from cheaper public transport to discounts at various businesses. But when it comes to broadband, the discounts are fairly scarce (perhaps not surprising in what is already an incredibly competitive market).
The only provider prominently offering a broadband plan especially for Seniors Card holders is Westnet, a provider owned by TPG but operating as its own entity. They offer seniors a $39.99/month plan on NBN (at the lowest speed, 12 Mbps) that comes with 50GB of data, 24/7 support, a free wi-fi modem and spam protection. It’s a $20/month discount on the cheapest NBN plan available to all from the same ISP – though that plan offers ten times the monthly download limit.
So can we do better than that without the Seniors Card? You bet we can!
Telstra Brings Simplicity
Telstra has been a mainstay for all things telecommunications in this country. They have a long history of providing quality services — both in terms of delivery and support. All backed up by having the biggest network in the country. Chances are they’re the ones already providing your phone line. So it makes sense to bundle your internet and your phone line rental with a quality provider — at least until the NBN becomes available.
On that front, Telstra offers a simple deal — $70/month for 100GB of data, with unlimited local, national, and mobile calls included. This bundle is NBN-network-ready, so when the time comes to make the transition, Telstra will make it as seamless as possible.
While they don’t offer discounts on broadband, Telstra does offer discounts for seniors on eligible home phone services. If you have a Centrelink Pension Card or a Veterans’ Affairs Pension Card, Telstra can offer discounts on connection charges (in some cases), home phone calls, and fee waivers for credit card processing fees and paper bill fees.
Get Telstra’s Broadband Bundle
Telstra’s broadband bundle comes with the new Telstra TV 3 + unlimited data + $125 free Telstra TV Box office credit to stream TV & Movies on its new streaming platform. All for $99/mth!
Don’t Forget Your Mate!
Relatively new company Mate Communicate has some pretty keen pricing for its ADSL customers, of which there are still plenty; their unlimited-data City Mates plan is only $49 a month, or for those living further out from the cities, Country Mates provides that same unlimited data for $59. For these, you’ll need the have your home phone line already connected to the Telstra network – which most people already do. There are no contracts and no setup fees, making this one a good starting option if you’re wanting to try out a new provider without locking yourself into an expensive contract. On top of that, their call
Belong Delivers the Speed
As part of Telstra’s massive network, Belong’s internet plans already have the edge when it comes to speed and coverage. That’s why it’s more convenient for seniors to access what they need from the internet — whether it’s regular browsing or streaming their
Unlimited Data with Belong
Get unlimited NBN data + a free WiFi modem for just $55/month. Zero standard activation fees!
Bundle It All Up With Sumo
One unique provider that actually does “provide” it all is Sumo Broadband. On top of their broadband plan offerings, they also allow subscribers to bundle it all up with other necessary utilities like gas and electricity. This makes it so much more convenient for seniors and pensioners to simply think about one all-inclusive utilities bill every month. Not only does this save them the hassle, but it also saves them a ton of money — especially since Sumo’s broadband plans are already affordable as it is, and bundling it up makes it even cheaper.
Get More Savings with Sumo Broadband Bundles!
Save more when you bundle your NBN with gas & electricity starting at $60/mth or get standalone unlimited NBN plans from $70/mth.
Budget Conscious? Try Southern Phone
If you’re focusing on keeping costs down, another great option is the range of NBN plans offered by Southern Phone. This local company has offerings starting at just $50 per month for 100GB at 12 Mbps – a great data allowance at that price point. A wi-fi modem is included, and for $10 more per month you can bump that data allowance up to unlimited data already. Southern Phone is a completely Australian-based company that not only employs Australians in all their customer-facing departments but is also owned entirely by regional local councils. All of their profits go right back into the community – there are no private shareholders to worry about.
If you’re in a remote regional area that’s not serviced by the NBN, you can access Southern Phone’s “
Get Great Value Broadband Plans with No Lock-In Contract!
Get connected today with Southern Phone broadband, offering a great range of NBN plans for all needs and budget. NBN plans start at only $50/mth and come with no lock-in contract.
Remember to Compare for the Best Prices
As the examples here show, while there’s not a lot of interest from Internet providers in doing special Seniors Card discounts, the prices of their regular plans can get so low that you’re ultimately going to be saving more money anyway. The key to pensioners saving more money is to shop around – if you’ve got any questions about a particular provider’s service, give them a call – you’ll get a good sense of what they’re like when you chat to them, too. And if you’re relatively new to the Internet, go for a plan with no contract – that way, if you find out you need more data each month, or a faster connection, you can jump onto that without having to pay a penalty.
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