What witchcraft is this? Telstra actually has great NBN deals

As a lover of all things NBN, I’m no stranger to the latest internet offerings in Australia. More often than not, it’s the same Internet service providers that compete for my top recommendation: Exetel, Kogan Internet, Superloop, and Spintel, to name a few. One provider that, if my memory serves me correctly, has never appeared on my radar is Telstra.

Yes, despite dominating the NBN landscape with a 35.2% market share, Telstra isn’t exactly known for its affordability. In reality, the country’s largest telecommunications company is usually the most expensive of the 30 or so providers I regularly monitor.

Imagine my surprise when I learned that Telstra, of all companies, had real deals on its NBN line, with up to AU$240 in savings over six months! And while they don’t offer the cheapest NBN plans yet, they’re worth mentioning if you’re looking for a new NBN plan.

What’s more, Belong, a generally more affordable NBN provider and 100% owned by Telstra, also has some attractive offers at the moment, including claiming the cheapest introductory cost at the NBN 100/500 tier at AU$59/m.

Please note that the most affordable Telstra NBN plans require a BYO modem. If you want a Telstra Smart Modem 4, not only will you have to pay more each month, but you’ll also have to pay the remaining device payments if you cancel your plan within 24 months. Alternatively, you can purchase the Telstra modem for a one-off fee of AU$360. However, for that money, I would recommend looking for one of the best mesh Wi-Fi systems in Australia.

Telstra vs Belong: what’s the difference?

Belong is 100% owned by Telstra and is a lower cost alternative to the flagship brand. To offer more affordable NBN and mobile plans compared to Telstra, it makes some compromises when it comes to network features and coverage.

For mobile, Belong uses the Telstra Wholesale network, which is said to cover around 98.8% of the population, compared to the full Telstra network which enjoys 99.7% coverage.

However, in the case of NBN, both providers use the same underlying fixed line network, so coverage is not a differentiating factor. Actual speeds may still vary between providers, depending on how much capacity they have available and how their networks are managed, particularly during peak periods. However, there’s no guarantee that Telstra will offer faster speeds than Belong on an equivalent plan.

Belong keeps its costs low by making some concessions, including giving customers the option of bringing their own modem or purchasing one separately. In any case, there is no help option for installation. Telstra also supports BYO modems, but offers its own smart modem with 4G support, a feature Belong does not offer.

There are also some differences with technical support. Telstra offers 24/7 phone support and live chat, and has physical stores. Belong operates solely digitally, with support limited to online chat or messaging through the website or app. There is limited phone support should you need it.