Competition enters ADSL ring

A Brisbane internet service provider has launched the market's most competitive ADSL package since Telstra introduced its 3GB limit.

XiS, which had intended to sell an "unlimited" service, said its offering was the "best ADSL pricing plan in Australia".

Under the plan, users can download 3GB of data in peak times and 6GB overnight and on weekends. Outgoing data is uncapped and excess downloads are charged at the cheapest rate seen in the Australian retail market.

The plan, which operates on a 12-month contract, costs $109 per month including a Dynalink USB modem. The company is charging $189 for installations completed before the end of February.

The company will use Telstra's copper lines and DSLAMs, a device that mixes voice and DSL traffic on customers' lines. Data, routing and authentication services will be provided by publicly-listed Datafast.

XiS also offers customers an "unlimited" dial-up account for use after they reach their data limit.

The company counters claims of poor customer service by offering dissatisfied users their money back. But when Australian IT called this morning, XiS's customer service line was answered by voicemail.

XiS has offered a national dial-up service since June and operates a computer store in suburban Brisbane. The ADSL service is available to customers serviced by ADSL-enabled Telstra exchanges.

View: XiS ADSL Homepage