VHA revises mobile broadband plans

Vodafone Hutchison Australia (VHA) has increased the download quotas on its mobile broadband plans and slashed excess usage fees.

The telco announced a revised range of postpaid plans. The old entry-level 1GB plan for $15 a month received a 500 MB quota increase.

The $29 plan now includes an extra 1 GB of quota, while the $39 and $49 plans received 2 GB more.

Excess data charges on all caps were reduced from 10 cents per MB to 2 cents per MB.

And contracts were available either for 12-months (with bundled modem) or month-to-month (with modem purchased outright).

A VHA spokesman told iTnews that existing customers would not be automatically upgraded to the new download quotas but could upgrade via Vodafone's website or by calling a customer care representative.

A new prepaid starter pack was also launched. It included a USB stick modem and 6 GB of data for $129 outright, although there was an introductory special price of $99.

The initial 6GB prepaid quota expired after 94 days "unless you recharge in that time", according to VHA.

If a recharge was made within three months, it was still possible to take advantage of existing 180 and 365-day recharge options available from Vodafone, a spokesman said.

"We've listened to our customers," said Edward Goff, general manager of voice and mobile broadband at VHA.

"They've told us they want more generous data allowances; they want the freedom and flexibility to choose the exact duration of their contracts; and the want fairer pricing when they have an internet- and data-intensive month and need to go over and above their usual data allowance."

A spokesman for VHA has been contacted for comment.