Telstra re-ignites hopes for terabyte BigPond plan

Telstra has softened its stance on terabyte broadband plans for the home, providing the clearest indication in more than two years that it could soon offer one.

Director of digital, Gerd Schenkel, told a Telstra-convened online forum on December 12 that Telstra did not have firm plans for a terabyte plan, but "[hoped] to be able to offer one economically at some stage".

Schenkel's "hope" to provide such a plan is a departure from Telstra's 2010 statement that offering a terabyte quota plan was more about "attention grabbing headlines" and did not reflect the data demands of the average internet user.

Telstra said at the time that "demand for these plans will no doubt grow over time", though gave no indication of when demand might reach a point where a terabyte quota plan would be considered viable.

There was still no indication exactly when a terabyte plan might appear in BigPond's quota line-up, which currently maxes out at 500 GB courtesy of a June 2011 revision.

iTnews sought comment from a Telstra spokesman on whether terabyte plans would appear "in the near future".

"At this stage there are no plans to offer a terabyte home broadband plan," a spokesman said, adding, "we are constantly reviewing our plans and offerings."

Schenkel noted that a terabyte quota plan would be predicated on "cost and also the effect a few customers' consumption can have on other customers' experience".