UPDATE Mon PM | AAPT has responded to the confusion over whether customers can stay on old plans:

"Yes, if you are on the 256K Standard, 512K Plus, 1500K Ultimate, 8000K Extreme you will remain on your current broadband plan, with the same monthly usage allowance based on downloads only and with no term contract. You will have some changes applied to your account, such as a new account number. AAPT are notifying all customers of these changes in detail by letter at the moment.

"The FAQ's at http://aapt.com.au/servicerevolution will be updated shortly to reflect the above clarification."

Telstra has finally got the jump on its ADSL2+ rivals by upping cable to a maximum of 30Mbit/s in Melbourne and Sydney. The speeds are automatically available for those on Cable Extreme plans, who will get the boost at no extra cost. Users should note however that not all cable modems are compatible with the higher speeds.

"It is the fastest cable broadband you can get at home in Sydney or Melbourne and demonstrates our commitment to deliver high speed broadband to Australian families", said BigPond group managing director Justin Milne.

The changes also see upload speeds jump to 1Mbit/s from 256Kbit/s, though BigPond is still counting uploads towards quota. Some users may find it difficult to use the extra speed however, given the previous maximum speed of 17Mbit/s was no slouch!

AAPT has finally taken advantage of its relationship with iiNet/Powertel by turning on ADSL2+. But the changes aren't all good, with the complete refresh of its broadband plans seeing an increase in price and the counting of uploads for the first time.

AAPT customers are also in a spin over whether they will be forced onto the new plans. Letters to customers stated that Internet plans are unaffected, but FAQ entries on the AAPT website suggest that old plans will be unavailable on AAPT's new billing system. Some of the confusion may come due to differences in the handling of phone plans versus broadband plans.

Primus has also enabled ADSL2+ on its own DSLAM network. The telco has been very slow to offer the service, with competitors offering the faster speeds since early 2005. It recently announced an extra 100 exchanges to its coverage plans, however, showing that it is not slowing down with its rollout.

Links:

• Telstra Media Release  (Telstra, 12 Sep 2007)
• Primus to expand DSLAM network  (Whirlpool, 28 Jun 2007)