Is Your Telco Promo Actually Saving You Money? Find Out

Australian telcos have turned promotional pricing into an art form. They hook you with an unbeatable "introductory rate," let you get comfortable, then quietly increase the price after six months.  

Some providers are subtle about it. It looks like a line item change on your bill. Others send you a "courtesy notification" buried in an email you'll never read. 

Either way, the result is the same. You're paying way more than you thought you would, and switching providers sounds exhausting, so you just do nothing.  

Enough with the daylight robbery, we say.  

Read exactly how these “cheap internet plans” might not be all that cheap, what it's really costing you and how to spot the red flags before you sign up.

Red Flags: How to Spot a Bad Deal 

Here are the telltale signs you're about to sign up for a plan that'll cost you way more than advertised. 

"Introductory Rate" or "First 6 Months" 

Any time you see pricing with a time limit attached, that's your first warning. Common phrases include but are not limited to…  

• $65/month for the first 6 months 

• Introductory offer: $70/month 

• $59/month, then standard pricing applies 

This is a roundabout way of saying your price isn’t gonna stick around forever. After the promo ends, expect a 30-50% price increase. And it always happens at the worst possible time, right when you’re about to book flights, pay rego or finally splurge on a VIP package at Bad Bunny.  

Let’s crunch the numbers for this:  

Bundling You Don't Need 

"Get NBN 100 for $75/month when bundled with our mobile plan!" 

Sounds great until you realise:  

• The mobile plan is $55/month (when you could get 130GB for $40 elsewhere) 

• You're locked into both for 24 months 

• If you cancel one, the other jumps in price  

Forced bundling is a classic tactic to make pricing look competitive while locking you into multiple services you might not need. 

"No Lock-In Contract"*  

The asterisk is doing a lot of work there. Read the fine print and you'll often find: 

• No lock-in... but there's a $200-300 "early termination fee" for the modem/router you're "renting" 

• No lock-in... but you forfeit your promotional pricing if you leave early 

These aren't lock-in contracts technically, but they function exactly like lock-in contracts financially. 

Vague "Standard Pricing" References 

Any time a provider won't clearly state what you'll pay after the promo ends, that's a massive red flag. If they’re hiding the real price, it's probably because the real price is bad. 

• Good disclosure sounds like: "$65/month for 6 months, then $95/month ongoing." 

• Bad disclosure sounds like: "$65/month introductory rate. Standard pricing applies after 6 months. See website for details."  

Price Increases Buried in Terms 

Many providers reserve the right to increase prices "in line with CPI" or "to reflect network improvements." This is what they say when your bill goes up every year, regardless of what you signed up for.  

Check for phrases like: 

• "Prices subject to change" 

• "We may increase fees with 30 days notice" 

That $95/month plan could be $105/month in two years, and there's nothing you can do about it besides switch or get sad about it.   

The Exetel Alternative: One Plan, One Price, No Tricks 

What if the price you saw when you signed up was just... the price? Ongoing. Not promotional. Just honest internet.  

That's Exetel's The One Plan:  

One price  

You’ll get: $80/month for 500/50 Mbps (Typical Evening Speed 500/40 Mbps).  

Not "$80 for six months then $110." Not "$80 when bundled with three other services you don't want."  

Or until you leave, at which point there are zero exit fees. We think you’ll love it so much you can go at any time. We’re not forcing you to stay here.  

It’s already cheaper than the average

The Australian average internet bill is $85/month according to Canstar research. Exetel's sitting at $80, already cheaper than average, with speeds (TES: 500/40 Mbps) that blow away most "budget" plans capped at 50-100 Mbps.  

Instead of locking you into a price and hoping you forget to shop around, we help you actively reduce your bill.  

Pause and save with our Hibernate feature  

Going away? Turn on Hibernate in the app. Your internet drops to 12/1 Mbps (still connected for security cameras and smart devices), and you save $1/day. 

Compare that to your locked-in contract where you pay full price whether you're home or not.  

Upgrade with Warp Speed when needed 

Need ultra-fast speeds for a massive download or when everyone’s on a video call at once? Hit Warp Speed for $1/day and upgrade to 1000/100 Mbps (Typical evening speed 860/85 Mbps).  

Use it 5 days a month and that’s just $5 extra. Compare it to paying $40-50/month extra for a permanent NBN 1000 plan you don't always need. 

Stack discounts when you refer friends  

Refer friends to The One Plan. You both get $1 off per month for your broadband plan while you both stay connected, capped at $80. 

And you keep getting a discount as long as your referrals stay connected. 

Three Questions to Ask Before You Switch Plans 

Before you sign up for any internet plan, ask these three questions to see if it’s actually good value. If the provider can't give you answers straight up, walk away. 

What is the total cost over 24 months? 

Don't just look at the monthly rate. Calculate the full 24-month cost including: 

• Promotional period pricing 

• Post-promotional pricing 

• Setup fees 

• Modem/router costs 

• Any mandatory add-ons 

Look out for providers that require you to buy their modem and pay delivery fees even when you don't need one. It’s suddenly a "requirement" that pops up mysteriously and it isn’t mentioned on their website until after you've decided to sign up.  

Promo pricing looks cheaper upfront, but consistency wins over time. Exetel One stays at $80/month from day one, while many promo offers rise sharply after the discount period ends. Over 24 months, that consistency adds up.  

Is there an "exit hardware fee" hiding in the fine print? 

Read the terms carefully. If you see any of the following, factor that cost into your calculations. 

Here’s how to translate if an ‘exit hardware fee’ is in the fine print:  

Can I pause or temporarily upgrade the plan without changing my contract? 

Flexibility matters. Some are in Hong Kong every other week for work, others are in the middle of making a move to the country, while others work from home some months but then go ‘digital nomad’ in others. You need to make sure you can adjust your plan without penalties.  

Most providers make you: 

• Call customer service and negotiate 

• Change to a completely different plan (losing your promotional rate) 

• Stay locked at one speed tier regardless of usage 

Exetel offers actual flexibility, like: 

• Saving while you’re away  

• Increasing speeds to 1000 Mbps (TES: 860/85 Mbps) only when needed  

• All controlled in-app, no phone calls, no contract changes  

Stop falling for fake. Get real value  

Promotional pricing isn't a deal if you end up paying more in the long run. It's a marketing tactic designed to get you in the door, then increase the price when you’re getting a little too comfortable.  

Real, honest value looks like transparent ongoing pricing with no promotional expiry, features that let you control costs and zero exit fees (and obstacles!) when you want to leave. 

Check out Exetel's One nbn plan and see what internet pricing looks like when providers aren't playing pricing games with you.  

FAQ 

How do I know if I'm on a promotional rate right now? 

Check your original signup email or contract. Look for "introductory rate," "first X months," or "promotional period." If you see those, your price will jump when it ends. 

What happens to my promotional rate if I change plans? 

Most providers void your promo if you modify your plan. Read the terms carefully — "plan changes may result in loss of promotional pricing" means exactly that. 

Can I negotiate my price when my promo ends? 

Sometimes, but you'll have to call retention teams and hope they offer you a new promo. Or you can skip the hassle and just pick ongoing pricing from the start.