Whirlpool

Does the Big Banana plan exist anymore, as its not on aanets website. Also does aanet count half of your downloads during offpeak on the Big Banana plan or can you only download a max of 200gb?

Cheers

The Big Banana plan is no longer available for new customers – the plan was only intended as a launch special when we released our ADSL2 plans.

Jason

what about existing customers?

Hyperthreader writes...

what about existing customers?

Not at this time.

Jason

Will there be a similar replacement plan with a high quota?

Changes to plans are always being considered, there is no specific information I can give you at the moment though...

Jason

Jason Μ writes...

The Big Banana plan is no longer available for new customers – the plan was only intended as a launch special when we released our ADSL2 plans.

Jason

That sucks :( I was going to drop TPG and come back to aanet, on this plan.

Sure does. Hopefully there will be a similar or even better plan because TPG have a 150GB plan and apparently trialling a 500GB plan.

Jason Μ writes...

The Big Banana plan is no longer available for new customers – the plan was only intended as a launch special when we released our ADSL2 plans.

Jason

Jason,

That's a real pain. I signed up with aaNet with the idea to move this plan, while the Coburg exchange was under construction. This was due to be completed last month while the Big Banana plan was still available. Now the plan has been pulled I'm really questioning whether or not to stay with aaNet.

Can this plan be made available for those that should have been able to get it, but missed out through whatever delays arising during the exchange build process?

Based on the 3 strikes policy, we've had the email server debacle, now the plan withdrawal, I'm starting to get itchy feet and I've only been with you for 2 months...

Tim

PS. Any status update on the Coburg exchange?

MelwayMan writes...

Can this plan be made available for those that should have been able to get it, but missed out through whatever delays arising during the exchange build process?

It is something that will be considered on a case by case basis, however as I mentioned above we are always reviewing our ADSL plans, and there may be something better/comparable by that stage.

PS. Any status update on the Coburg exchange?

Not that I am aware, but I will see if I can find out.

Jason

Jason Μ writes...

Not that I am aware, but I will see if I can find out

While you are at it. Could you please update us on the other exchanges that we also due last month?

COBURG
CAMP HILL
DONCASTER
EPPING
KOGARAH
NORTH ESSENDON
ORMOND
PORT MELBOURNE
SALISBURY
SOUTH BRISBANE
SPRINGVALE
ZILLMERE

I've also been (almost) patiently waiting for my exchange to be activated and was planning to switch to the Big Banana. Very disappointed to hear it's gone.

Please consider offering it as a plan change option to existing customers on the exchanges above. It's painful enough waiting for the build to complete without being financially punished for it as well.

Believe me if I could have ordered it by now I would have.

tempus writes...

I've also been (almost) patiently waiting for my exchange to be activated and was planning to switch to the Big Banana. Very disappointed to hear it's gone.

As Jason said, something better may be introduced at a later time. Maybe the Big Mango? :-)

I wouldn't sweat it, the ISP industry is always in a state of flux.

As of 8AM this morning the following exchanges were enabled for ordering new services.

CPHL CAMP HILL QLD
DONC DONCASTER VIC
EPPI EPPING NSW
KOGA KOGARAH NSW
SOTH SOUTH BRISBANE QLD

I do not have a timeframe for existing customer migrations at this time.

Jason

I know I have asked this question before and was told that Glen Iris exchange would be ready in August. I am wondering what is happening with the work their as I can't see it on the list above .

Moonlight writes...

was told that Glen Iris exchange would be ready in August.

By whom?

http://www.aanet.com.au/bbnext_status

Glen Iris is not on our current rollout list – it may have been at some point, however any non-active exchanges are always subject to change.

Jason

knucklehead writes...

As Jason said, something better may be introduced at a later time. Maybe the Big Mango? :-)

The key words there being "maybe" and "later".

Jason Μ writes...

As of 8AM this morning the following exchanges were enabled for ordering new services.

Thanks for the reply Jason. Any updates you can give us are always appreciated.

Unfortunately my exchange (PMEL) is not among them :-(

Back to the pacing...

tempus writes...

Not that that's produced anything that can temp you off that $50 8Mb/s trial plan though I see :-)

Well, it's a tough choice. ;-)

Honestly, if the trial went tits up tomorrow I'd prolly be straight on aaNet's 1500/20 plan even though TPG have ADSL2+ in my exchange. aaNet have been more than generous with me (but whatever you don't mention anything about the trial. ;-)).

knucklehead writes...

(but whatever you don't mention anything about the trial. ;-)).

Who said anything about a trial? ;-)

Oops.Looks like this was from another provider.

Here is the reply from IINET provider on Glen Iris exchange

" as per our website, the migration for existing customers will be Week 4 Sept. The hardware should be online in the next week (it's undergoing final testing now) for new customers to sign up.

We've installed a far amount of capacity so there shouldn't be much of a problem getting a port."

How come they can get this exchange ready by end of Sept and aanet is not even looking at it at the moment.

tempus writes...

Who said anything about a trial? ;-)

Hmmm, I could have sworn... :-)

Aanet will need to release a similar plan as TPG now has new plans which have lots of quota and are very cheap. May have to move to TPG as they have enabled my exchange.

Hyperthreader writes...

Aanet will need to release a similar plan as TPG now has new plans which have lots of quota and are very cheap.

Perhaps not. aaNet may not be that interested in chasing customers after such a large quota.

Hyperthreader writes...

TPG now has new plans which have lots of quota

true, and looking at their thread, even more people unhappy about speeds.

a speed that is near what I am paying for is far better than a quota that can not be reached.

do not get me wrong, I love to have a large quota, but then paying penuts for it is not going to work in the long run.

greenhawk writes...

true, and looking at their thread, even more people unhappy about speeds.

a speed that is near what I am paying for is far better than a quota that can not be reached.

do not get me wrong, I love to have a large quota, but then paying penuts for it is not going to work in the long run.

Yes, ive wondered about tpg's speeds. The quota doesnt need to be huge but $50 for 50GB is quite nice. Then again you cant beat speed service. I want to stay with Aanet but my exchange isnt enabled and their plans are quite good but a little more quota is needed.

tempus writes...

While you are at it. Could you please update us on the other exchanges that we also due last month?

Received an email from aaNet. These five are online as of the end of *last* week.
CAMP HILL
DONCASTER
EPPING
KOGARAH
SOUTH BRISBANE

Still waiting on the status of these seven.
COBURG
NORTH ESSENDON
ORMOND
PORT MELBOURNE
SALISBURY
SPRINGVALE
ZILLMERE

See http://www.aanet.com.au/bbnext_status for the most up to date status.

Lukian the Wizard writes...

Received an email from aaNet.

It does pay to read the thread.....

/forum-replies.cfm?t=1045797#r13

Lukian the Wizard writes...

Still waiting on the status of these seven.
COBURG
NORTH ESSENDON
ORMOND
PORT MELBOURNE
SALISBURY
SPRINGVALE
ZILLMERE

According the the latest EFtel status file (http://www.broadbandnext.com.au/data/48/msan_activation_v05.pdf) all of these are still under construction and have a build month of "Sep-08".

Let's hope it's just a short slippage.

Can this plan be made available for those that should have been able to get it, but missed out through whatever delays arising during the exchange build process?

Jason Μ writes...

It is something that will be considered on a case by case basis, however as I mentioned above we are always reviewing our ADSL plans, and there may be something better/comparable by that stage.

I originally stated my interest in this plan when the Ormond exchange was (incorrectly) marked as being active on the aaNet website in July.

Under the reasoning that I should be eligible for this plan had the Ormond exchange upgrade been on-time (Scheduled: Sep-08. Actual: Nov-08) – I emailed the aaNet Sales team regarding it's availability and I was simply told "Unfortunately the Big Banana plan is no longer available."

Was anyone able to successfully acquire the Big Banana plan post-removal?

Lukian the Wizard writes...

Was anyone able to successfully acquire the Big Banana plan post-removal?

The only time we were going to consider it, was during the time before we introduced our current range of plans.

The current plans are all we wish to offer at this time – you will note that one or two other ISPs are being forced to remove customers off the large off-peak plans – the reason? They are not really sustainable.

Jason

Thanks for your reply Jason!

Surely aaNet's (and other ISP's) off-peak bandwidth isn't being utilised anywhere near full capacity?

I was just hoping to score the Big Banana plan as my first month or two usage on ADSL2 will be rather high, but then it'll pan down to a much lower figure. Partially as I'd be running out of Hard Disk space!

If you look at my usage averaged over the last 30, 60 and 120 period – you'll see my peak usage is always between 12-13GB and my off-peak usage almost double from 26GB to 44GB.

Naturally I'd continue paying $70/month for 50+150 over the $50 60GB plan (which by the way is exceptional value) even with my low peak usage as I never know when that off-peak would come in handy!

Lukian the Wizard writes...

Surely aaNet's (and other ISP's) off-peak bandwidth isn't being utilised anywhere near full capacity?

It depends on how an ISP markets it's plans. For some ISPs, yes.

aaNet's unique off-peak system has taken a while to perfect, but, after two years it is delivering exactly what we wanted – almost flat utilization, and a reduction in per-user peak bandwidth usage.

aaNet prefers to continue along the path of sustainability rather than upset the balance affecting tens of thousands of customers.

It is because we don't do what other ISPs do that allows our customers to receive some of the lowest prices in the market.

The big banana plan was released to poke fun at what other ISPs were doing, hence the name :)

Jason

Jason Μ writes...

almost flat utilization
I'll hazard a guess at spikes at 1AM and 2AM? ^_^
I (and other users) would be quite curious as to what times there is true peak utilisation, such as good times to not do bandwidth/speed tests.
I am curious how introducing an off-peak plan, perhaps with a quota start time of 3AM would affect tens of thousands of customers?

I do admire aaNet's unique off-peak system, it's good to have true choice for how a customer balances their quota usage.

Perhaps over time, you could "add value" to the off-peak system such as increasing it to a 40% or 33% quota count (like the old plans)? If not, in terms of added value, I would love to see mirrors or perhaps peering services counted at a reduced rate.

Lukian the Wizard writes...

I (and other users) would be quite curious as to what times there is true peak utilisation

Between 6pm-Midnight is the highest load part of the day, and is when P2P shaping is highest.

I would love to see mirrors or perhaps peering services counted at a reduced rate.

I don't think we will offer free peering, but we might look at uncounted file mirrors.

Jason

Jason Μ writes...

Between 6pm-Midnight is the highest load part of the day, and is when P2P shaping is highest.

So aanet shape p2p? Is this all the time? To what speed?

Jason Μ writes...

I don't think we will offer free peering
There is always spare bandwidth during off-peak. /forum-replies.cfm?t=1062202#r15

Free peering can quite easily be abused, how about 50%? (even if it's 50% only during offpeak, thus 25% for anything fetched via peering)

Spero D. writes...

So aanet shape p2p? Is this all the time? To what speed?

Unlike other ISPs it is 100% dynamic, and only applies when our network is under load to prevent congestion for non-P2P usage.

There is no 'set' speed, and P2P is not constrained if links are not approaching saturation.

People's experiences are the best judge of how our network performs for P2P. Compare the number of posts in our forum regarding P2P speeds to other ISPs, and you will notice very few complaints.

Jason

Jason does this also apply to ADSL2 through Optus with yourselves?

Spero D. writes...

Jason does this also apply to ADSL2 through Optus with yourselves?

We do not currently sell Optus based services, but yes, IP bandwidth from suppliers is managed using QoS.

P2P data that travels over PIPE/peering and data on our national network is never limited.

Jason

Jason Μ writes...

We do not currently sell Optus based services,

I meant your ADSL2 through Optus exchanges.

Spero D. writes...

I meant your ADSL2 through Optus exchanges.

We do not sell ADSL2 via Optus exchanges to new customers..

All our ADSL2 plans use our own MSAN network.

Jason

Jason Μ writes...

All our ADSL2 plans use our own MSAN network.

I did not know this. Rules out AAnet on my exchange :(