An elderly acquaintenance of mine is paying Telstra or their recommended provider $70 per month for a landline, with data at something like $1 per GB.
Sorry I can't be more specific. I haven't seen a bill so am not even sure of these rates.
But they are afraid to use the internet
what is the easiest cheapest way to get a data plan and port their fixed line to an IP phone.
I am relatively sure this is not too difficult, but there must be a provider who is not ripping off old peeps
Moving a Fixed Phone to an Internet Provider
Clickbait on 21/03/2025 - 17:41
Last edited 21/03/2025 - 22:13 by 1 other user
Last edited 21/03/2025 - 22:13 by 1 other user
Comments
Thanks for doing that for me.
They have never had a mobile, and I don't want to be responsible for making the landline connection work.
best ISP??
The service you're looking for is called VOIP (Voice over IP) and many major telcos will offer you both an NBN and VOIP bundle. You do have to pay 2 different charges: the monthly cost of NBN plus the other monthly charge for the VOIP service (or, a Pay-As-You-Go rate which only charges for what you use). Then there might be a cost for the VoIP capable modem router, which you either pay upfront, or it might be free if you stay with the provider for at least 24 months.
Telstra, Superloop and Aussie Broadband are just one of a few options if you want reliable ISP's. (Listed in no particular order)
https://www.superloop.com/internet/home-phone
https://www.aussiebroadband.com.au/help-centre/phone/The advantage of going with an ISP that offers a bundle is that they will ship you a modem router that's already configured to make the VOIP work. They'll provide all the support necessary for that so you don't have to be responsible for making the home phone work. The downside of switching to a different provider is that you cannot (sometimes) re-use your current modem for VOIP — the current router might have it's settings locked so it can't be used for non-Telstra VOIP services.
I just looked on Telstra's website and I think I know what plan they're on, it's most likely the Telstra Starter NBN which is $65/month for 50GB of monthly data with included home phone.
If they are a concession card holder, they should probably livechat Telstra for the $10/month Senior's discount. Otherwise, it appears they are on a fixed line plan with very limited monthly data usage (for NBN standards anyway).
Something to consider is if they actually need NBN in the first place. For extremely light users, who don't have smart appliances at home (e.g a smart TV, a Chromecast / IPTV streaming box or other cloud connected appliances such as Video Doorbells or Robotic vacuums), I would consider putting them on a mobile plan and relying on mobile phone for all communications and web browsing. A 365 Day Prepaid Mobile plan from Voda with 250GB data is only $150 (that's the equivalent of paying $12.50 a month)
Something to consider is if they actually need NBN in the first place. For extremely light users, who don't have smart appliances at home (e.g a smart TV, a Chromecast / IPTV streaming box or other cloud connected appliances such as Video Doorbells or Robotic vacuums), I would consider putting them on a mobile plan and relying on mobile phone for all communications and web browsing. A 365 Day Prepaid Mobile plan from Voda with 250GB data is only $150 (that's the equivalent of paying $12.50 a month)
+1
else Flip WhistleOut nbn 25/8 Unlimited $39/mth for 6mths ($57.90 ongoing) + home phone plan
@tonester: Thanks all
is there a modem/router to plug a SIMinto, and run an IP phone and computer on.
Just found https://occom.com.au/mobile/mobile-broadband/ which has staggering prices if this sort of setup works?@Clickbait: You would be better off just sticking with nbn, those Occom broadband plan does not even include VoIP services.
Someone should shut down Telstra's bank accounts for scamming and taking advantage of the elderly.
Yeah, $65 is quite crazy for 50GB of 12/1 NBN and a home phone. Especially considering mobile plans which achieve effectively the same call inclusions AND better internet speeds with higher limits cost half as much (if even that).
My mum had an NBN VoIP phone service from Telstra for a few years. I think it cost $27 per month, calls included. There was no internet service, just an HFC NTD and a Telstra modem with a phone plugged into it.
I've used Aussie Broadband and Superloop for NBN and home phone. If the person prefer to make a phone call from the landline, they both offer unlimited call to landline and mobile with their $10 plan.
Superloop internet (although better than what Telstra is offering on their $65 plan) will still make it more expensive.
However, I think you could have Superloop as your landline through VoIP only as it says you don't need an NBN service for that on their support page. Although I couldn't find any way to do it on their main website so could be worth a call to them and ask.
If they let you, you could do that to solve the landline and then a cheap SIM for data as someone mentioned above if they insist on a landline service.
However, I think you could have Superloop as your landline through VoIP only as it says you don't need an NBN service
internet required for VOIP, just that one can have different nbn and VOIP providers - Crazytel is a dedicated VOIP-only provider
I was thinking running the VoIP off mobile broadband using a cheap SIM.
You need an internet service to have a VOIP phone. I think Superloop have just poorly worded that option.
You need an internet service to have a VOIP phone
Telstra provide a phone service over the NBN with no internet service. Yes, technically, it's an internet service, but you can't connect anything to it and you don't pay for an internet service.
You could get a basic NBN internet connection that includes a VOIP phone plan and a router with an FX port, then connect their phone to that. You could even connect a portable handset phone to it. Or, assuming they have mobile signal, get them a basic mobile phone on a cheap plan, which would be a far cheaper solution, and have all the benefits of a mobile phone.
You can get a SIP phone designed for elderly, that's accepts a data SIM.
https://www.thetelecomwarehouse.com.au/product/aristel-geniu…You'll still need a data SIM, but that can be a low data SIM as VoiP calls typically don't use much data. So a PAYG data SIM or perhaps a data SIM linked to your mobile phone that uses your data allowance.
You can also get what is effectively a 4G mobile phone inside what looks like a fixed phone externally, with a handset and a dial keypad. There's a few companies that provide them, at about $200 or so. They take a normal sim card and don't need any data. Here's the first one that Google turned up https://opelmobile.com.au/our-products/home-phone/
This is probably the one. It looks like it can hotspot to other devices too.
Merged from Telstra Ripping off Pensioners
An elderly neighbour only has a landline, and has never had a mobile.
He didn't want to show me his bill so this is hearsay
His monthly Telstra bill is around $70. He has internet but is scared to use it becaue iy costs him $1 per GB
I looked up and found IP services from Siptalk and Opel, and some complex options on the compare sites.
But the complexity would be way past him, and I am not going there ib case there is a problem.
Could Telstra just create a service that connects Landline numbers to an IP service and provide an IP Phone that plugs straight into their NBN connection.
The independents charge from $20 up
Why wouldn't Telstra do something like that?https://www.telstra.com.au/home-phone
Home Phone plan
$50/month
For new services only. Until 7 April
Great for: People who just need a landline
Critical info summary: https://www.telstra.com.au/help/critical-information-summari…- Concession card holder? Get $10/mth off our Home Phone plan
- If you're an eligible health care card or concession card holder, you'll enjoy a $10 monthly discount on our Home Phone (landline) plan.
It sounds like he is on some kind of Starter NBN plan with 50GB of usage per month. It costs $65 nowadays though, not $70.
The comment above provides a good example of the plans available for OP's neighbour.
A lot of misinformation from the OP without any research. Telstra does not offer any plans that charge per GB, all customers migrated off those a long time ago.
Most likely on a starter plan with 50gb of Data or the core internet.
If they need a phone only, they can move down to the ultimate voice plan
An elderly neighbour only has a landline, and has never had a mobile.
His monthly Telstra bill is around $70. He has internet but is scared to use it becaue iy costs him $1 per GBHonestly don't try to move them away from Telstra, don't try to move them to a different company or a VoIP service etc. It'll be a mess and you'll have to sort it out and they'll complain forever. Been there, done that.
Get them on to the $89/month plan, that is unlimited data and unlimited calls. Sure its slow, but they'll be ok. Then back away slowly.
Telstra is the number 1 telco by market share and is the "default" choice for a lot of stupid people.
They are the CommBank of the telco world.Given this, what incentive do they have to give good service or value to anyone when so many people are afraid to switch away from the default choice?
Telstra is the number 1 telco by market share and is the "default" choice for a lot of stupid people.
It's the number one choice to a lot of people as they grew up with it being the only choice. So its the devil they know.
Happens when for many decades you could only get a landline with Telstra as it was the gov monopoly at the time.
It's the number one choice to a lot of people as they grew up with it being the only choice. So its the devil they know.
Happens when for many decades you could only get a landline with Telstra as it was the gov monopoly at the time.
Well, Hawke, Keating and Howard transitioned Australia from protectionism to neoliberalism many decades ago.
People have to move with the times.You can agree/disagree and have differing opinions on whether it was a good idea, but it is the new reality we have been living in for decades.
In said reality, the threat of switching to competitors is what drives innovation and lower prices.
If you stick with one provider for everything and then complain when they rip you off, you are part of the problem.
many decades ago.
People have to move with the times.I'm guessing the OP is talking about someone in their 70' or later, if so they have had the telephone for many decades before this transition you speak about from a single monopoly. They might even call them telecom still :)
Even post this transition, you didn't have many choices as Telstra blocked landline number porting for decades, so people just didn't move as getting a new 'home' number was unthinkable as they had the old number for decades.
If you stick with one provider for everything and then complain when they rip you off, you are part of the problem.
I'm not with Telstra at all, but I've dealt with enough old people to realize that it isn't worth the saving to move them to something 'cheaper' if they are still with Telstra its best to leave them as is, regardless of what my views are.
So best to move them to the best plan you can get them on, they'll be happy. Which at the end of the day, is all that counts.
Why wouldn't Telstra do something like that?
I can not imagine why in the world … aren't they a publicly listed company, where the only obligation is to make shareholders $$$?!? Strange …
As a telstra shareholder, I am pleased….
Same, love those franking credits :P
Why am I not surprised you are happy that pensioners are being ripped off because it means more $$ in your own pocket?
Yep, but it doesn't say anything about having to provide it cheaply ;)
All that is mentioned is "on an equitable basis" - charging an arm and a leg to all customers is still "equitable" :P
first of all telstra would never implement anything to save their customers money.
like others are saying telstra are just here for the profit.lets just say that wasn't the case.
the cheapest plan for NBN 12/1 is what, $35-$45?
with the high charges of NBN access ISP's need to pay its hard to offer a cheap VoIP phone service when providers need to cover the cost of everything else on top.the cheapest plan for NBN 12/1 is what, $35-$45?
Got a link?
NBN 12/1 is what, $35-$45?
Just get 25/10 for $49.95
Telstra Ripping off Pensioners
They've been doing it for decades.
Could Telstra just create a service that connects Landline numbers to an IP service and provide an IP Phone that plugs straight into their NBN connection.
They are not allowed to.
Just change ISPs…
https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/893050