The sky’s your limit

Unlimited data deals for Australians are on the cards, as Sophie Elsworth writes in this EXCLUSIVE report

AUSTRALIAN consumers’ addiction to data has telcos preparing to roll out unlimited usage plans – the first is likely to land before the end of the year.

US telecommunication companies already have unlimited data deals widely available and providers here are expected to soon follow suit, offering enticing deals that would herald a major shake-up of the industry.

Telco comparison website WhistleOut’s spokesman Joseph Hanlon said customers are becoming more demanding than ever and have an appetite for larger chunks of data usage included in their plans.

“We do see trends that start in the US tend to roll out in Australia eventually and unlimited data became a thing in the US a few years ago,’’ he said. “It’s something consumers are crying out for, which is a good reason to act, but I wouldn’t expect to see it be cheap in the beginning.

“At the moment high level plans (in the US) are around $100 and unlimited data will probably start around that here but you will still have the option to not use that and get a plan for [less].”

Mr Hanlon said heated competition in the telco market was

“crushing prices” and it would only take one provider to introduce unlimited data plans before a snowball effect would see similar offers become readily available. Boost Mobile founder and director Peter Adderton recently put a short time frame on the end of data usage caps down under.

“In my opinion we’ll see everyone move to unlimited data in less than 12 months, I honestly believe that,” he said. “It’s going to take one (provider to offer unlimited) and the rest will follow at 100 miles per hour.” Boost Mobile offers prepaid phones and plans on the 4G Telstra mobile network.

Already some telcos are providing deals that allow Apple Music and Spotify to be streamed free and avoid bill shock that comes with sucking up large chunks of data.

WhistleOut’s database shows there are existing data deals for as much as 90GB at $80 per month if you bring your own handset.

A Telstra spokesman said while they have no plans to roll out unlimited data plans at the moment, many of their customers are becoming increasingly data-hungry.

“Over the past couple of years we’ve moved millions of customers on to new plans with larger data allowances,’’ he said.