Spark cranks up data — for free

Spark is giving out free data to most of its customers to match their growing use of broadband. The telecommunications provider yesterday announced it would increase its home and business broadband data caps by 50 per cent. Spark chief executive of home and business broadband Jason Paris said the company was changing its plans to reflect the changing needs of customers. “Customers are using more data in their daily lives. Average data usage on Spark’s broadband networks grew by 37 per cent in 2014 and by 67 per cent in 2015. “From streaming their favourite shows, to video-calling their families, there’s a clear trend for increased data usage across the board,” Paris said. Home broadband customers now on a 40GB plan will be upgraded to 60GB at no additional cost, and those on 80GB will be upgraded to 120GB. Business customers on 30GB bundles will be upgraded to 50GB and those on 80GB will also be increased to 120GB. More than 80 per cent of Spark home broadband customers will get extra data at no additional cost. A small minority of customers, however, may be subject to a price increase. “Plan simplification and futureproofing of our costs mean Spark will be raising prices on some of our home fibre and wireless broadband plans by $5 per month — and on some of our business wireless bundles by $3 per month,” Paris said. These costs would not be passed on to home customers until September next year and business customers until September 2018, he said. Data cap changes and price increases will come into effect on September 6 for new customers.