The great Australian mobile broadband rip-off

Wow I’m surprised – two responses and both negative sentiment to the article and positive sentiment to the carriers. That really surprises me, but I guess it shows why the carriers can make excess profits and we get generally poor deals and no one complains.

I think that the survey speaks to the facts. The “geographic” argument is a complete red herring. Australia is the most urbanised country in the world, bar Singapore. If urban pricing is subsidising the relatively few and expensive country users then that is a commercial decision. The argument about special deals is also a complete red herring – what credibility would any survey have if it were based on “special deals”? It has to be based on what is advertised and on offer.

We used to have some innovation and price competition when Hutchison 3 was alive, but now the ACCC has hammered another nail in the coffin of competition and allowed it to be swallowed by Vodafone that’s all gone.

I have to say again that in a site like SmartCompany representing small businesses, I’m astounded that people are so keen to shoot the messenger on this topic.

It’s fashionable to say that “telcos are easy targets”, or read “banks” or “Connex”, etc, etc. But the reason they are discussed in this way and people have these attitudes is built up over long periods from extended associations and real and shared experiences. Perhaps we need another survey, one that would show that it’s not a universal customer trait that they dislike their telcos or banks or public transport companies – it’s a reputation well-earned in Australia.