Superloop offering six months of free NBN to low-income households to assist with online learning

Alex Choros - Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor

Last updated 20 April 2020

Superloop is offering free home NBN access to as many as 5,000 low-income families, utilising discounted pricing made available through NBN Co's new $150 million relief measures. As part of these measures, NBN Co is waiving its wholesale charge for NBN 25 plans, where customers have yet to connect to the NBN and have been impacted by the pandemic.

Superloop is the first NBN provider to pass on this measure. In addition to a wholesale charge, NBN plan pricing is also made up of a capacity charge, which covers usage on the network. While NBN Co isn't waiving capacity charges as part of its relief measures, Superloop is absorbing these costs in order to provide a $0 service.

"NBN has supported all [providers] to help households that are struggling and Superloop will further support this important initiative by absorbing all the backhaul, internet access and support costs so disadvantaged families can get a $0 service," said CEO Drew Kelton.

To be eligible for this plan, a customer has to:

Have a school-aged child
Be receiving Jobseeker Payment, or Family Tax Benefit Part A or Part B
Have not yet connected to the NBN, but live in an area where NBN is available

The plan is configured on the NBN 25 speed tier, has unlimited data, and is free from setup fees. The plan will remain free until September 30, after which point it will be billed at $64.95 per month. The plan is contract-free however, so customers can cancel at any time.

To sign-up, customers need to visit a dedicated page on the Superloop website and use the promo code "COVID19".

Aussie Broadband has confirmed that it will also be offering free NBN 25 plans. Managing Director Phil Britt says the company will be working closely with schools to identify families who will benefit from the program. In addition, Britt says Aussie Broadband will match NBN's funding pool for customers struggling as a result of the pandemic.

"We'll be applying relief on a case-by-case basis and we encourage customers in financial difficulty to contact us directly," said Britt.

We expect other telcos will follow suit shortly.

NBN Co's $150 million relief package also includes provisions to temporarily relief fees for low-income families suffering financial hardship, and for small to medium business with under 200 staff.

Alex Choros

Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor | X | Instagram | Threads | LinkedIn

Alex Choros is the Managing Editor of WhistleOut Australia and an award-winning journalist. He's been writing about consumer technology for over a decade and is an expert on the Australian telco sector, to the point where he knows far too many phone and internet plans by heart. In addition to leading the WhistleOut editorial team, Alex is responsible for ruining the office Sonos with his troubled taste in music.

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