The A-Z of Activ8me’s NBN and ADSL2+ broadband plans for metropolitan and regional users.
Activ8me is a Melbourne-based Internet and phone service provider that began operations by providing satellite broadband services to regional and remote areas in Australia. It now rates amongst the nation’s largest satellite Internet service providers, and works alongside the Australian Government's Indigenous Communications Program with the aim of improving telecommunication services in remote indigenous communities.
Activ8me became an official National Broadband Network (NBN) service provider in 2011, providing NBN Satellite, NBN Fibre, and NBN Fixed Wireless services since. Activ8me also provides ADSL broadband, mobile broadband, fixed landline, satellite phone and Internet phone services.
This business now provides high quality Internet services to rural and metropolitan areas alike.
What broadband plans and bundles does Activ8me offer?
Activ8me provides an array of broadband plans and bundles - so you can pick one according to your intended usage.
NBN Fibre Broadband
NBN Fibre provides much faster speeds than ADSL, and this option gives you speeds of up to 100/40 Mbps, allowing you to stream and download without glitches. You can choose from various monthly data allowance options like 40GB, 100GB, 200GB, 500GB, and 1,000GB. If you opt for 12/1 Mbps or 25/5 Mbps speeds, you can get unlimited plans.
By subscribing to the 12-month plan, you’ll also receive two months free, a 50% discount on selected routers, free standard installation and the ability to change your plan for free once each month.
Here are your NBN plan options laid out simply:
Value Plus - 40GB
Freestyle - 100GB
Family Pack - 200GB
Entertainment - 500GB
Multimedia Max - 1,000GB
Price per month
$39.95
$49.95
$59.95
$69.95
$89.95
Average monthly cost on 12 month plan
$33.29
$41.62
$49.95
$58.29
$74.95
Price per GB
$0.99
$0.49
$0.29
$0.13
$0.08
You can select your speed depending on how fast a connection you’re after. Here’s what you can expect:
12/1 Mbps
Sonic - 25/5 Mbps
Supersonic - 50/20 Mbps
Hypersonic - 100/40 Mbps
Extra per month
Nil
$5
$10
$20
Good for
Browsing, social networking, shopping, sending and receiving emails, online banking
Streaming video, playing online games, download a 4GB movie in 32 minutes
Lag-free video chatting, download a 4GB movie in 15 minutes
Multiple users, multiple devices, download a 4GB movie in 7 minutes
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NBN Fixed Wireless Broadband
This service provides considerably more reliable and much faster connectivity in regional areas than is currently available, with speeds of up to 50Mbps. It requires you to install a small antenna to pick signals transmitted from a wireless tower.
Download speed options include up to 12 Mbps and up to 25 Mbps, and you can choose from monthly data allowances of 40GB, 100GB, 200GB, 500GB, and unlimited. Here’s what you can expect to pay:
Value Plus - 40GB
Freestyle - 100GB
Family Pack - 200GB
Entertainment - 500GB
Multimedia Max - Unlimited
Price per month
$39.95
$49.95
$59.95
$69.95
$89.95
Average monthly cost on 12 month plan
$33.29
$41.62
$49.95
$58.29
$74.95
Price per GB
$0.99
$0.49
$0.29
$0.13
$0.08
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ADSL2+ Broadband
While plans for metro and regional users are the same, regional users pay slightly more.
Ultimate ADSL2+
250 GB Lightweight ADSL2+
100 GB Starter ADSL2+
Data
Unlimited
250 GB (125GB Peak and 125GB Off-Peak)
100 GB (50GB Peak and 50GB Off-Peak)
Speed
up to 20Mbps
up to 20Mbps
up to 20Mbps
Price per month (12 & 24 month contract) - metropolitan users
$79.95
$69.95
$49.95
Price per month (0 month contract) - metropolitan users
$89.95
$79.95
$59.95
Price per month (12 & 24 month contract) - regional users
$109.95
$99.95
$79.95
Price per month (0 month contract) - regional users
$119.95
$109.95
$89.95
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ADSL2+ & Home Phone Bundle
This ADSL and home phone bundle comes with a considerable broadband data allowance, phone line rental and calls to local, national, and mobile numbers. Prices depend on whether you live in a metro or regional area.
Ultimate Bundle
250 GB Bundle
Data
Unlimited
250GB (125 GB Peak and 125GB Off-Peak)
Speed
up to 20Mbps
up to 20Mbps
Line rental
Included
Included
Local and national calls
Free
Free
Calls to Australian mobile numbers
Free
Free
Price per month (12 & 24 month contract) - metropolitan users
$129.95
$99.95
Price per month (no contract) - metropolitan users
$139.95
$109.95
Price per month (12 & 24 month contract) - regional users
$149.95
$109.95
Price per month (no contract) - regional users
$159.95
$119.95
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Opticomm Fibre Broadband
If you live in an OptiComm fibre optic enabled apartment or house in Victoria, you can get an OptiComm fibre broadband connection. Plan details are pretty much in line with what NBN Fibre Broadband connections have to offer.
Business Plans
Businesses in regional and remote areas get various satellite broadband connection options to choose from - depending on your usage. Details are below:
Total data
Peak data
Off-peak data
Cost per month
3GB
2GB
1GB
$49.95
6GB
4GB
2GB
$69.95
9GB
6GB
3GB
$89.95
15GB
10GB
5GB
$139.95
24GB
16GB
8GB
$189.95
30GB
20GB
10GB
$229.95
45GB
30GB
15GB
$329.95
60GB
40GB
20GB
$429.95
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Streaming with Activ8me
Streaming allows you to watch popular TV shows and movies on your TV, tablet or smartphone using an Internet connection. With streaming, you don’t have to wait for the entire content to download; you can start viewing the data before the transmission of the entire data.
For example, you can watch popular TV shows like Homeland, Sons of Anarchy, Sherlock, The Sopranos, Louie, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and more at your own pace, as and when you like. The same applies to popular movies.
There are a number of popular video streaming services in Australia that you can subscribe to, and signing up for these services is rather simple. Subscription options can vary from provider to provider, as this table illustrates:
Price
HD
Chromecast ready?
Airplay ready?
Number of devices in use at once
Netflix
From $8.99
HD and 4K available (certain plans only)
Yes
Yes
Up to four
Quickflix
$9.99
Yes
Yes
Yes
Three
Presto
From $9.99
SD only
Yes
No
Two
Before opting for any service provider, take into account that not all work across all platforms. For example, Quickflix rates highly on this front, given that it works with PCs, Macs, Windows 8, Android, iOS, PS3, PS4, Xbox One and Xbox 360.
Activ8me and NBN
NBN gives Internet users access to much faster speeds and increased reliability when compared to ADSL2+ connections. Know that the NBN network works in five tiers, with each offering a different speed.
While tiers four and five offer considerably faster speeds than comparable ADSL2+ plans, they also cost significantly more. Tiers two and tier three offer faster speeds than ADSL2+ and are also more expensive, too. What you have to decide is how much you’re willing to pay for a faster connection.
Compatible Devices
Not all devices work with all streaming services, and not all devices support all video formats - so it’s best to compare a few service providers before signing up with one. For instance, while Quickflix works with all Apple iOS devices, this is limited to SD streaming and premium content, and Sony Smart TVs only support SD streaming and not its premium content.
Devices you can expect to use with most streaming services are: smart TVs, smartphones, tablets, Blu-ray players, home theatre systems and media players. Common video streaming formats you’ll come by include Real Media, Windows Media, MPEG-4, Flash, and QuickTime.
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Frequently asked questions
How fast is fibre broadband?
With the hypersonic connection, you can download a 4GB HD movie in around seven minutes, and a 350MB TV show in about 24 seconds.
What happens after I sign up?
An Activ8me representative gets in touch with you and arranges for an NBN technician to visit your home and provide the connection. This can take up to 10 business days.
Can I use my own router?
Yes, although you’ll have to check if it’s compatible with the new NBN service.
How can I make payments?
You can set up direct debits using an Australian bank account or credit card.
What contract terms can I choose?
You have the choice between no contract, a 12-month contract, and a 24-month contract.
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