Virgin Broadband (Australia)
Encyclopedia
Virgin Broadband is a wireless broadband service offered in Australia by the telecommunications company Virgin Mobile Australia
.
It is provided over the mobile network of parent company Optus
using HSDPA technology.
The service was launched in 2007, offering a package of 4GB of data at claimed speeds of up to 700Kbit/s, and unlimited phone calls to landlines Australia-wide as well as Virgin Mobile mobiles.
The service uses an Option Globesurfer 7.2 modem, which includes an RJ11 jack for the connection of a regular PSTN landline telephone, an Ethernet
jack for connection of a computer, as well as inbuilt 802.11g WiFi
for wireless access by multiple computers.
Each customer of Virgin Broadband is assigned a landline phone number on which they can receive incoming calls (with callers being charged rates as if they were calling a regular landline number).
Although the modem accesses the internet and places calls through Optus' mobile network, it must still only be used within a zone around the customer's registered address. According to Virgin Broadband, this is because of rules from the Australian Communications and Media Authority
that prevent geographic landline numbers from being assigned to mobile services.
In late 2007, Virgin Mobile changed the Virgin Broadband offer for new customers, halving the data allowance to 2GB as well as comprehensively re-writing their acceptable use policy.
Comments accumulating on customer-review websites through 2008 indicate that Virgin Broadband is failing to deliver on its promises. Users cite repeated drop-outs on the home phone service, poor performance and even complete lack of connection on the internet service, and long delays and conflicting information from the customer support line.
Recently; data transfer speeds and customer service queues have increased in speed:
(Demonstrates ZDNet Australia's Broadband Speed Test which measures the data throughput, and ranks the (Virgin used; OptusNet) network highly.)
Virgin Mobile Australia
Virgin Mobile Australia is a telecommunications company based in Sydney, Australia. They sell through over 3500 retail outlets, including flagship stores in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, as well as via telesales and web-based stores....
.
It is provided over the mobile network of parent company Optus
Optus
SingTel Optus Pty Limited is the second largest telecommunications company in Australia, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Singapore Telecommunications...
using HSDPA technology.
The service was launched in 2007, offering a package of 4GB of data at claimed speeds of up to 700Kbit/s, and unlimited phone calls to landlines Australia-wide as well as Virgin Mobile mobiles.
The service uses an Option Globesurfer 7.2 modem, which includes an RJ11 jack for the connection of a regular PSTN landline telephone, an Ethernet
Ethernet
Ethernet is a family of computer networking technologies for local area networks commercially introduced in 1980. Standardized in IEEE 802.3, Ethernet has largely replaced competing wired LAN technologies....
jack for connection of a computer, as well as inbuilt 802.11g WiFi
WIFI
WIFI is a radio station broadcasting a brokered format. Licensed to Florence, New Jersey, USA, the station is currently operated by Florence Broadcasting Partners, LLC.This station was previously owned by Real Life Broadcasting...
for wireless access by multiple computers.
Each customer of Virgin Broadband is assigned a landline phone number on which they can receive incoming calls (with callers being charged rates as if they were calling a regular landline number).
Although the modem accesses the internet and places calls through Optus' mobile network, it must still only be used within a zone around the customer's registered address. According to Virgin Broadband, this is because of rules from the Australian Communications and Media Authority
Australian Communications and Media Authority
The Australian Communications and Media Authority is an Australian government statutory authority within the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy portfolio...
that prevent geographic landline numbers from being assigned to mobile services.
In late 2007, Virgin Mobile changed the Virgin Broadband offer for new customers, halving the data allowance to 2GB as well as comprehensively re-writing their acceptable use policy.
Customer Perception
In early 2008, technology media reported that Virgin Mobile was having difficulty bringing problems with its parent company's network and its modems under control, and its customer call centres had wait times of 90 minutes or longer.Comments accumulating on customer-review websites through 2008 indicate that Virgin Broadband is failing to deliver on its promises. Users cite repeated drop-outs on the home phone service, poor performance and even complete lack of connection on the internet service, and long delays and conflicting information from the customer support line.
Recently; data transfer speeds and customer service queues have increased in speed:
(Demonstrates ZDNet Australia's Broadband Speed Test which measures the data throughput, and ranks the (Virgin used; OptusNet) network highly.)
External links
- Virgin Broadband
- Virgin Home Broadband Wiki (Whirlpool.net.au)
- VBB Information
- Most Popular Virgin Mobile Plans (BroadbandGuide.com.au/Virgin)