Internet Service Providers

Connections to the internet, both dial-up and broadband, are offered by companies called internet service providers (ISPs). An ISP is your gateway to the internet. ISPs provide a computer in your locality (called a server) to which you connect using a modem and through which you can access the web; an email address for you – e.g. members@nonprofit.org.au; and a send-and-collect service for your email messages. Many ISPs offer a website hosting service and can provide your organisation with a domain name.

AAPT

AAPT operate their own national voice and data network and are part of the Telecom NZ group with a 4% market share of Australia's total telecommunications market. AAPT provide Australians with great deals for phone, internet and mobile services at home and at work. They offer a range of local and long distance voice, mobile, data and internet solutions for residential, business, government and wholesale customers. AAPT focuses on providing it's customers with cheap land lines and ADSL internet connections often utilising bundles to provide great deals.Read More...

Bigpond

Bigpond is a subsidiary of Telstra, Australia's oldest and leading telecommunications and information services company, with one of the best known brands in the country. Bigpond offer a full range of services and compete in all telecommunications markets throughout Australia, including 6 million 3G services. In October 2006, Telstra launched its $1.1 billion Next G™ wireless broadband network, which is geographically the world's largest national 3GSM network, and delivers unequalled customer reach and speed across the country. The Next G™ network covers 99 per cent of the Australian population. Turbo-charged with High Speed Packet Access (HSPA), the Next G™ network is Australia's fastest national mobile network with peak network downlink speeds of 14.4Mbps and 1.9Mbps uplink. High speed Next G™ services can deliver information to your compatible mobile, PDA or laptop, within seconds. Bigpond provide dial up, ADSL, Cable, Wireless and Satellite internet service connections.

Dodo

Australian owned and operated, Dodo has achieved enormous success in building and establishing a successful telecommunications corporation, providing customers with a full range of products and services. A much smaller company than most of it's competitors, Dodo was also notable for its high number of complaints, almost 6000 disputes recorded over the past year. Nevertheless, that represented a big decline from the almost 20,000 complaints recorded in the previous year. Dodo offers wireless, dial-up and ADSL internet service connections.

iiNet

iiNet Limited is Australia's third-largest ISP. Their focus is primarily on ADSL-based Internet access, using their own ADSL2+ infrastructure, and reselling Telstra ADSL1. iiNet also provides dial-up and voice services. iiNet has acquired many smaller ISPs initially it built a substantial customer base in Western Australia, and then expanded significantly into the eastern states by acquiring ihug and OzEmail. Today it's one of the stars of the broadband market in Australia and is well known because of it's tech forward and often quirky advertising.

Internode

Internode is an internationally connected IP carrier, who their own private network that has high capacity links between Australian capital cities and between Australia, the United States and Japan Internode services a diverse range of customers such as corporate, business and residential users and they deliver an excellent technical service, great value offerings and a high level of support, regardless of their location across Australia. Internode offers wireless, ADSL and ADSL 2+ services and have recently launched their own Naked ADSL 2 offering.

iPrimus

Primus Telecom is one of Australia's leading telecommunications companies. Since opening it's doors in 1997, Primus or iPrimus has been a frontrunner in the telecommunications industry provising lower prices and improving services. As a full service carrier, Primus, offers a comprehensive range of voice, data, Internet and web hosting products to both residential and business customers. Primus operates its own fibre network in the five major Australian cities, delivering a range of business services including ISDN, frame relay, ATM, telephone line and broadband DSL, as well as telephone line and broadband DSL services direct to residential customers.

Netspace

Netspace is an Australian owned and operated ISP that delivers reliable and compelling telecommunications services at competitive prices, Netspace primarily operates in the business and consumer telecommunication markets, providing Broadband, ADSL, ADSL2+, Naked DSL, Midband Ethernet, Wireless and VPN internet access as well as fixed line telephony services.

Optus

Optus is an Australian leader in integrated telecommunications, delivering cutting-edge communications, information technology and entertainment services. In 2001 SingTel became the parent company of Optus, paving the way to become a strong and strategic telecommunications player within the Asia-Pacific region.

People Telecom

People Telecom was started in 2000 by Ryan O'Hare and Colin Marland. It is one of Australia's largest telecommunication service and Internet access providers. Its services include mobile, home and business phone, broadband and dial-up Internet, telephony and some data services. In 2008 People Telecom was bought by M2 however With People Telecom's flexible and efficient communication network; customers can choose communication solutions to suit their every need.

Soul

Soul Converged Communications (ASX: SOT), trading as Soul, is an Australian telecommunications company based in Sydney. In April 2008, Soul merged with Total Peripherals Group at a cost of $AU150M in cash and 230M shares (Approx $AU80M) with Mr David Teoh of TPG becoming the largest shareholder and Executive Chairman of the combined group. SP Telemedia Ltd (Trading as Soul) changed its name to TPG Telecom Ltd. Soul provide internet services and mobile phone services through the TPG now.

Telstra

Telstra are Australia's oldest and leading telecommunications and information services company, with one of the best known brands in the country. Telstra offer a full range of services and compete in all telecommunications markets throughout Australia, providing more than 9 million Australian fixed line and 10 million mobile services, including 6 million 3G services. In October 2006, Telstra launched its $1.1 billion Next G™ wireless broadband network, which is geographically the world's largest national 3GSM network, and delivers unequalled customer reach and speed across the country. Telstra through their subsidiary Bigpond provide dial up, ADSL, Cable, Wireless and Satellite internet service connections.

Three

Hutchison introduced the "Three" network in Australia in 2003, through its majority ownership of Hutchison Telecom Australia Ltd (HTAL). As of June 2009, HTAL now owns 50% of the merged Vodafone Hutchison Australia Pty Ltd, containing both the "Three" and "Vodafone" networks. Three operates a 2100 MHz 3G network in a 50/50 partnership with Telstra (the radio networks are shared, the core networks are separate), covering approximately 56% of Australia's population. The 3G network covers Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, the Gold Coast, Canberra, Geelong, Frankston and Wollongong.

TPG

Total Peripherals Group (commonly known as TPG) is an Australian ISP and IT company. It is a subsidiary of SP Telemedia. Over the past 18 years, TPG claims to have grown to become one of the top 10 Internet Service Providers in Australia, and has recently started to build their own ADSL2+ broadband network around Australia. TPG also sells mobile phone services as a Mobile Virtual Network Operator on the Optus mobile network. TPG provide five ranges of products and services including internet access, networking, OEM services, mobile phone service and accounting software.

Unwired

Unwired is an Australian public company dedicated to building a nationwide, fixed wireless telecommunications network offering carrier grade Internet services. They currently provide coverage in Sydney and Melbourne. The technology used by Unwired is provided by American manufacturer Navini Networks and Venturi Wireless Solutions. Unwired make use of a wireless network using base towers that broadcast a radio wave signal, offering speeds up to 1024Kbit/s. The Unwired network is the only data based network currently providing internet services in Australia. In Australia, wireless internet is provided by phone companies that allocate what is left of bandwidth to Data transport. The Unwired network is not shared with voice making it unique in Australia. Customers can use PCMCIA cards or external modems to connect to the wireless network. Unwired technology is portable, but not mobile - the technology does not operate well while the receiver is in motion. The network operates at 3.5 GHz within a spectrum reserved for use by Unwired only.

Virgin

Virgin Mobile Australia was founded in October, 2000, as a 50/50 partnership between Virgin Mobile UK and Optus. Virgin Mobile were Australia's first Mobile Virtual Network Operator. In this case the arrangement was to use the Optus network infrastructure but with Virgin management of all aspects of the customer experience including branding of products, customer service and billing. Virgin Mobile sell through over 3500 retail outlets, including Allphones and Telechoice, as well as their own retail stores in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. VMA offers pre-paid, monthly and CAP plans for mobile phones. It also has two wireless broadband products: Broadband At Home and Mobile Broadband.

Vodafone

Vodafone Australia is a mobile telephone company, a subsidiary of Vodafone Hutchison Australia. Vodafone Australia was formerly a wholly owned subsidiary of Vodafone Plc (which is based in the UK).On the 10th of June 2009, after ACCC approval, Vodafone Australia merged with the Australian subsidiary of Hutchison 3G (known by its '3' brand) to become Vodafone Hutchison Australia Pty Ltd, owned by Hutchison Telecommunications Australia (a subsidiary of Hutchison Whampoa) and Vodafone Group PLC on a 50-50 basis. Vodafone live! is Vodafone's mobile Internet service.

Westnet

Westnet is a Perth based Australian telecommunications company providing Broadband ADSL, Broadband ADSL2+, Satellite Broadband, Dialup internet, telephony and web-hosting services to homes and businesses across Australia. On May 8, 2008 Western Australian based internet service provider iiNet announced acquisition of Westnet in a deal worth $81 million (AUD). The two companies continue to manage two separate brands and operate separately offerign similar services.