An elderly acquaintenance of mine is paying Telstra or their recommended provider $70 per month for a landline, with data at something like $1 per GB.
Sorry I can't be more specific. I haven't seen a bill so am not even sure of these rates.
But they are afraid to use the internet
what is the easiest cheapest way to get a data plan and port their fixed line to an IP phone.
I am relatively sure this is not too difficult, but there must be a provider who is not ripping off old peeps
Moving a Fixed Phone to an Internet Provider
Clickbait on 21/03/2025 - 17:41
Last edited 21/03/2025 - 22:13 by 1 other user
Last edited 21/03/2025 - 22:13 by 1 other user
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Thanks for doing that for me.
They have never had a mobile, and I don't want to be responsible for making the landline connection work.
best ISP??
The service you're looking for is called VOIP (Voice over IP) and many major telcos will offer you both an NBN and VOIP bundle. You do have to pay 2 different charges: the monthly cost of NBN plus the other monthly charge for the VOIP service (or, a Pay-As-You-Go rate which only charges for what you use). Then there might be a cost for the VoIP capable modem router, which you either pay upfront, or it might be free if you stay with the provider for at least 24 months.
Telstra, Superloop and Aussie Broadband are just one of a few options if you want reliable ISP's. (Listed in no particular order)
https://www.superloop.com/internet/home-phone
https://www.aussiebroadband.com.au/help-centre/phone/The advantage of going with an ISP that offers a bundle is that they will ship you a modem router that's already configured to make the VOIP work. They'll provide all the support necessary for that so you don't have to be responsible for making the home phone work. The downside of switching to a different provider is that you cannot (sometimes) re-use your current modem for VOIP — the current router might have it's settings locked so it can't be used for non-Telstra VOIP services.
I just looked on Telstra's website and I think I know what plan they're on, it's most likely the Telstra Starter NBN which is $65/month for 50GB of monthly data with included home phone.
If they are a concession card holder, they should probably livechat Telstra for the $10/month Senior's discount. Otherwise, it appears they are on a fixed line plan with very limited monthly data usage (for NBN standards anyway).
Something to consider is if they actually need NBN in the first place. For extremely light users, who don't have smart appliances at home (e.g a smart TV, a Chromecast / IPTV streaming box or other cloud connected appliances such as Video Doorbells or Robotic vacuums), I would consider putting them on a mobile plan and relying on mobile phone for all communications and web browsing. A 365 Day Prepaid Mobile plan from Voda with 250GB data is only $150 (that's the equivalent of paying $12.50 a month)
Something to consider is if they actually need NBN in the first place. For extremely light users, who don't have smart appliances at home (e.g a smart TV, a Chromecast / IPTV streaming box or other cloud connected appliances such as Video Doorbells or Robotic vacuums), I would consider putting them on a mobile plan and relying on mobile phone for all communications and web browsing. A 365 Day Prepaid Mobile plan from Voda with 250GB data is only $150 (that's the equivalent of paying $12.50 a month)
+1
else Flip WhistleOut nbn 25/8 Unlimited $39/mth for 6mths ($57.90 ongoing) + home phone plan
@tonester: Thanks all
is there a modem/router to plug a SIMinto, and run an IP phone and computer on.
Just found https://occom.com.au/mobile/mobile-broadband/ which has staggering prices if this sort of setup works?@Clickbait: You would be better off just sticking with nbn, those Occom broadband plan does not even include VoIP services.
Someone should shut down Telstra's bank accounts for scamming and taking advantage of the elderly.
Yeah, $65 is quite crazy for 50GB of 12/1 NBN and a home phone. Especially considering mobile plans which achieve effectively the same call inclusions AND better internet speeds with higher limits cost half as much (if even that).
My mum had an NBN VoIP phone service from Telstra for a few years. I think it cost $27 per month, calls included. There was no internet service, just an HFC NTD and a Telstra modem with a phone plugged into it.
I've used Aussie Broadband and Superloop for NBN and home phone. If the person prefer to make a phone call from the landline, they both offer unlimited call to landline and mobile with their $10 plan.
Superloop internet (although better than what Telstra is offering on their $65 plan) will still make it more expensive.
However, I think you could have Superloop as your landline through VoIP only as it says you don't need an NBN service for that on their support page. Although I couldn't find any way to do it on their main website so could be worth a call to them and ask.
If they let you, you could do that to solve the landline and then a cheap SIM for data as someone mentioned above if they insist on a landline service.
However, I think you could have Superloop as your landline through VoIP only as it says you don't need an NBN service
internet required for VOIP, just that one can have different nbn and VOIP providers - Crazytel is a dedicated VOIP-only provider
I was thinking running the VoIP off mobile broadband using a cheap SIM.
You need an internet service to have a VOIP phone. I think Superloop have just poorly worded that option.
You need an internet service to have a VOIP phone
Telstra provide a phone service over the NBN with no internet service. Yes, technically, it's an internet service, but you can't connect anything to it and you don't pay for an internet service.
You could get a basic NBN internet connection that includes a VOIP phone plan and a router with an FX port, then connect their phone to that. You could even connect a portable handset phone to it. Or, assuming they have mobile signal, get them a basic mobile phone on a cheap plan, which would be a far cheaper solution, and have all the benefits of a mobile phone.
You can get a SIP phone designed for elderly, that's accepts a data SIM.
https://www.thetelecomwarehouse.com.au/product/aristel-geniu…You'll still need a data SIM, but that can be a low data SIM as VoiP calls typically don't use much data. So a PAYG data SIM or perhaps a data SIM linked to your mobile phone that uses your data allowance.
You can also get what is effectively a 4G mobile phone inside what looks like a fixed phone externally, with a handset and a dial keypad. There's a few companies that provide them, at about $200 or so. They take a normal sim card and don't need any data. Here's the first one that Google turned up https://opelmobile.com.au/our-products/home-phone/
This is probably the one. It looks like it can hotspot to other devices too.
https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/893050