Australian local phone calls are charged for the connection of the call and not for the time spent talking. Subscriber Trunk Dialling (STD) calls are long distance or interstate calls, charged according to distance and duration of the call, often with a small connection fee. The local call zone covers the Perth metro area, but outlying suburbs may be outside the zone and charged at STD rates.
The choice of phone provider will often involve call rates versus line rental trade off. Expect that a lower monthly line rental comes with higher call rates which is suitable for those making fewer calls. Thus, a higher line rental should provide lower call rates, suitable for those making many calls.
Dial-up : The number of dial-up internet subscribers has decreased significantly over the last 5 years due to improved availability and pricing of broadband. Be aware that accessing the internet on dial up involves a phone call each time you connect. It is best to choose a provider that will supply either a national calling number, charged at local call rates, or local access point, otherwise you will end up making costly STD calls whilst online.
Broadband : Whilst there are still small pockets of the metro area without ADSL broadband access, innovation by Internet Service Providers has seen a steady expansion in Perth broadband availability. Competition between the ISP’s has delivered choice and price benefits for broadband internet users. You can find a local broadband service provider that ‘re-sells’ the national providers network, yet still provides a more competitive service than the national provider itself. Some service providers may offer free connections and/or free ADSL hardware when signing up. When choosing an ISP, be aware of the strings attached to special offers, including long lock-in contract periods and bundling requirements. Cheap deals may often indicate small download quotas and large excess usage fees when you go over the limit. Unless you are going to be a very light internet user, flat rate plans will generally provide a better outcome.