Plugg ADSL pricing comparison
Internet Solutions recently launched its long-awaited consumer ADSL offering under the brand name Plugg.
PLugg comes in three packages: Basic DSL (low-content user), Pro DSL (intermediate user) and Elite DSL (heavy user).
Basic DSL (R33 per month) is a pay-as-you-go option and is suited to low-content users who use mostly email and basic Internet surfing.
Pro DSL, which starts at R85 a month, is a capped Internet account. It includes 1GB of downloads but users can increase their cap from 2GB up to 30GB per month. If users run out of bandwidth then there are top-up options.
Elite DSL (starts at R99 per month) is aimed at the gaming market and power users. The account allows users to customise their cap and buy local-only bandwidth. If users run out of bandwidth there are customisable top-up options.
Criticism
The Plugg offering has been criticised by consumers as being unnecessarily complicated and not competitive on price when compared with other services in the market.
This criticism is partly justified, especially when comparing the Plugg offerings with comparably services in the market for low cost ADSL access.
The new IS Plugg offering however comes into its own when comparing prices for high usage – typically higher than 10 GB per month – something which IS has become known for in the ADSL market.
The following table gives a basic pricing comparison at various monthly usage points.
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ADSL Pricing Comparison
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1 GB 384 ADSL
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| Service | Basic Fee & Line Rental | ADSL Access | Bandwidth Charge | Free Local Bandwidth | Total Cost |
| Nashua Mobile | 124.20 | 139.00 | None | 263.20 | |
| Telkom Do Broadband | 124.20 | 199.00 | 10 GB | 323.20 | |
| Standard ISP | 124.20 | 152.00 | 70.00 | None | 346.20 |
| Plugg Pro | 209.20 | 152.00 | Included | None | 361.20 |
| Plugg Basic | 157.20 | 152.00 | 80.00 | None | 389.20 |
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3 GB 4 Mbps ADSL
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| Telkom Do Broadband | 124.20 | 554.00 | 30 GB | 678.20 | |
| Standard ISP | 124.20 | 413.00 | 199.00 | None | 736.20 |
| Plugg Elite | 223.20 | 413.00 | 104.00 | 1 GB | 740.20 |
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10 GB 4 Mbps ADSL
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| Web Africa | 124.20 | 413.00 | 490.00 | None | 1027.20 |
| Plugg Elite | 223.20 | 413.00 | 468.00 | 1 GB | 1104.20 |
| Standard ISP | 124.20 | 413.00 | 599.00 | None | 1136.20 |
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30 GB 4 Mbps ADSL
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| Plugg Elite | 223.20 | 413.00 | 1508.00 | 1 GB | 2144.20 |
| Standard ISP | 124.20 | 413.00 | 1799.00 | None | 2336.20 |
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Top Up Prices
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| Non-Expiring bandwidth | Standard Bandwidth | Local Only | |||
| Axxess | 70.00 | 59.00 | 10.00 | ||
| Telkom | NA | 64.76 | NA | ||
| Plugg Elite | 80.00 | 60.00 | 20.00 | ||
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