FNB free uncapped ADSL rewards: all the details
First National Bank (FNB) recently unveiled a new structure for its rewards programme, which includes up to a 100% discount for an uncapped ADSL product.
Although pricing details for FNB’s new uncapped ADSL accounts were posted on the FNB Connect website on Sunday evening (4 August 2013), the rewards are only set to become active on Thursday, 8 August 2013.
This is according to Farren Roper, head of the FNB Connect Internet service provider (ISP).
“We’re pushing for earlier, but the rewards will be active on the 8th at the latest,” Roper said.
Pricing and ADSL account details
Roper confirmed that the pricing on their website is for a data account only, and excludes the access fees payable to Telkom.
He said that they decided not enter the uncapped ADSL price war as they wanted to ensure that their offering is sustainable. Instead the intention is to reward FNB customers with cheaper (and even free) uncapped ADSL accounts.
FNB also wanted to ensure a good quality of service and for that reason opted to build the product on their own IP Connect (Telkom’s wholesale ADSL product) rather than resell someone else’s existing product.
Roper said that they will limit throughput on BitTorrent and other peer-to-peer (P2P) networks, but other services will remain unshaped. Even services that consume large amounts of bandwidth such as YouTube will be unshaped, Roper said.
| Line Speed | Maximum Discount | Normal Price |
|---|---|---|
| 384Kbps | Free | R99 per month |
| 1Mbps | Free | R199 per month |
| 2Mbps | Free | R299 per month |
| 4Mbps | Free | R399 per month |
| 10Mbps | R500 per month | R899 per month |
According to Roper, FNB Connect has significant purchasing power as the ISP is not only used by clients, but also for self-provisioning.
“For example, FNB Connect provides connectivity for the free Wi-Fi in dotFNB branches,” Roper said.
Due to their open peering policy, FNB also doesn’t pay for international bandwidth to get to YouTube, Roper said.
How the FNB uncapped discounts work
Asked how customers earn the reward levels needed to unlock discounts, Roper said that all the details were available on the Ebucks site. Users can also check their current reward level there.
“August discounts will be based on July behaviour,” Roper said.
In brief, customers earn points for certain behaviour, including doing all their banking electronically and signing up for electronic communications from FNB rather than physical options.
You also earn points depending on how many FNB products you hold, and how much you spend in certain places.
The table below shows the points needed to access the various reward levels, as well as the discounts on FNB’s uncapped ADSL product unlocked at those levels.
It should be noted that level 4 is the maximum uncapped ADSL reward for Gold, Islamic Gold, and Encore Cheque Accounts.
| FNB Uncapped ADSL discounts | Personal cheque | Private banking | ||
| Reward level | Total points needed over 12 months | Discount | Total points in month | Discount |
| 5 | 18,500 | 100% | 18,000 | 100% |
| 4 | 16,000 | 80% * | 16,000 | 85% |
| 3 | 14,000 | 40% | 12,000 | 45% |
| 2 | 10,000 | 20% | > 0 | 20% |
| 1 | 5,000 | 10% | 0 | 10% |
| * Maximum reward level for Gold, Islamic Gold & Encore Cheque Account | ||||
Fair use policy
In addition to shaping torrents and other P2P downloads, FNB does have a fair use policy in place for its uncapped ADSL as well.
Roper said that the policy was not based on any specific amount of usage, but instead focussed on ensuring a good quality service for the majority of customers on their network.
“We don’t anticipate invoking it,” Roper said.
“You are going to get a great experience with us, except if you’re coming to torrent or use P2P.”
Farren Roper
More FNB discounts and uncapped ADSL
FNB uncapped ADSL: pricing and details
FNB uncapped ADSL: 100% discount on the cards
Uncapped ADSL: 80% discount planned
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