Telstra to launch new home Wi-Fi technology and new entertainment-packed internet bundles

The nation’s love affair with on-demand entertainment has reached new heights, with the home at the heart of the streaming revolution according to new Telstra research .

The research findings show people are regularly taking their TV viewing outside the living room, streaming from the bedroom (60 percent), the kitchen (20 percent), the garden (17 percent) and even the bathroom (12 percent). And more than half of streamers say they now access more on-demand content than broadcast TV.

To cater for the surging popularity of on-demand entertainment in the home, Telstra is introducing new Wi-Fi technology that will push in-home speeds and coverage to new levels, and new home internet bundles that include bonus three month subscriptions to the nation’s leading streaming video services, Netflix, Stan and Presto.

Stuart Bird, Telstra Executive Director Fixed Products and Services, said with video now making up almost two-thirds of the data carried over Telstra’s fixed network, Telstra was focussed on providing customers the best in-home streaming experience.

“To keep customers streaming smoothly, we’re introducing new Wi-Fi technology, starting with the Telstra Gateway Max 2 which will provide faster streaming speeds and a stronger Wi-Fi signal in more areas of the home than any of our previous gateways. This means customers can stream, surf and share with less interruption, in more places, all at the same time,” Mr Bird said.

The arrival of the Gateway Max 2 next month will follow tomorrow’s launch of new home internet bundles.

“Our new bundle range has been designed with entertainment in mind. Customers taking up the new $90 Medium plan and above will receive a Telstra TV as well as three month subscriptions to Netflix, Stan and Presto, giving them access to around 15,000 TV shows and movies to watch at home or out and about on their smartphone screen using Telstra’s national Wi-Fi and mobile networks.

“There’s no ‘one size fits all’ solution for Australian households, so we’ve built a range of new add-ons customers can choose including additional data, calling, entertainment, speed and premium support, to help customers build a plan to suit their personal needs,” Mr Bird added.

Customers signing up to a home internet bundle will also access free Wi-Fi data at more than 500,000 Telstra Air hotspots around the country, and more than 20 million hotspots globally, until 27 March 2017.

Making fixed broadband services fast to connect and worry-free

Telstra also confirmed it would be the first Australian telco to launch an all-in-one hybrid modem early next year, bringing together Telstra’s fixed and mobile networks for a more continuous connection at home.

Mr Bird said the Telstra Frontier Gateway will make waiting to have a fixed broadband service connected a thing of the past for Telstra customers.

“We know waiting to have a fixed broadband service connected can be a hassle. Our upcoming Telstra Frontier modem will draw on the power of our national mobile network to get households up and running while a fixed service is activated.

“Customers moving home, or setting up a new broadband connection will be able to get online quicker than ever. And, if a customer’s fixed broadband service is unavailable, the Frontier will switch over to the mobile network to keep the household connected,” Mr Bird said.

More to love on Telstra TV

In addition to higher quality in-home Wi-Fi, Telstra is also continuing to expand the content library on Telstra TV with the addition of Bloomberg TV, Ted Talks and South-Asian entertainment provider YuppTV,

Consistent with the rise of in-home streaming, Telstra customers have streamed over 26.1 million hours of content through Telstra TV with 6.3 million hours streamed in the last month of winter alone as more Australians opt to stay in-doors with the latest blockbuster movies and TV.

¹ Nationally representative online survey of 1,100 Australians aged 18 and over who stream content, conducted on behalf of Telstra by Pure Profile in August 2016.