The Internet Assistance Program (IAP) helps dial-up users achieve faster and better internet browsing and email service over the Telstra fixed line network. The program is available to residential and small business customers of all internet service providers.
Its aim is to provide dial-up internet users with an internet data speed equivalent to at least 19.2 kilobits per second (kbit/s), known as minimum equivalent throughput.
Test your internet speed on the IAP Self help website.
Download the IAP Self Help paper - Throughput Tester Technical Specification and Calibration (PDF 242 kb).
RTI Recommendation 4.1
Recommendation 4.1 of the Regional Telecommunications Inquiry states:
The benefits of the Internet Assistance Program for users of dial-up internet services should be guaranteed into the future. A licence condition should be placed on Telstra that would require all Australians to be guaranteed dial-up internet speeds, or equivalent throughput, over the Telstra fixed network of at least 19.2 kbit/s. As part of the licence condition, Telstra should be required to report on its compliance with the requirement, and on the data speed performance of its regional network more generally, which should be maintained at least at current levels.
The licence condition commenced on 9 October 2003 and is available on the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy (DBCDE) website at www.dbcde.gov.au.
Telstra reports to the ACMA on a quarterly basis about the IAP. The table below reports the latest statistics.
|
2007 |
2008 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Jun |
Sep |
Dec |
Mar |
Jun | |
|
Online Help Service |
|||||
|
Self-help website hits |
1,529 |
1,568 |
1,545 |
2,816 |
2,227 |
|
IAP 1800 427 457 calls |
2,794 |
1,456 |
821 |
909 |
571 |
|
Total hits and calls (calculated) |
4,323 |
3,024 |
2,366 |
3,725 |
2,798 |
|
IAP website |
|||||
|
Regional usage of the website |
205 |
178 |
151 |
215 |
100 |
|
Metropolitan usage of the website |
392 |
408 |
336 |
462 |
334 |
|
Throughput tests |
|||||
|
Total number of throughput tests |
100 |
93 |
73 |
84 |
65 |
|
Number of customers that achieved greater than 19.2 kbit/s |
76 |
80 |
51 |
72 |
49 |
|
Technical Support Service |
|||||
|
Number of cases referred to technical support service |
137 |
101 |
55 |
49 |
33 |
The ACMA has fact sheets on a range of topics.
Please note: this document is intended as a guide only and should not be relied on as legal advice or regarded as a substitute for legal advice in individual cases.
