TelstraClear launches 'Warp-speed' service

TelstraClear will offer Internet junkies in Wellington and Christchurch a "Warpspeed" 25 megabit per second broadband plan with a 120 gigabyte monthly traffic cap.

The new service is available to customers connected to its cable network in Christchurch from Wednesday and will be launched in Wellington and Kapiti "from mid-year".

The catch is the price - $229.95 a month.

TelstraClear will stagger the release of the service, initially limiting customer numbers to ensure "optimal performance".

Consumer markets head Steve Jackson says Warpspeed is aimed at "serious broadband users" such as gamers and people who download a lot of music and video.

"When we say 25Mbps, we mean it. This is being delivered over TelstraClear's purpose-built cable network, not over old copper lines." The upload speed is 2Mbps.

Prior to the launch of Warpspeed, TelstraClear's top-end plan was LightSpeed, which provides 10Mbps downloads and an 80 gigabyte monthly traffic cap for $139.95 a month.

About 90 per cent of Wellington homes and 65 per cent of homes in Christchurch can connect to TelstraClear's cable network and about 70,000 households have done so. About two-thirds are cable broadband subscribers, with the remainder using the network only for voice calls, dial-up Internet and pay-TV.

- © Fairfax NZ News