AGL enters nbn broadband market

AGL has announced it is entering the nbn broadband market as part of its continued evolution into a multi-service retailer operating across energy, data and telecommunications.

The company will offer three unlimited data plans starting at $75 per month, with a $15 discount for customers bundling with energy plans.

The launch builds on AGL’s acquisition of regional telco Southern Phone in 2019, which already has 168,000 active nbn and ADSL customers in regional Australia. But this represents the company’s first foray into telecommunications under the AGL brand.

AGL Chief Customer Officer Christine Corbett said the move reflects AGL’s recognition of the growing convergence of the energy and data sectors.

“It’s becoming more important to meet the needs of our connected customers by providing the essential services of the future,” she said.

“This includes not only the electricity and gas we have been supplying to customers, but also broadband now and more to come in future.”

Corbett added that AGL’s home broadband plans will offer no lock-in contracts or AGL set-up fees, and that the launch will be an important step towards AGL meeting its growth targets.

“[These targets include] increasing total services to 4.5 million by FY24 compared with 4.2 million now, and average services per customer to 1.6, from 1.4 now.”

Meanwhile, AGL has announced plans to build a grid-scale battery system in South Australia that will offer up to 250 MW of backup capacity with a duration of more than four hours.

The new battery system will be deployed in stages on the site of the Torrens Island Power Station. It will be an essential resource for AGL’s transition to renewable energy.

“With more renewable generation than any other state, South Australia has been a leading contributor to Australia’s low-emissions future,” AGL CEO Brett Redman said.

“Wind generation is a major source of energy in South Australia and to ensure its reliability AGL is committed to delivering more firming capacity, last year opening the AGL Barker Inlet Power Station. This battery is another step in the state’s energy transition while at the same time allowing a rapid response to changes in renewable generation when our customers and communities need it.”

AGL has a target of achieving net zero emissions by 2050.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Yuttana Studio