Surge in Demand for Bandwidth Drives New Southern Cross Marketing Initiative
Media Statement from Southern Cross Cable Network
Surge in Demand for Bandwidth Drives New Southern Cross Marketing Initiative
To promote the wiring of Australasia to the developed Internet world, Southern Cross Cable Network has reduced its base
prices for trans-Pacific and trans-Tasman bandwidth by 20% in the lead up to the network's service date of 15 November.
From 22 August 2000, the base price for a 15 year 155 Megabit connection between Australasia and the United States has
been reduced from $US 12.9 million to $US 10.4 million. Connections between Hawaii and the US have been reduced from $US
1.4 million and $US 1.12 million, and between Australia and New Zealand from $US 4.1 million to $US 3.28 million. These
prices are for end-to-end, fully protected capacity covered by 15-20 year indefensible rights of use.
A further discount of 18.5% will apply to all capacity purchases resulting from Southern Cross' third Data Gathering
Meeting to be held in Hawaii on 22-25 August.
Announcing the new pricing structure at the ISPCON Australia event in Melbourne, Southern Cross Director Asia Pacific
Market, Ross Pfeffer said the price reductions have been planned for some time and follow the success of pricing
initiatives announced in August 1999, which resulted in capacity sales from Southern Cross' second Data Gathering
Meeting of $US 553 million.
"It has always been our strategy to reward our pre-service customers. The response to our pricing initiative last August
was outstanding, and this combined with an unprecedented increase in demand as November draws closer has put us in a
position where now we can go even further," said Mr Pfeffer.
"It is Southern Cross' objective to maintain pricing that allows our customers to realise their online goals. If
Australasia is to truly become part of the wired world then bandwidth must be affordable enough to satisfy the
increasingly strong demand."
Full Marketing Package to be announced at Hawaii DGM The price reductions are part of Southern Cross' final pre-service
marketing package. The full marketing package will be announced to existing and prospective customers at Southern Cross'
third Data Gathering Meeting in Hawaii later this month.
"The full marketing package includes a number of other initiatives designed to deliver our customers the flexibility of
service they require," said Mr Pfeffer. These include changes to Southern Cross' volume discount structure, with the
company set to lower the point at which volume discounts become effective, delivering significant benefits to customers
both large and small.
"Collectively these changes will enable Southern Cross to take Australasia into a new level of Internet experience,
opening up tremendous opportunities for the region." said Mr Pfeffer.
- ENDS -
Southern Cross Price Summary ($US million)
* End to End
* Fully Protected Capacity
* 15 to 20 Year IRU
* US $ millions
155 Mb
Australasia - US
Old Base Price 12.900
New Base Price 10.320
Surfin' URL Price 8.410
Australia - NZ
Old Base Price 4.100
New Base Price 3.280
Surfin' URL Price 2.670
Hawaii - US
Old Base Price 1.400
New Base Price 1.120
Surfin' URL Price 0.910
45 Mb
Australasia - US
Old Base Price 7.036
New Base Price 5.680
Surfin' URL Price 4.630
Australia - NZ
Old Base Price 2.236
New Base Price 1.800
Surfin' URL Price 1.470
For further information contact:
Philip Clark
Media Contact
Southern Cross Cable Network
Tel +61-401-108-902
philip@svl.co.nz