Shaping allows Broadband customers to access the internet at a reduced speed after their download allowance has been exceeded. If you have chosen shaping as your excess option, your upload and download speed will be reduced to 64kbps.
Please note: Layer 3 Bridged Broadband1 internet customers cannot take advantage of the shaping feature, due to the nature of the Layer 3 Broadband service. As a result, all excess downloads will be charged at $6.00 per GB.
Broadband1 Premium, Starter Option 2-3, Everyday Option 1-3, Enterprise Option 1-2, Active Option 1-5, Boost Option 1-5 and Broadband 2+ Pro Option 2-5 Plans
If you exceed your download allowance, your upload and download speed will be shaped to 64kbps. Please note that Westnet Neighbourhood traffic is not affected by shaping and will continue at full speed.
If you are on a plan that has a separate Peak and Off-Peak download allowance and you exceed your limit in a particular usage period, you will only be shaped in that period. For example, if you exceed your Peak download allowance but not your Off-Peak allowance, you will still have full speed access during Off-Peak times.
Broadband1 Lite, Starter Option 1 and Broadband2+ Pro Option 1 Plans
Lite 256kbps/64kbps and Starter Option 1 Plans
The Broadband1 Lite 256kbps/64kbps and Starter Option 1 plans ($19.95 bundled / $24.95 stand-alone) have a combined Peak and Off-Peak download allowance of 100MB. If you exceed your download allowance, any excess downloads will be charged at 10c per MB up to a cap of $30.00 for the month, which is effectively an extra 300 MB over your allocated 100 MB.
This means the most you would ever pay in a month is $49.95 if you are on a bundled plan or $54.95 if you are on a stand-alone plan, and you will be shaped to 64kbps once you have reached your monthly cap.
Pro 1.5Mbps to 20Mbps Option 1 Plan
The Broadband2+ Pro 1.5Mbps to 20Mbps Option 1 plan ($29.95 bundled) has a combined Peak and Off-Peak download allowance of 500MB. If you exceed your download allowance, any excess downloads will be charged at $6.00 per GB up to a cap of $50.00 for the month.
This means the most you would ever pay in a month is $79.95 and you will be shaped to 64kbps once you have reached your monthly cap.
Click here to find out more about Westnet's Broadband1 and Broadband2+ plans.
Broadband1 Lite Plus Plans
Broadband1 Lite Plus plans were made unavailable to new members as of 5 December 2006.
For existing members still on Broadband1 Lite Plus plans due to being in contract, your upload and download speed will be shaped to 64kbps if you exceed your download allowance.
If you are on a plan that has a separate Peak and Off-Peak download allowance and you exceed your limit in a particular usage period, you will only be shaped in that period. For example, if you exceed your Peak download allowance but not your Off-Peak allowance, you will still have full speed access during Off-Peak times.
Changing Your Broadband Excess Option
If you prefer not to be shaped, you can select to pay $6.00 per gigabyte (1000 megabytes) once you exceed your download allowance, which is billed on a per megabyte basis. If you choose this option, you will still have full speed access to the internet.
Please note: The ability to change your Broadband excess option is not available on Broadband1 Lite, Starter Option 1 and Broadband2+ Pro Option 1 plans. Shaping is not available on Business Grade ADSL and SHDSL plans.
You may switch between shaping and $6.00 per gigabyte at any time during the month however the change will not take effect until the 1st of the upcoming month.
To change your excess option on your Broadband plan, please follow these steps:
- Log into the MyAccount service with your Westnet username and password.
- In the Account section, click the Broadband ADSL Excess Options link.
- In the Current Options section, select you preferred excess option.
- From the drop-down menu, select the date that you would like to change to this option.
- Click the Submit button.
If you are continually exceeding your download allowance, you may like to consider changing to a different Broadband plan. Please visit the Broadband website for details on the plans that Westnet offers.
You may also visit the Changing Your Internet Account Plan article for instructions on how to change your internet plan.
Pre-Shaping Notification Emails
Pre-Shaping Notification emails are issued when you have shaping enabled and you are close to exceeding your download allowance for the month. Once your download quota is exceeded, your connection will be shaped.
Most incoming data, including web pages, emails, file downloads, movies and music counts towards your download allowance.
All connections are unshaped on the 1st of every month. Your connection will be temporarily disconnected when you are unshaped and should reconnect automatically. If your connection is still operating at a slower speed, please turn off your Broadband modem for one minute and then turn it back on before attempting to reconnect.
If you are exceeding your download allowance on a regular basis, you should consider upgrading to a different plan. For more information on our Broadband internet plans, please click here.
