Aussie Broadband’s cheap new AI-powered brand, Buddy Telco, signed up only 2131 customers this year as it wades into the internet price war, failing to replicate the success of its flagship brand at lower speeds with a budget offering.

Incoming chief executive Brian Maher, who replaces Phillip Britt on March 1, said Aussie Broadband had “a lot of learning” to do on Buddy Telco – which launched in July – after the company reported a 24 per cent jump in interim net profit to $12.2 million.