Highlights
- Unlimited data on all NBN plans
- Exclusive access to the English Premier League via Optus Sport
- One of the most reliable providers according to the ACCC
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You probably know Optus as a provider of all sorts of things, from mobile plans to home Internet. Optus' credentials back its service up – it's one of the most consistent providers of the NBN, based on reports by the ACCC.
Highlights
Optus has two basic plans on offer, falling into the NBN50 and NBN100 speed tiers.
When you take out a plan with Optus, you can select between two speed tiers. Both plans come with a PAYG home phone line and free access to Optus Sport.
All plans also come with the Optus Ultra WiFi modem, which features automatic 4G backup if the NBN goes down.
Plan | Typical evening speed |
---|---|
Standard (NBN50) Internet Everyday | 44Mbps |
Fast (NBN100) Internet Everyday 100 | 80Mbps |
Although Optus doesn't promise the fastest speeds out there, they do have a great track record of actually delivering what they promise.
According to the October 2020 ACCC broadband performance data, Optus was the top-scoring provider. It delivered 89.3% of its maximum plan speeds during the busy hours of 7pm-11pm, and it has maintained a similarly high score for the past few reports.
This means that, above all else, Optus's broadband connections are fairly reliable and shouldn't dip horribly in speed, even during really busy times of the day.
Optus also technically offers NBN speed packs to selected customers on "eligible plans". You may potentially be able to add on a speed pack to your plan for a faster connection, but you'll need to contact Optus to find out.
Optus's NBN plans come with the Optus Ultra WiFi Modem as a mandatory part of the plan. It's free if you stick with Optus for 36 months, but if you cancel earlier, you'll have to pay $7 for each month less than the 36 that you've been connected.
The modem will automatically switch over to 4G mobile backup if the NBN goes down, so you don't have to go without an Internet connection.
If you're transferring to Optus from another NBN plan, simply connect the modem according to the included instructions or pay Optus $140 for a professional modem installation. If you've never been on the NBN before, a technician may need to visit your house to finalise the connection, though this is free and doesn't require anything from you.
Whether Optus is the best choice for you depends on what you're looking for in an Internet plan. However, while Optus isn't the cheapest option, they are a provider with a solid reputation and reliable service, according to the industry authority ACCC.
Optus also has several entertainment extras, which are great if they interest you. Here are the main features of its NBN plans:
All plans come with a free subscription to Optus Sport. Optus Sport gives you exclusive access to the English Premier League, so it's a great resource for anyone who's a big fan of football.
Get a home phone line with PAYG calls for free on any plan. Alternatively, pay an additional $10 per month for the Phone Everyday upgrade, which offers you unlimited standard and mobile calls in Australia. A further $10 gets you international calls to 25 countries (mobiles in 7).
The Optus Ultra WiFi Modem is automatically included with your plan. You'll have to pay $7 for each month less than 36 you stayed with Optus when cancelling, but otherwise it's free. 4G mobile backup kicks in if the NBN goes down.
Below is a quick summary of what you can get with Optus' NBN plans:
Feature | |
---|---|
Unlimited data plans | ![]() |
Cheaper data-capped plans | ![]() |
Home phone line/call packs | ![]() |
Entertainment add-ons | ![]() |
Compulsory modem purchase | ![]() |
NBN speeds available | NBN50, NBN100 |
Contract choices | Month to month |
We've lined up Optus's NBN50 plan against similar plans from other providers so you can see how it compares.
Provider | Typical evening speed | Price | Extra features |
---|---|---|---|
Optus | 44.0Mbps | $75 per month + $99 connection fee | 4G mobile backup, Optus Sport, home phone with PAYG calls |
TPG | 46.0Mbps | $69.99 per month + $99.95 set-up fee ($0 on 18 month contract) | PAYG home phone |
Telstra | 44.0Mbps | $90 per month + $99 connection fee (if you don't sign up online) | 4G mobile backup, Telstra Plus, Telstra Air WiFi, home phone line with free Australian calls |
From this table, Optus does just fine on price, coming in a little more expensive than TPG, but much cheaper than Telstra. It does have a slower typical evening speed than other providers, but this comes with a reliable reputation that your connection will perform well even during busy periods.
Optus also does great on the feature front, offering a bunch of extras with its plan that smaller providers like TPG are lacking. It's still not as feature packed as Telstra, but then, you are paying less. You won't find many providers with more entertainment options than Optus.
You can check in and manage your account on Optus's website using the My Account feature. Alternatively, hop on the comprehensive My Optus app, which lets you run speed tests, update your account details and message Optus directly for live chat support.
Optus has a live chat feature you can use to get fast replies, or you can call them 8am-8pm on weekdays and 9am-5pm on weekends.
Ring up Optus's technical support line 8am-8pm, seven days a week or go onto the My Optus mobile app to submit a request for tech support.
Optus is one of only a few providers to still have an online forum, the Yes Crowd, where users can post problems or questions and get help from the community and Optus staff.
According to a report from the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman for 2018-2019, Optus has been holding steady in terms of complaint volume, with about 24% of all complaints in that period levelled against them.
This isn't terrible, considering that only a quarter of these complaints were about Optus's NBN connections (nearly half were about mobile services). You can see how Optus's complaints volume has fluctuated over the past few years in the graph below:
Image from TIO Annual Report 2018-2019, p.45
Optus is a major provider, so this number of complaints isn't necessarily unexpected. At the very least, it offers quite a few avenues for you to contact the company if you need to.
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Sam Baran is a writer for Finder, covering topics across the tech, telco and utilities sectors. They enjoy decrypting technical jargon and helping people compare complex products easily. When they aren't writing, you'll find Sam's head buried in a book or working on their latest short story. Sam has a Bachelor of Advanced Science from the University of Sydney.
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G’Day,
Am I able to watch the V8 Supercars, Sky F1 coverage and Australian A League?
I do this on Foxtel at the moment.
Thanks
Hello Danny,
Thank you for your inquiry.
The channels/shows you have mentioned are not available in Optus Fetch TV, which would be your subscription service under Optus NBN Plans. You can read more about Optus and Fetch. Check how your subscription would be affected with the changes.
Optus TV featuring Foxtel services are available in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane or are within cable or HFC-cable enabled area, you may confirm with Optus directly if they offer these in there.
Hope this helps.
Cheers,
Jonathan
Do you have pensioner concessions
Hi Clem,
Thanks for your enquiry.
The pensioner discount depends on the plan you’re on as some plans are ineligible for the discount. With this in mind, we can’t provide you a specific answer. It would be best to contact Optus directly.
For other options, you may refer to our list of broadband plans. Compare and select the right plan for you. Get in touch with your chosen provider and you can then ask them about available senior concessions.
I hope this helps. Should you have further questions, please do not hesitate to reach out again.
Have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Danielle