OVO slashes 500GB mobile broadband prices
OVO says "who needs the NBN anyway?" with its latest round of price cuts.
OVO has sliced the prices it's charging on its OVO Mobile Broadband plans with an eye to grabbing consumers who don't want to, or can't connect to fixed NBN plans. Its flagship OVOBoom Mobile Broadband XXL 500GB plan has seen a $10 price drop, costing $109.95 per month on rolling contract terms.
If you don't need quite that much data, the OVOBoom Mobile Broadband XL 250GB plan has seen $20 shaved off its asking price, dropping from $99.95 to $79.95 with that same 30 day expiry period. There's a smaller drop for the OVOBoom Mobile Broadband Large plan, which comes with 100GB of data. It's had a $5 price cut, down to a new price point of $64.95 for a 30 day plan.
OVO isn't being subtle in any way about who it's targeting with these plans. "We are a mobile nation," said Nicole McInnes, OVO CMO. "With this plan, we're providing another option for Australian broadband subscribers who don't see the sense of paying for an internet connection that's restricted to a fixed address."
There's also the suggestion that OVO is pushing heavily towards opening up unlimited mobile data plans, although the network it's on is the only one in Australia where the parent carrier doesn't have some form of "unlimited" data plan itself.
"All this is heading toward a near-future of unlimited allowances on mobile data plans. Our 500GB release is another leap forward toward that day," said Ms McInnes.
So is it actually a full NBN replacement?
That's going to depend on your needs and the NBN technology available to you. OVO Mobile's broadband plans operate on the Optus 4G network, and the quality of that connection in your area could be better than your NBN options if you've got a poor copper FTTN connection, or if you're in a fixed wireless or satellite NBN area.
There's also obvious scope for renters who don't want fixed contracts or those who want a more "mobile" broadband service here.
