Optus NBN & 5G Home Internet | Review, Plans & Prices

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Optus NBN

Optus is one of the three biggest broadband & mobile providers in Australia, offering mobile phone plans to internet services. Optus Internet offers NBN, 4G & 5G home internet, and mobile broadband plans to help you get connected. In this guide we'll show you what's good about each type of internet offered, as well as plans, prices and how Optus internet stacks up to the competition. Read on for more!

What Types of Internet Does Optus Offer?

Optus has 3 main types of internet services:

  1. Optus NBN
  2. Optus Home Wireless Broadband
  3. Optus Mobile Broadband.

Optus NBN is a fixed line home internet service which offers the fastest speeds via fibre optic cable.

Optus Home Wireless Broadband is similar to NBN at your home except it has no cables (just a power plug) and uses a SIM card to receive 4G or 5G wireless internet from the mobile network to power your home WiFi.

Lastly, Optus Mobile Broadband is a type of internet connection used for tablets, smart watches, wifi dongles, and other web enables mobile devices to allow you to connect your device to the internet while on the go.

Below we explain all three of these internet plans in greater detail, starting with the most important: Optus NBN

Optus NBN Plans

As we all know by now, for the last decade Australia has been rolling out the NBN, a high-speed broadband service that covers the country.

As a result, most companies have phased out older broadband technology such as ADSL. Optus is no exception.

Optus NBN comes in various different flexible plans to suit any household's needs.

With Optus NBN you get:

  • Unlimited data
  • Included Optus Ultra WiFi Modem ($252 if you cancel your service before 36 months)
  • Optus Sport + OS Fitness
  • PAYG phone line or Phone Everyday 10 (+ $10/month)

Here is a look at the Optus NBN plans in greater detail:

Optus NBN Plans
Plan NameTypical Evening SpeedMonthly CostYearly Estimated CostPlan Features + Inclusions
Internet Every Day50 Mbps$69 for 6 months
$79 each month after
$888Unlimited Data

HD Streaming

Optus Sport + OS Fitness

Opus Ultra Wifi Modem

Internet Family Entertainer50 Mbps$89 for 6 months
$99 each month after
$1,128Unlimited Data

HD Streaming

Netflix + Optus Sport + OS Fitness

Opus Ultra Wifi Modem

1 Free WiFi Booster

McAfee WiFi Protection Plan

Internet Every Day - Fast100 Mbps$79 for 6 months
$99 each month after
$1,068Unlimited Data

4K streaming

Optus Sport + OS Fitness

Opus Ultra Wifi Modem

Internet Family Entertainer - Fast100 Mbps$109 for 6 months
$119 each month after
$1368Unlimited Data

4k Streaming

Netflix + Optus Sport + OS Fitness

Opus Ultra Wifi Modem

1 Free WiFi Booster

McAfee WiFi Protection Plan

*Figures are for illustrative purposes only and don’t compare all products, providers, plan features, offers, or rates. Products are compared like-for-like and any distinctions between products are clearly marked. Not all offers may be available in all locations. Any offers or estimated costs compared are for example purposes only. Offers and availability are subject to change. Valid April 2024.

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Optus Modem The Optus Ultra WiFi Modem is included in all Optus NBN plans and comes with 4G backup, improved WiFi, and instant connection. If you stay with Optus NBN for 36 months, your modem is free ($252 if you cancel your NBN plan before 36 months).

Optus NBN vs. Telstra NBN

You may be wondering: How does Optus NBN compare to Telstra?

We took a look at all the plans and made a quick comparison as seen in the table below:

Optus NBN vs. Telstra NBN
Plan Speed: NBN 25 NBN 50 NBN 100 NBN 250
Optus NBN Price No NBN 25 Plan

2 Options:
$888 / year
$1,028 / year

2 Options:
$1,068 / year
$1,368 / year
No NBN 250 Plan
Telstra NBN Price $960/year $1,050/year $1,230 / year $1,590 / year

*Figures are for illustrative purposes only and don’t compare all products, providers, plan features, offers, or rates. Products are compared like-for-like and any distinctions between products are clearly marked. Not all offers may be available in all locations. Any offers or estimated costs compared are for example purposes only. Offers and availability are subject to change. Valid June 2022.

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In this example, we think Optus NBN is the better choice over Telstra NBN.

First off, Optus doesn't have an NBN 25 plan or an NBN 250 plan. They only offer NBN 50 or NBN 100.

With that being said, Optus NBN is cheaper than Testra NBN across the board. With Optus, you also get Optus Sport, and OS Fitness. Not to mention, on some plans, you also get a free Netflix subscription.

Therefore Optus NBN is the clear winner.

Optus NBN Review

Optus is a good choice for someone looking for a middle-of-the-road NBN supplier.

Opus NBN has good connectivity and runs on the Optus-owned and operated network. This means you will have direct access to the full NBN network versus other companies who run off other carriers' networks.

In our Optus NBN review below, we also found that versus other major retailers, Optus NBN was cheaper and offered more for the same speed tier as the competitor.

However, Optus NBN is by no means a budget internet provider. If you are looking for the cheapest possible deal, we recommend searching around a cheap NBN provider like Kogan & Tangerine.

However, as we mentioned above, Optus is a good middle-of-the-road provider with fair prices and a great variety of plans to choose from. It's also a good option for families looking to bundle services such as internet, phone, and streaming TV.

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Optus Home Wireless Broadband

As we mentioned, Optus home wireless broadband is an NBN alternative that allows you to connect devices in your home to the internet through the mobile network.

Unlike NBN, home wireless broadband modems don’t need to be set up by a technician. That's because the only wire they have is a power plug.

This is great because to set up your home wireless broadband you just plug it in and you are done. This makes home wireless broadband a great option for an extra internet connection at home, internet for camping or a second home, etc.

Optus home wireless broadband is on the Optus 4G & 5G mobile network. However, not all locations will have Optus 5G access as it’s still being rolled out across the country.

Here is a look at the 2 types of Optus home wireless broadband plans: 4G & 5G

Optus 4G Home Internet

As its name suggests, Optus 4G home internet connects your home to WiFi via the Optus 4G network.

Optus 4G home wireless broadband can be purchased on a 24-month or a month-to-month contract.

Regardless of the data limit you choose, all plans come with endless data at 1.5Mbps with no excess charges.

Here is a rundown of all the 4G home internet plans from Optus:

Optus 4G Home Wireless Broadband Plans
Plan NameMax SpeedsPlan lengthPrice
4G Internet Unlimited (1)25 MbpsMonth-to-month
(24 months minimum)
$59 / month
4G Internet Unlimited (2)25 MbpsMonth-to-month
(no minimum)
$59 / month

*Figures are for illustrative purposes only and don’t compare all products, providers, plan features, offers, or rates. Products are compared like-for-like and any distinctions between products are clearly marked. Not all offers may be available in all locations. Any offers or estimated costs compared are for example purposes only. Offers and availability are subject to change. Valid April 2024.

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Optus 5G Home Internet

Here are the 5G home internet plans from Optus:

Optus 5G Home Wireless Broadband Plans
Plan NameTypical Evening SpeedInclusionsPrice
5G Internet Everyday83 Mbps
  • HD Streaming
  • 100 Mbps capped speed
  • Optus Sport + OS Fitness
$75 / month
5G Internet Entertainer Superfast210 Mbps
  • 4k Streaming
  • Uncapped Speed
  • Optus Sport + OS Fitness
  • Free Netflix Included
$90 / month

*Figures are for illustrative purposes only and don’t compare all products, providers, plan features, offers, or rates. Products are compared like-for-like and any distinctions between products are clearly marked. Not all offers may be available in all locations. Any offers or estimated costs compared are for example purposes only. Offers and availability are subject to change. Valid April 2024.

Important Information Show Less

The Optus 5G home internet is one of the best on the market, with the more expensive plan being the better option.

For only $10 more a month you will get uncapped download speeds. This is significant because depending on where you live, you could see download speeds exceeding your NBN connection. However, we repeat, this is very dependent on your location.

The only other comparable option to this plan is from Telstra, but they cap your data at 1TB per month.

Both Optus 5G home internet comes with:

  • Unlimited data
  • Included 5G Nokia Modem
  • Optus Sports + OS Fitness

Optus Mobile Broadband - Monthly Data-Only SIM

Mobile broadband walks a fine line between a mobile phone plan and an internet plan. However, we have included it in this article so that you are aware of all of your options.

You can read more about Optus mobile broadband in our Guide to Optus Mobile.

Optus SIM-only mobile broadband plans are a month-to-month mobile broadband service on the Optus network. Optus SIM-only mobile broadband plans are on a no lock-in contract and can be used with any mobile broadband device.

With an Optus SIM-only mobile broadband plan you get:

  • Endless data at 1.5Mbps speed with no excess data charges
  • Data sharing across all eligible Optus plans on one account
  • Optus Sport + Fitness
  • Optional international roaming

Optus Data SIM Plans
Plan Name Small Optus Choice Plus Data Plan Medium Optus Choice Plus Data Plan Large Optus Choice Plus Data Plan Extra Large Optus Choice Plus Data Plan
Data Allowance 5 GB 30 GB 60 GB 100 GB
Cost / Month $15 $25 $45 $160
Max Network Access 4G plus 4G plus 5G 5G

*Figures are for illustrative purposes only and don’t compare all products, providers, plan features, offers, or rates. Products are compared like-for-like and any distinctions between products are clearly marked. Not all offers may be available in all locations. Any offers or estimated costs compared are for example purposes only. Offers and availability are subject to change. Valid June 2022.

Important Information Show Less

Although we wouldn't recommend Optus mobile broadband as a replacement for your home internet, mobile broadband is a great choice for connecting tablets, iPads, hotspots and WiFi dongles to the internet while on the go.

Unlike Optus home wireless broadband where you have a modem that needs to be plugged in, Optus mobile broadband comes on a SIM card that can be used with any compatible device, even a mobile phone.

The main difference between this and a phone plan is that you will only receive data with mobile broadband. In other words, you won't be able to make calls or texts.

Optus SIM-only mobile broadband plans are bring-your-own-device. However, customers can bundle a mobile broadband plan with any of the latest tablets or iPads which can be paid off in 12, 24, or 36 months.

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Optus Internet Outage

There can be many reasons why your Optus Internet is down, such as issues with your router, a power cut, etc. Sometimes, however,  it can be due to an Optus internet outage.

If you think the may be an outage in your area you can check on the Optus website to see if there is a known Optus NBN outage in your neighbourhood. In fact, this map works for both NBN outages and mobile or wireless outages.

Optus Internet Outage Checker

Click on the button above to view the network status. You will have the choice to search for NBN or Mobile network outages.

Simply enter your address and the system will search your area and let you know if the network is down. If you need more assistance, you can always contact Optus NBN support using the phone numbers in the section below.

Is your Optus internet slow?You can check your speed now with an Optus NBN speed test.

Optus Internet Contact Numbers & Optus NBN Tech Support

At some point you may need to contact Optus regarding moving your NBN service to a new home or to receive Optus internet support.

To help you we have created the table below with relevant Optus NBN contact numbers:

Optus Contact Numbers by Query
Department Optus Contact Number Opening Hours
Optus NBN Support Number 133 937 8am - 8pm, 7 days a week
Moving & Disconnections 1300 555 241 Monday to Friday: 8am-7pm
Saturday: 9am-5pm
Optus NBN installations 1300 652 080 Monday to Friday: 8am-7pm
Saturday: 9am-5pm
Reschedule an NBN installation 1300 300 427 Monday to Friday: 8am-7pm
Saturday: 9am-5pm

Don’t want to call Optus? Optus customer service is available 24/7 with their Optus Live Chat, available on their website.

Current Optus customers can also find customer support with the My Optus account management app with 24/7 support, access to exclusive perks, and more, including:

  • Data usage and history
  • Billing, account balance, and payment details
  • WiFi speed test
  • Modem setup
  • Troubleshooting guides