Optus have unveiled seven NBN packages starting at $39.99, available from November 21, reaching out to mobile, internet and home phone customers alike in a bid to enter the high speed broadband race ahead of rivals Telstra. The monthly plans start from $39.99 for 40GB of data (20GB peak/off-peak) when bundled with an Optus postpaid mobile plan at $19, and extend right up to $80 standalone broadband plan.
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The plans, bundled and standalone, available later this month in the mainland first release sites.
“The competition to connect communities throughout Australia is heating up” Optus said in a statement today, the second ISP to announced NBN pricing following Internode announcement in July, starting at $59 for 30GB, making the SingTel owned telco option cheaper.
Telstra has yet to reveal its pricing plans, but unlike its rivals are holding off and will reveal all “after we sign a wholesale agreement with NBN Co,” a company spokesperson told SmartHouse.
But it seems Optus has got ahead of itself as it has yet to finalise the terms of a wholesale broadband agreement with NBN Co.
All Optus plans will be available on a month-to-month basis under the existing NBN Co trial agreement, it said today.
The broadband only packages come with huge amounts of data and faster speeds – $59.99 plan (120GB), $69.99 and $79.99 (500GB). All three plans include the basic “Social” speed pack , with the option to upgrade to the “Multimedia” and “Multimedia eXtream” speed packs depending on usage needs.
Optus new plans will include “enriched” content offerings including newly launched IPTV service Optus MeTV with fetch TV, by end of this year.
But users who want combine broadband and home phone can do so on three packages, starting with the $64.94 120GB ‘yes’ Fusion plans.
On the $109 and $129 options come with 500GB and 1000GB data allowance plus unlimited standard calls to fixed lines and mobiles in Australia.
All month-to-month plans come with a free NBN Wi-Fi gateway and no service installation or set-up fees, to help sweeten the deal.
“To ensure a smooth transition to the NBN, Optus will also have specialist installation teams on the ground to connect customers and help make their experience as seamless as possible,” it said.
Packages for SMB’s will to be announced soon.
“The NBN opens up the opportunity for Australians to finally receive real choice for their fixed services,” declared Anthony Shiner, Director, Optus Consumer Fixed.
“As the NBN roll-out progresses, we’ll release a greater range of plans as well as more exciting broadband bundles that combine the latest Optus digital products such as Optus MeTV to help customers stay better connected and entertained.”
But that’s not all.
Optus is also looking to its wholesale business for an NBN boost announcing wholesale NBN aggregation services on an initial trial basis.
As an NBN aggregator, Optus Wholesale will provide ISPs with access to the high speed fibre network, it confirmed.
iseek Communications is the first Optus Wholesale customer to trial the service, and has also worked in partnership with Optus to develop the technical product capabilities.
“Optus Wholesale will also be offering customers a range of value-add services in addition to NBN aggregation as part of a bundled offering starting early next year,” said Vicki Brady, Managing Director, Optus Wholesale and Satellite.
Optus Wholesale’s NBN aggregation service allows a service provider to reduce the number of points of interconnect (POI) to the NBN, a major issue of contention between ISP’s, when NBN strategy was being deviced earlier this year.
