An Introduction to Optus
Optus started life as the Government-owned AUSSAT in 1981, as a satellite company offering military and civilian communication services.
In the 1990s, with moves to deregulate Australian telecommunications, AUSSAT was sold to Optus Communications. As Optus, the company’s first move was to offer long distance calls at cheaper rates than its competitor, Telstra.
In 1998, Optus began offering dial-up Internet services to consumers. In 1999, cable broadband was introduced and is currently known as OptusNet.
Optus is currently a wholly owned subsidiary of the company Singapore Telecommunications.
Internet Services
At the maximum download/upload speed of 20000/512 kbps, Optus offers cable Internet at a download limit of seven gigabytes for $49.99, fifteen gigabytes for $59.99 and thirty gigabytes for $99.99. They also offer ADSL and ADSL2+.
These prices are more expensive than what most other providers offer. However, it should be remembered that these speeds are quite fast, so if you’re not planning on downloading much, but would like what you do download to be provided at fast speeds, Optus will be worth considering. But keep in mind that Optus will begin charging you for data usage immediately after you have gone past this limit. These charges are prohibitively expensive. Some claim that Optus are exploiting unknowledgeable customers, who are unaware of the rate they download data, or the charges they will be faced with.
Also remember that you can bundle your mobile and home phone services with Optus to receive discounts on all three. You can check the Optus website for a full listing of their offered plans.
It’s important to note before going with Optus that these bandwidth limits apply to both downloading AND uploading. The Optus website states the following: “All downstream and upstream data is counted in your Data Usage and this includes such things as browsing web pages, use of your email, all content on the myZOO website, online gaming and streaming radio or video”
What this means is that if you’re looking to send a large file to a friend, this will count toward the total amount of data you are able to use for the month. This is not the case with many ISP’s. Dodo and Telstra BigPond are the only other large providers currently doing so.
Pros and Cons:
Pros:
- Fast speeds
- Reliable customer service
- Can be bundled with home phone and mobile
- Offers ADSL 2+ in selected areas
Cons:
- Relatively expensive
- Uploads counted to data usage
- High penalty rates for exceeding data limit
Conclusion
If you’re willing to pay for high speeds and don’t download or upload a large amount per month, or if you’re looking to bundle your home phone and mobile with them, Optus may be worth considering. However, as always, it’s worth having a look at what the competitors are offering before coming to a fixed decision.
