Optus rolls out unlimited broadband across cable, ADSL2+, NBN

Access to the internet is just one of those things people need these days, not just because it’s important for work and home, but because it keeps us connected, and while it can get expensive, Optus is hoping to simplify bandwidth issues with a plan: unlimited for everything.

From this week until near the beginning of April, Optus will breathe one word when it comes to people keen on getting the most out of their broadband at home, with the word “unlimited” being applied to three of its plans, and it won’t matter which technology you choose to connect with.

Whether you’re fine with sharing the pipe on cable or know you’re going to be on ADSL2+ until the National Broadband Network gets into gear and arrives at your home, Optus will be catering to all of the major connection methods in Australia with an unlimited package, or three to be exact.

The three plans include a bundle for broadband and home phone, broadband and entertainment, and a “big home” bundle, and while all are a little different, they all include unlimited data downloads and uploads.

“Although the majority of our customers choose to bundle one or more services with their internet connection, we know they also want the freedom to use their data in a way that suits their lifestyle,” said Sue Bailey, Vice President of Fixed Products at Optus.

“With Optus, customers now have the choice between bundling unlimited data with either premium entertainment, generous international call inclusions or a tablet to make the most of their home WiFi connection.”

Checking out the plans, the broadband and home phone bundle will offer unlimited local calls, mobile calls, and a little bit of that “unlimited” thing to international calls on top of the data, while the entertainment package ditches the unlimited mobile and international calls, replacing it with the Fetch TV set-top box and its ability to access 30 free movies per month and more than 30 TV channels.

Finally, there’s the “big home” bundle, which includes the Fetch TV box without the extra entertainment pack, and even bundles in a 4G Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 inch model so you can take entertainment on the go.

Pricing for the plans is set to $90 per month, with the plans available on 24 month contracts, though the prices will be switched to $115 per month come April 6.

While the plans look compelling enough, one question was clear to us, and that is:

Does “unlimited” actually mean “unlimited”?

According to a spokesperson we spoke to from the company, yes.

Optus did point out that it still keeps a fair use policy in place for nefarious activities, but that the connection was “truly unlimited” and that it included uploads and downloads.

Something else we checked with Optus on was what would happen if the NBN arrived in your neighbourhood mid-contract: would you be able to switch to the NBN and keep to your contract?

Again, yes, with the Optus rep telling GadgetGuy that “we don’t make them sign a new contract” as it’s all pretty much handled from the backend, making it possible for an Optus ADSL2+ subscriber to keep to the plan and just change the way they connect when they wanted it to happen.

As for when customers of Optus would have the NBN setup in their neighbourhood, that remains something only the government and NBN Co will be able to know, but it’s at least good news for people not keen to be stuck on ADSL2+ for the life of a two year contract.