Optus prepaid broadband data robbery

By Joseph Hanlon on 18 August 2008

Whatever happened to charging us for the data we use?

Optus has launched a new prepaid option for its wireless broadband service, but with the unusual proviso that the data used will be charged in 10MB increments.

This means that if you log on and check your email then immediately log off you will have 10MB deducted from your allocation regardless of the fact you will have downloaded significantly less than this amount.

Confusingly, Optus will charge the first 30MB used each day at 10MB against your remaining data allocation. Thereafter all data used is charged in 10MB blocks.

A prepaid option is an excellent idea and will appeal to many people who don't want to be tied into a lengthy contract period for fixed-line or wireless internet usage. However, while Optus uses this billing system it is conceivable that customers could spend all of their pre-purchased data credit while not actually accessing anywhere near that much data.

Prices for the prepaid service start from AU$30 for 2GB of downloads with a 30-day expiry and include a range of plans with AU$100 vouchers being the most expensive. Prepaid broadband vouchers are available through a similar list of vendors you can expect to buy prepaid mobile credit from including Video Ezy, 7-Eleven, Woolworths and Coles.

Optus is selling a prepaid starter pack for AU$199 featuring a USB modem, a SIM card and 2GB of included data. Full pricing is available on the Optus website.

Topics: broadband, optus, prepaid, network, online, wireless, wireless broadband, optu, 10mb, data

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Comments (67)

  • HELP!! commented on 07/10/2009 18:35 Report abuse

    I have the same problem with my dodgy Optus 3G internet dropping out every 5 mins, it is so frustrating, unluckily for me i am locked into a 24 month contract. If i was to contact Optus do u think they would let me leave my contract free of charge?

  • K ster commented on 28/07/2009 22:34 Report abuse

    Easy I've joined up for the 149, if it constantly drops I'll drop it and tell anyone and everyone not to use it i work in an industry that lots people come to for opinions on this sort of thing, i'm with Johnny k it's a calculated risk I've given up 149 so far i feel I'm ahead as service is ok, I'd suggest they are cutting heavy users, with drop outs, but that's just the way my mind works.

  • Mauz commented on 22/07/2009 16:47 Report abuse

    I have been reading everyones comments and i have the same problems. If we have paid for the USB modem and are having these disconnection issues every 5 mins or so, can we return it and try and get a refund. Has anyone tried this?

  • Dionysus commented on 19/07/2009 22:39 Report abuse

    I have got the prepaid optus internet. I thought wat a great idea for my laptop, plug it into the usb and off I go. It worked really well, fast efficient and I could control how much i used. So i even started playing an online game and it worked well.
    And then after about 2-3 months it started lagging, then by the end of june it started just disconnecting for no reason no matter wat i was doing. I can connect it and just let it sit there without opening any pages and it will disconnect after 5 - 10 mins. It is terrible, i tried playing with everything on my computer thinking there may be something wrong but no, there wasn't. So I rang optus, the tech guy said, yes there are some problems, we are trying to find out the sorce, we are not sure when it will be fixed. So i left ot a couple of weeks, then I rang up again and all the guy said was, there is a note on your file saying you rang up, we cant tell you any new information.
    I am over it, as soon as my net serches for a tower my computer lags out, 100% usage... yet 2day I went to my brotheres and used his internet all day happily
    So I will be ringing optus 2moro and if they can not tell me any new information, i will be changing service providers, I suggest anyone else with this problem do the same.
    the most frustrating thing about it all, is I set up email and all that, and now i will have to go through it all again when I change and let everyone know that i have changed etc...
    I am very dissapointed with optus and am contemplating changing my phone to someone else too(I have had my phone through optus with the same number for 9 years)
    not happy at all optus :(

  • Jen commented on 15/07/2009 01:37 Report abuse

    ARE U PPL CRAZY? Its all well and good at the beginning. IT WAS FRIGGIN GREAT! until 3 weeks later.. It went downhill from there. I literally get disconnected every 30 seconds on some nights at least 100 times a night *no exaggeration* and then on probably 2 nights out of the whole month, ill get disconnected 5 times in a night. My area has FULL coverage "supposedly" but wen it gets congested it drops out.. I LITERALLY WENT FROM 1.4GBS TO 300MBS IN ONE NIGHT!!! THAT IS PURE ROBBERY! It is obviously clear that NOBODY knows exactly how optus is calculating this dumb 10mb increment billing crap, and as i type this, i have only 200mb left out of 2.3gbs.. and my stats that i PURPOSELY resetted says ive only used 571mbs.. U guys do the maths, and figure out for youselves to see if it is worth it! Those who love it now, i can gurantee u that u will hate it in another month or so! If im really only getting 600mbs from a $40 recharge... To get what im REALLy entitled to, i need to recharge at least 4 times to get this so called 2.3gbs!!! so im literally paying $160 a month! i can not re-iterate how bad optus is. Im going into a store tomorrow to give them my 2cents and then reconnecting with another provider!

  • Patricia commented on 12/07/2009 16:14 Report abuse

    Optus sux I live on the Redcliffe Peninsula Qld have a strong signal all the time and the drop outs drive me nuts It would cost me a fortune in 10mb increments if I wasn't with Virgin...a general 2 hour session takes 4 hours coz of the drops.

  • Chris commented on 04/07/2009 07:30 Report abuse

    I'm using optus wireless and it's very fast, but drops out CONSTANTLY! I'm in Melbourne suburbs and have to reconnect every 5 or 10 minutes. I'm considering rejecting the service completely.

  • capo commented on 27/06/2009 12:56 Report abuse

    I've had optus prepaid internet for 6 weeks, first 3 were great, now it drops out every 5 minutes at least. Coverage is great here, but it switches from HSDPA connection to WCDMA frequently then drops out when it tries to switch back. I have to click the little connect button every time. It's bloody nnoying.

  • dushkawen commented on 20/06/2009 17:47 Report abuse

    i just got a usb modem pre paid
    the 10mb blocks is not a problem for me if the stuipd thing would stay conected i am a wow player
    so i was after a stable coneection in rockingham wa i have a three phone that i have used with only one bar of signal that works better where i live
    it stays conected for hours
    unlike the 3g optus modem that has disconected 3 time while typeing this i called the the optus tec deparment the most useless bunch of computer want to bees ever
    (msg to optus)
    your call centers are a joke how can you give away jobs overseas
    when so many australians are looking for work

    i am takeing back my modem after i get charged for submiting this
    at 10mg

    dont buy optus products say no to optus

  • Naomi2500 commented on 05/05/2009 17:16 Report abuse

    Could someone please tell which is the best prepaid wireless internet connection to buy. My research so far is saying 3 but wondering if anyone out there has had experience with them and knew of any other reputable companies to go with. I live in Melbourne suburbs.

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