Optus 5G Home Broadband Is Bloody Good Value

Optus is finally rolling out 5G home broadband to suburbs that are covered by the network. Prices start at $70 per month – and they come with unlimited data!

If you’re considering this as an NBN alternative, here’s an extra incentive to help get you over the line: if your plan doesn’t receive the speeds promised by Optus, you can instantly break contract without any cancellation fees. Here are the details.

Optus’ 5G home broadband plan is now available in select areas around Australia. Optus is promising faster speeds, improved bandwidth and near real-time connectivity with its next-gen offering. But the crowning jewel is unlimited data – something mobile-based broadband has traditionally struggled to provide.

The plan is being offered on a 24-month contract or month-to-month with a $200 installation fee. The contract plan works out to a total minimum spend of $1680 – but you can currently get the first month free.

Here’s what’s included with each option:

If you decide to break contract, Optus will slug you with a hefty cancellation fee of up to $450. However, there’s a cheeky way to test the service in your area and opt out after one month without paying anything. The caveat is that you need to prove your speeds consistently drop below 50Mbps.

As Optus explains on its website:

If at any time during the term of your 5G Home Broadband plan you’re not satisfied that you are getting download speeds of at least 50Mbps, or you cannot receive a 5G signal, simply report the issue that you are having to us and we will investigate the issue and check if it’s within the terms of our 50Mbps Satisfaction Guarantee (Guarantee). If it is, we will confirm your eligibility to cancel your contract without cancellation fees under this Guarantee.

If a failure with the service does not amount to a major failure, you are entitled to have the failure rectified in a reasonable time. If this is not done you are entitled to cancel the contract for the service and obtain a refund of any unused portion. You are also entitled to be compensated for any other reasonably foreseeable loss or damage from a failure in the service.

(Just be sure to return the supplied Nokia FastMile 5G Gateway modem back to Optus within 30 days – otherwise you’ll need to fork out $330.)

[referenced url=”https://www.lifehacker.com.au/2019/06/the-early-adopters-guide-to-5g/” thumb=”https://www.lifehacker.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2019/06/5g-innit-410×231.jpg” title=”The Early Adopter’s Guide To 5G” excerpt=”You were the first of your friends to migrate from a dumb phone to a smartphone. You were also first to join a 4G plan. You always get the new version of Android before anyone else and buy the latest handset on launch day. You are a tech pioneer – and now, your time has come again.”]

To be eligible for 5G home broadband, you’ll need to live in an area covered by Optus’ next-gen network (well, duh.) You can check your suburb via Optus’ availability checker – simply pop in your address and cross your fingers and toes.

Here’s how the prices compare to Optus’ current crop of 4G wireless broadband options:

[referenced url=”https://www.lifehacker.com.au/2019/08/mobile-broadband-vs-home-wireless-broadband-whats-the-difference/” thumb=”https://www.lifehacker.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2018/01/Netflix-410×231.jpg” title=”Mobile Broadband Vs Home Wireless: Which Has The Best Plans?” excerpt=”Don’t want a wired internet connection or can’t get one?
For far too many Australians, the NBN has failed to deliver on its promise. If you still waiting to be connected, or can’t get decent speeds in your area, there are two main alternatives worth considering: mobile broadband and home wireless broadband.”]

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