Mobile broadband is a crucial aspect of life for anyone spending time away from reliable internet connections. If you’ve ever been in an area with no WiFi or ethernet connections, you know the value of having a mobile broadband plan. This article covers all aspects of Optus’ mobile broadband plans, their features, and any other bundles available with the provider. Join us to learn all there is to know about mobile broadband with Optus.
First, let’s clarify what mobile broadband is and how it works.
What’s In This Guide?
What is Mobile Broadband?
Early personal computers had features like an ethernet port to connect them to the internet. Since the development of wireless internet, it’s significantly simpler to connect multiple devices simultaneously and maintain internet connections in more places. Offices, homes, and many cafes have WiFi available for connection.
However, it’s not realistic to be connected to the internet through wireless all the time. This is where mobile broadband comes in. Mobile broadband uses 4G and 5G phone networks instead of wireless internet to get online. If you have a phone signal, you can get online with mobile broadband and connect through a WiFi dongle or pocket WiFi modem to browse the web.
So, what does Optus have to do with mobile broadband?
What is Optus?
Optus is a trusted broadband provider across Australia that provides internet services for fixed wireless, WiFi, and mobile broadband plans at a range of price points. Optus is one of the biggest internet service providers in Australia, competing mostly with Telstra’s mobile broadband plans. Customer satisfaction is paramount at Optus, and they offer various bundles and extras to improve their service.
Optus provides mobile plans and internet plans combined to create a better option for customers who want internet connectivity on the go. The company also offers free trials to various streaming services to sweeten the deal for new customers. Let’s review the range of mobile broadband plans available at Optus.
Get great value internet with unlimited data and modem incl. on select plans
Plus get a Netflix Standard subscription (RRP $16.99) on select nbn® & 5G internet plans. T&Cs apply.
What Mobile Broadband Plans Does Optus Offer?
Optus has a broad range of different mobile broadband plans available that make it simple for customers to get online without draining their device’s battery power generating a hotspot, or searching for places with WiFi networks available. Here’s a more detailed overview of Optus’ various mobile broadband plans.
Mobile Broadband Modem
A pocket WiFi modem is one of the most popular ways to get broadband on the go. Pocket WiFi modems bring 5G speeds and can provide service to a total of thirty-two devices. With a WiFi dongle or similar pocket WiFi device, users can connect laptops, phones, and tablets, provided there is a phone signal.
Mobile broadband plans are perfect if your work life requires lots of travel or you want to be able to stay in touch whilst on the road. Equally, the best part of a WiFi dongle is the level of portability it has. Optus’ design, the ZTE MU5001 5G Modem, fits easily into a pocket or backpack, making it ideal for staying connected when you’re far from regular WiFi networks.
Data SIM Plan
The data SIM plan approach to a mobile broadband plan is a flexible way to get online through a device as small as a SIM card. In the same way you would use your SIM card in your phone to access the internet, you can insert the SIM into your devices like tablets and laptops to use 4G or 5G network plans. Be sure to check that any devices you want to sync to the data network are SIM-compatible to avoid disappointment.
Optus offers a range of mobile network plans on their SIMs, making it easy to find one with an appropriate data allowance for your needs. There is a range of network plans and pocket WiFi plans available at Optus, some of which have excellent extras and bundles that feature unlimited data as standard. So, how do you make the choice between the two?
Choosing Between Mobile Broadband and Data SIM Plans
The best way to decide which plan is best for you is by assessing your needs. If you want a single device to have internet access without needing to rely on WiFi, the Data SIM is right for you. Using 5G and a generous data allowance on a mobile broadband SIM card, you can keep your mobile phone or tablet online without using a dongle.
However, you need a WiFi dongle if you plan to connect several devices to the internet simultaneously. Portable modems like Optus’ pocket WiFi device are perfect for staying online when you’re far from home. An internet dongle is a relatively inexpensive way to get online anywhere in Australia where you can get a phone signal.
When you know which pocket WiFi choice is the one you want, it’s time to think about price, add-ons, and making the right purchase.
How Much Does Mobile Broadband From Optus Cost?
The data SIM plan is more expensive than the WiFi dongles, but it has the benefit of offering no excess data charges. The Optus Choice Plus Data Plan is currently very affordable with no lock-in contracts. Optus’ data SIM supports data sharing across Optus Choice Plus plans on a shared account. Customers using the data SIM plan can also enable international roaming. This applies to over 100 zone 1 destinations and provides 5GB of data daily.
FeaturedOptus offers pocket WiFi plans with two main portable modems. The Nighthawk M6 and the MU5001 5G are modems that both act as WiFi dongles, allowing you to get online from anywhere with a mobile signal. Netgear’s Nighthawk M6 enables 5G speeds, making it ideal for families and field professionals alike to access the web. It also features an ethernet port, letting users bring 5G speeds to their devices with a simple plugin.
The MU5001 5G modem has similarly appealing features, including a 2.4-inch colour touchscreen that makes it a breeze to operate. Each WiFi dongle also uses WiFi 6 to increase speed and bandwidth by almost 200% compared to WiFi 5. The current plan prices for these types of pocket WiFi vary, with the MU5001 5G the cheapest and the Nighthawk M6 the priciest.
What Bundles Does Optus Offer?
One of the biggest benefits of using Optus’ data SIM plan is the provider’s SubHub. You can manage a huge range of entertainment subscriptions from the SubHub and keep the payments together too. Bundling three or more subscriptions from eligible providers can also get you 10% off your overall bill.
Optus SubHub users can also get six months of free Amazon Prime, whether they already have an account or not. Optus also allows its users to trial several premium streaming services like Netflix, Paramount Plus, and YouTub Premium. These features are perfect if you want the convenience of portable internet without losing the luxuries associated with home WiFi.
Finally, the Optus Sport feature keeps you in the loop with every match, whether you watch live or on-demand to suit your schedule. Sports fanatics don’t have to feel left out of the action when they’re on the road, and switching up a fantasy team is easy to do wherever you are on your journey.
Is Mobile Broadband Right for You?
There are many reasons to use mobile broadband plans like those offered by Optus. Let’s review some common reasons to help you decide if it’s right for you.
Frequent Movers
If your personal or professional life requires lots of moving around, you might prefer mobile broadband plans to fixed-position WiFi. The flexibility and portability of pocket WiFi are perfect for anyone who frequently works on trains, planes, and in different cities and towns. If that sounds like you, consider switching to mobile plans – you could save money and get high-speed broadband as a result.
Hikers and Travellers
If you like to see the epic trails and hikes that Australia has to offer, having a pocket WiFi modem can keep you safe and connected while you’re ‘off the grid’. Anywhere where you can access a mobile network and signal, you can use a USB modem or a data SIM plan to get online.
Not only is this a great way to share photos and videos of your experiences without having to get to the next town with WiFi available, but it’s also an excellent safety net. The unlimited data offered on these plans lets you get in touch with family and friends, update them on your travel plans, and find your way with digital maps if you find yourself lost.
Roadtrippers
In Australia, even a short road trip will take a good while. A USB modem like pocket WiFi or a data SIM can keep you and your mates all online without having to make stops at every cyber cafe on your route.
With pocket WiFi at hand, you can check out the latest traffic updates and stream music, podcasts, or movies for passengers, all at fast 5G speeds. If you know you’re entering a signal dead zone, you can download your must-haves on the go without pausing the trip.
Is Mobile Broadband with Optus Worth It?
We believe a pocket WiFi like those available from Optus is worth it for the customer. The reasonable prices and the exceptional speeds and capabilities of 5G and WiFi 6 devices are hard to beat. When you need a connection but finding WiFi is unrealistic, mobile connections are essential.
The Optus app is easy to navigate and use, making it simple even for technophobes to keep track of their data usage. When you’re working remotely whilst travelling, the features included in the data SIM and portable modems are perfect for keeping on track with deadlines.
The extra benefits, like no excess data charges and various subscription trials to popular streaming sites, are another reason to love this type of portable internet. Visit our broadband guide page to learn more about Optus broadband.
Optus Mobile Broadband FAQs
Please review our responses to some of the most common questions about mobile broadband below.
Mobile broadband and wireless broadband are more like different versions of the same thing. They use mobile networks like 4G and 5G to get your devices online, but they operate differently. Mobile broadband uses portable modems to get online. However, wireless broadband is fixed to a single location, making it ideal for a home or office base.
You can use a WiFi dongle, also called pocket WiFi, to get mobile broadband running. Some devices are designed with built-in mobile support, while others require a USB modem to access WiFi. It’s crucial to ensure your devices are compatible with pocket WiFi modems, otherwise they won’t connect when you’re away from a WiFi network.
You’ll need a router for mobile broadband if you use a dongle like the pocket WiFi plans discussed in this article. However, data SIM plans don’t require routers to work. The router you need for mobile broadband differs from a fixed wireless router. They’re smaller and lighter, with dimensions that make them suitably portable. It’s called ‘pocket WiFi’ for a reason; the dongle is small enough to be packed into a bag easily.
You can connect your TV to mobile broadband if it’s a compatible model. Suitable TV models can connect to WiFi and mobile hotspots as easily as any other device. You’re unlikely to get a TV with a SIM port that can accept a mobile broadband plan that operates through a SIM. However, a USB modem can work with the right TV seamlessly. The effectiveness and speed of your mobile broadband streaming capabilities depend mostly on the strength of your signal.
