Optus' new price rise makes it one of the most expensive options for NBN 50

Alex Choros - Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor

Last updated 29 August 2023

Optus has increased prices for its NBN 25 and NBN 50 plans by as much as $6 per month, but only for new customers. Existing Optus customers on an NBN 25 and NBN 50 plan will continue to pay their current rate.

The new pricing means Optus' NBN 25 plan starts at $70 per month, up from $69 per month. NBN 50 plans start at $85 per month, up from $79 per month. This makes it one of the most expensive options for an NBN 50 plan.

NBN 50 plans are the most popular internet option in Australia, according to the ACCC, making up 52% of the market.

The same $6 increases applies to Optus' "Entertainer" NBN 50 plan, which includes a standard Netflix subscription and a WiFi extender. It's now billed at $105 per month, up from $99.

Optus does however have new promos on both plans. Customers will pay $75 per month for the first six months of Optus' standard NBN 50 plan, and $85 per month for the first six months of its Entertainer plan.

Even with the discount, Optus' NBN 50 plans are now among the priciest in the speed tier.

NBN 50 plans start at under $55 per month with promotional offers. Tangerine, for example, charges $54.90 per month for the first six months, and $69.90 per month thereafter. The $75 price point is fairly common for non-discounted plans, however.

Optus' non-discounted price of $85 per month makes it more expensive than Aussie Broadband, and on equal footing with Vodafone. Vodafone does however slash $15 per month of NBN fees for existing mobile customers.

Telstra is currently the only major NBN provider with a more expensive NBN 50 plan than Optus, currently charging $95 per month (but discounted to $90 per month for the first six months).

Optus' main point of difference on its standard NBN 50 plan is 4G backup, a feature which is also offered by Telstra, Vodafone, TPG, and iiNet.

Here's how NBN 50 plans compare:

#1	amaysim	amaysim All Fixed Line nbn® NBN50 All Fixed Line nbn® nbn® 50/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $40/mth off for the first 6 months ($30 NBN Sale + $10 Standard Intro offer), then $85/mth. Ends 04.10.26 $45/mth for first 6 months, then $85/mth Min. cost $45 Go to Site	$45/mth for first 6 months, then $85/mth Min. cost $45	Go to Site
#2	Belong	Belong All Fixed Line nbn® NBN Standard Plus – Unlimited All Fixed Line nbn® nbn® 50/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $36 off for 6 months - $55/mth for first 6 mths, then $91/mth (Offer ends 04.11.26) + Free $80 Mobile SIM $55/mth for first 6 mths, then $91/mth Min. cost $55 Go to Site	$55/mth for first 6 mths, then $91/mth Min. cost $55	Go to Site
#3	Dodo Editor's Pick	Dodo All Fixed Line nbn® Editor's Pick nbn50 Unlimited Plan All Fixed Line nbn® nbn® 50/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Incl. $30/mth discount for 6 months based on the standard price $87.99/mth. Ends 08.12.26. T&Cs apply. $57.99/mth for first 6 mths, then $87.99/mth Min. cost $57.99 Go to Site*	$57.99/mth for first 6 mths, then $87.99/mth Min. cost $57.99	Go to Site
#4	Moose NBN	Moose NBN All Fixed Line nbn® nbn 50/20 Premium All Fixed Line nbn® nbn® 50/18 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $24/mth off for first 6 months - $59.80/mth for 6mths, then $83.80/mth + Get eero 7 modem for only $175 (RRP $249). $59.80/mth for first 6 mths, then $83.80/mth Min. cost $59.80 Link not supplied	$59.80/mth for first 6 mths, then $83.80/mth Min. cost $59.80	Link not supplied
#5	Tangerine Telecom	Tangerine Telecom All Fixed Line nbn® Value Plus NBN 50/20 All Fixed Line nbn® nbn® 50/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $25/mth off for the first 6 mths, $64.90/month for first 6 months, then $89.90/month. $64.90/mth for first 6 mths, then $89.90/mth Min. cost $64.90 Go to Site	$64.90/mth for first 6 mths, then $89.90/mth Min. cost $64.90	Go to Site
#6	Superloop	Superloop All Fixed Line nbn® Extra-value nbn50/20 All Fixed Line nbn® nbn® 50/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Incl. $20/mth off for 6 months! $69/mth for 6 mths, then $89/mth + Bundle & Save $69/mth for first 6 mths, then $89/mth Min. cost $69 Go to Site	$69/mth for first 6 mths, then $89/mth Min. cost $69	Go to Site
#7	TPG	TPG All Fixed Line nbn® nbn50 Unlimited Plan All Fixed Line nbn® nbn® 50/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: $69.99/mth for first 6 months, then $89.99/mth. T&Cs apply. $69.99/mth for first 6 mths, then $89.99/mth Min. cost $69.99 Link not supplied	$69.99/mth for first 6 mths, then $89.99/mth Min. cost $69.99	Link not supplied
#8	iiNet	iiNet All Fixed Line nbn® nbn50 Liimitless All Fixed Line nbn® nbn® 50/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $20/mth off for 6 mths – $69.99/mth for first 6 months, then $89.99/mth. Use code SAVE20FOR6 $69.99/mth + $10 Upfront for first 6 mths, then $89.99/mth Min. cost $79.99 Link not supplied	$69.99/mth + $10 Upfront for first 6 mths, then $89.99/mth Min. cost $79.99	Link not supplied
#9	MATE	MATE All Fixed Line nbn® Ripper nbn 50/20 All Fixed Line nbn® nbn® 49/19 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $20/mth off for first 6 mths, $70/mth for 6 mths, then reverts to $90/mth (code RIPPER20) + Bundle & Save + more! $70/mth for first 6 months, then $90/mth Min. cost $70 Link not supplied	$70/mth for first 6 months, then $90/mth Min. cost $70	Link not supplied
#10	Aussie Broadband	Aussie Broadband All Fixed Line nbn® Value nbn - Unlimited All Fixed Line nbn® nbn® 47/18 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $25 off for the first 6 months. Promo code SPRING25. $95/mth after promo ends 15.11.26 $70/mth for first 6 months, then $95/mth Min. cost $70 Link not supplied	$70/mth for first 6 months, then $95/mth Min. cost $70	Link not supplied
#11	Activ8me Editor's Pick	Activ8me Editor's Pick Sky Muster Plus Premium 50 nbn® Satellite 36 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: 2 months free! New residential customers only who sign up on an eligible plan with an RRP of under $85/mth. T&Cs apply $74/mth Min. cost $74 Go to Site	$74/mth Min. cost $74	Go to Site
#12	Optus	Optus All Fixed Line nbn® Optus Everyday nbn® All Fixed Line nbn® nbn® 50/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: $82/mth for a year, then $97/mth or as notified. New services. Incl intro offer + extra $5/mth off. Min cost $388. Ends 6/10. $82/mth for first 12 months, then $97/mth or as notified Min. cost $82 Link not supplied	$82/mth for first 12 months, then $97/mth or as notified Min. cost $82	Link not supplied
#13	Vodafone	Vodafone All Fixed Line nbn® Essential+ nbn® All Fixed Line nbn® nbn® 50/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Save $10/mth when you bundle with a mobile plan with Vodafone. T&Cs apply. $94/mth Min. cost $94 Link not supplied	$94/mth Min. cost $94	Link not supplied
#14	Telstra	Telstra Essential Internet Only Plan (Fixed Wireless) nbn® Wireless 68/7 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Get 50% off any home nbn plan for 2 months. Add code PROMO at checkout. Ends 05.10.26. T&Cs apply. $99/mth Min. cost $49.50 Link not supplied	$99/mth Min. cost $49.50	Link not supplied

Optus NBN plans are contract-free, but customers must pay out a hardware fee if they leave within the first 36 months. This is equivalent to $8.50 for each month left in the three-year term on a standard NBN 50 plan, or $14.50 per month for an Entertainer plan.

An Optus spokesperson told WhistleOut the telco has seen internet usage surge over the last three years.

"Optus is paying more to supply that NBN service and it is necessary for us to adjust our in-market NBN prices accordingly," said the spokesperson. "This means a price increase of $1 for any new customers on our 25Mbps NBN home internet plan and $6 for any new customers on our 50Mbps NBN home internet plan."

Optus reviews the price of its NBN plans annually.

Alex Choros

Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor | X | Instagram | Threads | LinkedIn

Alex Choros is the Managing Editor of WhistleOut Australia and an award-winning journalist. He's been writing about consumer technology for over a decade and is an expert on the Australian telco sector, to the point where he knows far too many phone and internet plans by heart. In addition to leading the WhistleOut editorial team, Alex is responsible for ruining the office Sonos with his troubled taste in music.

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