Optus has a new NBN plan for gamers

Alex Choros - Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor

Last updated 31 May 2021

Optus today announced the availability of a new specialist NBN plan designed for gamers. Dubbed the Optus Internet Gamer plan, the offering is configured on the NBN 100 speed tier and is bundled with an ASUS DSL-AX5400 WiFi 6 gaming modem.

The ASUS gaming modem is the core difference between the Optus Internet Gamer plan and its typical NBN offerings. In addition to featuring WiFi 6 for next-generation devices, the modem is able to prioritise gaming traffic and bandwidth allocation. It is however missing the 4G backup functionality featured in Optus' standard modem.

In addition to a gaming-focused modem, Optus Internet Gamer plan customers can opt-in for a static IP address and get a six-month trial of Optus Game Path. Game Path is an Optus-made application for Windows 10 that can reduce lag and ping spikes when playing online games. It won't make a difference if you're gaming on a non-Windows device.

Game Path is normally billed at $10 per month, and available as an add-on for all other Optus NBN plans. When asked why Game Path still costs extra on the Internet Gamer plan, a spokesperson provided the following statement:

"Game Path is fantastic software for reducing jitter and lag for PC gamers only, the new ASUS Gaming modem attached with our Optus gaming plan is designed to benefit all gamers regardless of device, including mobile and console as well," said Optus VP for TV, Content, and Product Development Clive Dickens.

"As such, a six month trial of Game Path is available exclusively to gaming plan customers but gamers who aren’t on or don’t use a gaming PC can also benefit from the new plan without Game Path.”

Optus' Internet Gamer plan is billed at $89 per month for your first six months, and $99 per month thereafter. It also attracts a $99 setup fee, and there's a prorated modem fee if you leave within your first 36 months. This is equivalent to $14 multiplied by the number of months left in your three-year term. Optus reports typical evening speeds of 100Mbps on its NBN 100 plans.

For comparison, Optus' standard NBN 100 plan is billed at $85 per month for your first six months and $95 per month thereafter. The $99 connection fee is the same, but the modem fee is equivalent to $7 multiplied by the number of months left in your three-year term.

The Internet Gamer plan is the second speciality NBN plan Optus has introduced this year, following a family-oriented option bundled with a WiFi booster.

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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