Optus Prepaid Broadband now lasts longer

Joseph Hanlon - Editorial Director

Last updated 01 September 2015

Mobile Broadband users can now choose Optus Prepaid options with expiry periods up to 2 years.

The ‘Yes’ telco has added several new plan options to its Mobile Broadband range, each with a different expiry period. A $10 option offers 1GB but for use within just one week, while a $130 option comes with 22GB and can be used over two years (technically 730 days).

Remaining data at the end of the expiry period can be rolled over for use in the next period so long as customers recharge before the expiry date. Optus will roll over up to 50GB, which is great.

This is a novel approach to how Prepaid broadband is structured and it’s good to see that Optus recognises that some customers intend to use their data infrequently. Whether you only use your USB modem on holidays, or for business trips, there are dozens of use cases where long expiry makes sense.

It does beg the question though, why don’t all Prepaid data plans come with long expiry? Why if you pay for 1GB should you only have 10 days to use it? Why not make all Prepaid data plans expire after 730 days?

Interestingly, the $10 option is the most expensive when you look at the plans from a price-per-gigabyte perspective, so if customers are paying a premium, shouldn't they have extra time to use the data?

Of course, Optus isn’t alone in this practice. All Mobile Broadband providers have expiry periods built into plans. And, as we said above, Optus is now one of the most generous in this regard.

Joseph Hanlon

Editorial Director | X | LinkedIn

Joe Hanlon has been immersed in mobile phones, plans and the internet for over a decade, having written for publications like CNET, Techradar, Gizmodo and Lifehacker. He steers the editorial ship and makes sure that we are always serving up the most useful guides and recommendations. If you ever bump into Joe on the street, don't be afraid to ask for a phone recommendation. It's embarrassing how much he enjoys talking about this stuff. He also loves listening to podcasts, so feel free to email Joe with recommendations.

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