Optus is increasing prices for customers on older mobile plans

Alex Choros - Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor

Last updated 05 July 2022

Optus customers on older postpaid mobile plans will be hit with a $4 per month price increase from August 8, but benefit from additional data.

Optus wouldn't confirm exactly which customers will be impacted by the change, but it seems to only affect customers who signed up for their plan prior to May 3, 2021. Customers on current Optus postpaid mobile plans will not see an increase.

Customers on Optus' old $39 per month plan will now pay $43 per month, but get 20GB of data. Customers on the $49 per month plan will pay $53 per month, and have their data allowance increased to 80GB. And customers on the $59 per month plan will pay $63 per month for 160GB of data.

This brings the monthly price of these plans almost in line with Optus' current plan range:

#1	Optus	Optus $60 Optus Choice Plus Plan 100GB data Optus 5G in selected areas (exc NT) with a 5G device Deal: $39/mth and 100GB/mth for first 12 months, then 60GB/mth and $60/mth or as notified. New services. Ends 12.11.26. Terms apply. $39.00/mth Min. cost $39 Go to Site	$39.00/mth Min. cost $39	Go to Site
#2	Optus	Optus $69 Optus Promo Plan 360GB data Optus 5G in selected areas (exc NT) with a 5G device Deal: Get up to $10/mth SubHub credit to use on your favourite subscriptions for 12 months. T&Cs apply. $69.00/mth Min. cost $69 Go to Site	$69.00/mth Min. cost $69	Go to Site
#3	Optus	Optus $70 Optus Choice Plus Plan 240GB data Optus 5G in selected areas (exc NT) with a 5G device $70.00/mth Min. cost $70 Go to Site	$70.00/mth Min. cost $70	Go to Site
#4	Optus	Optus $90 Optus Choice Plus Plan 480GB data Optus 5G in selected areas (exc NT) with a 5G device SubHub: Receive up to $20/mth SubHub credit when you have an active SubHub account with subs greater than $0. T&Cs apply $90.00/mth Min. cost $90 Go to Site	$90.00/mth Min. cost $90	Go to Site

For comparison, here's a selection of plans powered by the Optus network with at least 20GB:

#1	SpinTel Editor's Pick	SpinTel Editor's Pick $23 Mobile Plan 25GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Optus 5G in selected areas with 5G devices ex. NT WhistleOut Special: Enjoy $11 off for the first 6 months for new customers - $12/mth for first 6 months, then $23/mth $12.00/mth Min. cost $12 Go to Site	$12.00/mth Min. cost $12	Go to Site
#2	Dodo	Dodo Small Mobile Plan 25GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Optus 5G in selected areas (exc NT) with a 5G device $25.00/mth Min. cost $25 Go to Site	$25.00/mth Min. cost $25	Go to Site
#3	Aussie Broadband	Aussie Broadband Saver 5G SIM Plan 20GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Optus 5G in selected areas with 5G devices ex. NT $30.00/mth Min. cost $30 Link not supplied	$30.00/mth Min. cost $30	Link not supplied
#4	Coles Mobile	Coles Mobile $35 Mobile Plan 45GB data at download speeds up to 100Mbps Optus 5G in selected areas (exc NT) with a 5G device Deal: Only $12 for 45GB (incl. $23 off first renewal). Offer ends 27.10.26 $35.00/mth Min. cost $12 Link not supplied	$35.00/mth Min. cost $12	Link not supplied
#5	Optus	Optus $60 Optus Choice Plus Plan 100GB data Optus 5G in selected areas (exc NT) with a 5G device Deal: $39/mth and 100GB/mth for first 12 months, then 60GB/mth and $60/mth or as notified. New services. Ends 12.11.26. Terms apply. $39.00/mth Min. cost $39 Go to Site	$39.00/mth Min. cost $39	Go to Site

Importantly, customers paying off phones via Optus on impacted plans will also see an increase in their monthly bill. This is because all local telcos now treat handset repayments and plans fees as two separate billing items. While the plans don't have any lock in - you can leave at any time by paying out the remainder of your phone - you can still be subject to price increases on the SIM part of your plan.

An Optus spokesperson attributed the price rise to due to its ongoing investment in its network and inflation.

"Our ongoing investment in expanding and upgrading services, the growing data demands on our network, and increasing costs of goods and services, means we’ve made the difficult decision to increase the price on selected mobile plans," said the spokesperson.

"Optus will continue to strive to deliver extraordinary value, meaningful differentiation and choice for our customers."

Optus says it has contacted all impacted customers directly.

Today's news follows Optus' decision to increase Optus Sport prices. From August 1, Optus Sport will no longer be free for Optus customers, who will instead pay $6.99 per month. Customers who don't have a plan with the telco will see their Optus Sport subscription go from $14.99 per month to $24.99 per month.

Optus isn't the only telco to have increased prices, with Telstra upping the cost of its Upfront mobile plans between $3 and $4 per month, for both new and existing customers. This price rise came into effect on July 1. In addition, Telstra has said it will increase its mobile plan pricing between $2 and $4 per month in July each year, in line with CPI.

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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