Stuck waiting for the NBN? Is an unreliable FTTN connection letting you down? You don’t need to settle for a crappy connection. You’ve got other options.
Mobile broadband plans are now at the point where they can genuinely replace a fixed-line internet connection, and not just for those that barely touch their allowance. Optus has mobile broadband plans with as much as 500GB. Chris has actually been trying one of these for the last month or so, and reckons its pretty incredible.
So, if you’re still waiting – for the rollout, or that download to hurry up and finish – ditch the NBN or avoid it entirely with these high inclusion mobile broadband plans.
Mobile broadband plans with at least 200GB of data
These new Optus home mobile broadband plans are unique in that they’re tailor-made to replace your fixed internet connection. You’ll get full 4G speeds (typically between 20Mbps and 100Mbps depending on coverage) and data allowances comparable to a fixed line service.
The modem is free if you sign a 24-month contract and is more robust than a 4G hotspot – it even has Ethernet ports – but it needs to be plugged into the wall. If you’d prefer not to pay a contract, you can however go month-to-month and simply pay $192 upfront for your modem.
The reality is you’re probably better off going on a contract – and avoiding the up front cost – because if you cancel, you only pay the remaining hardware amount. For example, if you stay connected for 12 months, your break fee is 12/24 (or half) of the $192 modem fee. A good way to save a little bit each month.
These plans are perfect if you’re still stuck waiting for the NBN.
Mobile broadband plans with at least 80GB
If you’re looking for a more traditional mobile broadband plan that you can use at home or on-the-go, you’ve got plenty of choices. Many of these plans now come with around 100GB.
Just make sure you can make do with this kind of allowance – especially if you’re planning on replacing your existing fixed-line connection. Excess data on these plans is typically billed at $10 per gigabyte, so going over your limit could lead to a pretty hefty bill.
In terms of data-per-dollar, Optus is the best option with 200GB for $60 per month on a 12-month contract. This is similar to the home mobile broadband plans from above, but there are differences. The biggest is that this plan is SIM-only and can be used with whatever device you’d like, whereas the home mobile broadband plan requires a specific Optus-supplied modem.
If your Optus coverage isn’t great, you could opt for Vodafone’s $60 per month 90GB mobile broadband plan, or Telstra’s $89 per month 90GB plan. Both these plans are sold on 12-month contracts.
If you’d prefer a month-to-month option, Jeenee Mobile – powered by the Optus network – will do 100GB for $65 per month with an initial $12.37 setup fee.
In many cases, these mobile broadband plans will require you to bring your own 4G modem. If you don’t have one on hand and don’t want to buy one, you can always use an old smartphone or tablet as a hotspot.
Mobile broadband plans with at least 50GB
50GB probably isn’t enough to replace your home internet connection, but these plans could make an excellent stop gap if you’re moving to a new house and have to wait for a new connection. Or even if you’re going on a holiday where you won’t have reliable Wi-Fi access.
Dodo currently has the cheapest plan in this ballpark, offering 50GB for $40 per month. You will however need to sign a 12-month contract to get this deal.
If you don’t want to be locked in, Spintel, Jeenee Mobile, and OVO will all do 50GB for around 50GB per month on a month-to-month or prepaid basis.
