Cable & Wireless Optus today announced price cuts for its dial-up Internet service and installation discounts for its Optus @Home broadband Internet product.
The price offers make Optus one of the best value Internet service providers in Australia. The price cuts for the dial-up service provide overall savings of up to 13% with monthly access fees down by as much as $10 per month and per hour rates down as much as $2.
A $100 reduction on cable installation will apply to people who wish to subscribe to Optus @Home and take up other Optus cable products or customers who are already connected to the Optus HFC network and wish to become Optus @Home high speed-internet users.
"With over 140,000 customers and cable access to over 300,000 homes, Optus is the ISP to watch," said Donna Lachance, Director of Multimedia, Cable & Wireless Optus. "We are the only leading dial-up ISP offering a 200 hour plan to customers in more than 65 locations across Australia. Our broadband cable Internet product offers the fastest unlimited service with uncapped download speeds that are 100 times faster than a 28.8K modem," she said.
In addition to price cuts, the dial up service includes value added services like Web Mail, free NetNanny, five email addresses, Email/Internet Update, 5Mb of free web space, and the Optus Reward of five hours/$5 off, plus 100 bonus hours on connection.
The cable installation discount is available until the end of May 2000 but overall pricing on Optus @Home will remain flat.
"We stand by our guarantee of no "bill shock" with fixed term contract and month to month contract payment options to suit different usage patterns," said Ms Lachance.
"In addition, the use of the international standard DOCSIS modems guarantee consumers that their Optus @Home modem technology will not become obsolete in the near future.
"Our new pricing means people who want a quality online experience coupled with telephone, television and even mobile internet services need look no further than Optus for value, speed, reliability, scalability and the latest technology."
For media inquiries only:
Melissa Favero
Cable & Wireless Optus
Tel: (02) 9342 5030
Optus Dial-Up Internet Pricing
| Low User Plan* | Low User with Optus Reward* | Mid User Plan | Mid User with Optus Reward* | High User Plan | High User with Optus Reward | |
| Monthly access | $9.95 | $9.95 | $19.95 | $19.95 | $39.95 | $34.95 |
| Included hours per month | 5 | 10 | 20 | 25 | 200 | 200 |
| Effective price per hour | $1.99 | $1.00 | $1.00 | $0.80 | $0.20 | $0.17 |
| Per hour thereafter | Max $2.00 | Max $2.00 | $2.00 | $2.00 | $0.50 | $0.50 |
| Free hours on connection | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
*Optus Reward is available to existing Optus telephony, Mobile and Cable Television residential and small business customers. The customer receives 5 free hours each and every month. Or if the customer is connected to the high user plans they receive a $5 discount off the month fee each and every month.
Optus @Home Installation Discounts
| Plan | One-Off Installation Fee* | Flat Monthly Fee |
| Optus @Home Lightning Fast Plan (12 Month Contract) | Normally $199 Now $99 (if you have either Optus Local Calls or Optus Television) |
$69.95 |
| Optus @Home Warp Speed Monthly Subscription | Normally $398 Now $298 (if you have either Optus Local Calls or Optus Television) |
$59.95 |
*The $100 discount applies if you also subscribe to Optus Local Telephony or Optus Television on or before connecting to Optus @Home. Prices quoted do not include GST. The service will be available in Optus cabled areas in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. For technical and commercial reasons not all homes can be connected to the Optus HFC network.