Optus today announced new pricing and plans to capture a significant part of Australia's residential DSL market.

Martin Dalgleish, Managing Director, Consumer and Multimedia said today Optus would stimulate broadband demand and capture marketshare.

"Optus is the second largest ISP in Australia and with 133,000 cable broadband customers, we have majority marketshare in the Optus cabled areas of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

"Broadband household penetration in Optus cabled areas is four times greater than in non-Optus areas, reflecting the importance of Optus to broadband competition" he said.

"With numbers like these, we believe we have the winning formula for broadband - a unique mix of value, reliability, speed, innovative pricing and bundling.

"By extending our broadband footprint, we can offer DSL to homes not serviced by our cable, giving more Australians more choice and access to our winning formula. Our strong reputation as an ISP and our already expansive customer base will ensure rapid take up of OptusNet DSL," Mr Dalgleish said.

Optus will offer four DSL plans at different price points to suit all internet users.

All plans include a 512k downstream speed and are offered on a 12-month contract, making them unequalled in the market. Because all plans are 'flat rate', there are no hidden costs and no financial penalty for excess downloads.

The OptusNet DSL Starter 300MB plan for $49.95 a month is sure to be popular with first time users. Other plans are 1GB for $59.95, 12GB for $79.95 and 20GB for $129.95.

"Consumers are the real winners because our plans are clear, simple and innovative."

"We led the broadband market with speed throttling and are leading the market again because all our plans, including low end plans, have a minimum speed of 512k," he said.

"We have rejected the industry norm of starting plans at 256k because that speed does not adequately support the true rich media experience that consumers associate with broadband and with Optus.

"Optus offers unique, personalised content with jump off points to the best of the net. We know customers want to choose and make their own decisions about content - they do not want to be ring fenced or forced to pay for content they don't want," Mr Dalgleish said.

Optus is offering big rewards when customers choose more than one product. Including the residential bundled benefits, the effective cost of the entry-level broadband plan is not much more than a dial up connection.

Mr Dalgleish said demand for the product had been overwhelming with thousands of potential customers on a waiting list.

OptusNet DSL will be available in metropolitan and many regional areas of New South Wales, ACT, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia.

The OptusNet DSL commercial customer trial continues until March and customers joining the trial will receive the new pricing from today.

Those interested in the trial and taking advantage of a $100 end-of-trial credit should call 1800 700 606 or visit OptusNet DSL.

OptusNet DSL pricing plans:

*Unlimited downloads. Speed limiting applies after 12GB.
**Unlimited downloads. Speed limiting applies after 20GB.

OptusNet DSL highlights:

• Flat monthly pricing with no financial penalties for excess downloads
• 512k speed for ALL plans
• 12-month contract for ALL plans
• Residential bundled benefits - up to 100 free local calls, discounts on installation
• Easy self installation
• Plans from only $49.95 a month
• Add $29 per month to your monthly fee and upgrade to the premium speed option of 1500k

For more information:
Melissa Favero
Optus Corporate Affairs
Tel: (02) 9342 5030