Optus Product Usage Guides
This guide is to help you determine which Post Paid Mobile Service may best suit your needs. Please note this is a guide only and you should read the full details and terms and conditions of any plan you are considering to purchase.
Voice Usage
The below calculations are based on 2 minute standard national calls to any mobile within Australia, on a postpaid mobile plan which has an amount of included voice minutes.
| How many 2 minute calls do you make to any Australian mobile within Australia? | How many Voice minutes do I need in a plan |
| One call every couple of days | At least 30 minutes per month |
| One call every day | At least 60 minutes per month |
| 2 to 5 calls every day | Between 120 and 300 minutes per month |
| 6 to 10 calls every day | Between 360 and 600 minutes per month |
Data Usage
The tables below provide a guide to how much data you may need, depending on what you do on your mobile service. You should also keep in mind how you've previously used data services.
Web Page Browsing and/or Accessing Email (Without Attachments)
Please note that web page browsing will vary depending on the web page you visit. More text and/or pictures on a page means more data is being used to view that page. Email size will change depending on the amount of content or attachments in the email.
| How often would you do this? | Data Estimation |
| Once every few days at most | About 50MB |
| Every day, but only a few web pages or email | About 50MB |
| I spend a lot of the time on the web each day | About 100MB |
Downloading Apps
Before downloading applications you should always check the size of the app to make sure you don't exceed your included data limit.
| How often would you download apps? | Data Estimation |
| Less than 5 per month | About 100MB |
| 5-15 per month | About 300MB |
| More than 15 per month (though will depend on total number of apps) | About 400MB |
Video Clips
Before viewing video clips you should always check the size of the clip to make sure you don't exceed your included data limit. The longer the video clip, the larger it will be in size.
| How often would you view video clips? | Data Estimation |
| Once every week at most | About 100MB |
| Once every few days | About 200MB |
| A couple of clips each day | About 1GB |
| A lot of online video | About 2GB |
This guide may help you determine which Prepaid Mobile Service may best suit your needs. The great thing about a Prepaid Mobile service is that you can enjoy life free from being locked into a contract and with the flexibility to get what you want at a price you can afford.
Voice and SMS Usage
To determine your needs for voice calls and SMS you could start by considering how you use your service.
| How I use or will use my Prepaid Mobile Phone | You could look for: |
| I make a lot of calls to friends and family and send a lot of texts. |
A plan with unlimited standard national call and texts, like $30+ recharges on My Prepaid Ultimate or My Prepaid Daily Plus where $2 gets you unlimited standard national calls and texts until 11:59pm local time that day. |
| I only make a few short calls a week (each 2 minutes or less) | A plan with included MyCredit to be used on standard national voice calls to any Australian mobile, like My Prepaid Long Expiry. |
| I make a lot of international calls |
A plan with included Extras Credit for standard international voice calls, like My Prepaid Ultimate $30+ recharges. |
| I only send a text every now and then. | A plan with included MyCredit to be used on standard national SMS/MMS to any Australian mobile, like and Long Expiry. |
Optus Mobile Fair GoTM Policy applies to all Prepaid plans. All of the above plans and inclusions are for use in Australia.
Data Usage
The tables below provide a guide to how much data you may need, depending on what you do on your mobile service, based on a 28 day recharge. You should also keep in mind how you've previously used data services.
Web Page Browsing and/or Accessing Email (Without Attachments)
Please note that web page browsing will vary depending on the web page you visit. More text, pictures and/or embedded videos in a page means more data is being used to view that page. In order to use less data, you should set Autoplay to off, for websites that you visit that play embedded video clips or embedded video advertising. Email size will change depending on the amount of content or attachments in the email.
| How often would you do this? | Data Estimation |
| Once every few days at most | About 150MB |
| Every day, but only a few web pages or email | About 600MB |
| I spend a lot of the time on the web each day | About 2GB |
Downloading Apps
Before downloading applications you should always check the size and type of app to make sure you don't exceed your included data limit. Also make sure that your apps update only on WiFi or at least prompt you for update authorisation, so you can manage your data usage.
| How often would you download apps (not games)? | Data Estimation |
| Less than 5 per month | About 100MB |
| 5-15 per month | About 300MB |
| More than 15 per month (though will depend on total number of apps) | About 400MB |
| How often would you download games or similar apps? | Data Estimation |
| Less than 5 per month | About 200MB |
| 5-15 per month | About 500MB |
| More than 15 per month (though will depend on total number of apps) | About 400MB+ |
Video Clips
Before viewing video clips you should always check the size of the clip to make sure you don't exceed your included data limit. The type of phone you are using, longer the video clip and the higher the video quality all affect the video size. Long videos in higher definitions mean that you will use more data.
| How often would you view standard definition 3 minute video clips? | Data Estimation |
| Once every week at most | About 150MB |
| Once every few days | About 200MB |
| A couple of clips each day | About 2GB |
| A lot of online video (say 5 clips/day) | About 5GB |
Music Streaming usage per month
| How often would you stream 3 minute high quality songs? | Data Estimation |
| One hour, once every week at most | About 600MB |
| One hour, once every few days | About 850MB |
| One hour per day | About 4GB |
| Three hours per day | About 12GB |
How much broadband data do I need per month?
Knowing which broadband plan to choose really depends on how you use the internet. It's not always easy to know how much data you might use every month – and all the talk of bits and bytes can get a bit confusing.
You could be spending too much on a plan with a data allowance that you simply don't need. Or you could be on a plan with too little monthly data, where your speed may be limited to 256Kbps - that's much slower than normal - if you go over your limit.
So, to help you stick within your budget, have enough data and get the best online experience, we've provided a rough guide below. We hope it helps you to better understand your needs and choose the right Optus broadband plan for you.
Check out our broadband internet plans
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Legend
The data above has been sourced from whistleout.com.au. Correct as of 4/11/2013. And is to be used as a guide only.
How do I keep track of my broadband data usage?
We've got a handy usage meter in My Account to help you keep an eye on your usage. Take a look now. Log in or register for My Account.
Plus, we provide usage notifications in My Account and SMS usage alerts when you've reached 50%, 85% and 100% of your monthly data allowance.
What's the difference between the broadband data in my plan and broadband speed?
This is probably the biggest source of confusion when talking about data and usage.
You could think of the broadband data in your monthly plan - measured in Megabytes (MB) or Gigabytes (GB) - like a bucket of water.
And broadband speed - measured in Kilobits per second (Kbps) or Megabits per second (Mbps) - as the rate at which that water passes through a hose.
Lastly, Bits and Bytes aren't the same thing: 8 Bits = 1 Byte. You don't necessarily need to memorise this equation, but it helps to remember there is a difference between the two.
There are many things that can affect the internet speeds you experience, from location, network to the number of users and your equipment.
This guide may help you determine what sort of Home Phone plan you need. Before you decide on your Home Phone plan, you should decide if you require internet with your Home Phone, as this will make a difference to the Home Phone plans available to you.
Optus Plans
| Do you use the Internet? | How you use the Home Phone | Plans you may want to consider |
| Yes | I make very few calls, mainly using the phone for incoming calls or emergencies | $60 Plan with unlimited data and pay as you go calls. |
| I make a moderate number of local calls, national calls and calls to mobiles |
$80 Plan with unlimited data, entertainment and pay as you go calls. | |
| I make a lot of calls including international calls | $80 Plan with unlimited data, pay as you go calls and World Saver international call rates to selected destinations. | |
| No |
Home Phone plan for $22 per month with pay as you go calling for all call types |