School Student Broadband Initiative

To be considered for the SSBI program, families must have a valid voucher code. To receive a voucher code, families must meet below criteria:  

• Have a school age student at home (full or part time), enrolled in an Australian school (up to year 12 including Prep in QLD/VIC/TAS, Kindergarten in NSW, Reception in SA, Transition in NT/ACT and Pre-Primary in WA).
• Not have an active NBN network internet service at their current residential address now or in the past 14 days (having a mobile internet service does not affect eligibility).
• Live in a premise that can access the NBN network through a standard connection.
• Families and carers can directly contact the National Referral Centre to check if they qualify or be referred by a participating nominating organisation

Eligible families can be pre-approved by Nominating Agencies (such as schools or local community organisations), or, families can contact the National Referral Centre to be assessed for eligibility. The National Referral Centre provides eligible customers with a voucher code. Then, call our Specialist Care team on 1800470291 and provide them with your voucher code. The Specialist Care team will validate your code and address and sign you up.

Eligible families have until 31 December 2025, or SSBI eligibility is exhausted, to sign up an SSBI plan from Optus.

Yes! We won’t take any credit card details when signing you up for your plan. There are no hidden charges or automatic roll over to a paid service. Eligible customers will receive this service for $0 until 30 June 2028, unless cancelled earlier or otherwise notified.

When you are connected to the SSBI plan you have the option to use Optus Pause, Optus Pulse and NBN- Assist via the My Optus App. Internet Turbocharge, Wifi Secure and speed and calling packs are not available with this plan.

Eligible families can access a “School Student Broadband” plan with unlimited data, Standard Plus speeds of 50Mbps download and 18Mbps upload Typical Busy Period Speeds (7pm – 11pm) and a free modem.

No, if you are eligible for SSBI we will provide an Optus Ultra WiFi modem with 4G back up at no cost as a part of the plan.

4G back up automatically connects to the Optus 4G network if there's a problem with your home nbn connection. Requires Optus 4G coverage. 4G speeds are variable and limited to 25/2 Mbps.

No, an SSBI service is not able to be transferred to another SSBI internet provider. Families can choose to disconnect and leave the initiative at any time within the free period. If they cancel, they cannot re-join later.

If you move to an address that is nbn serviceable, we will be able to move your connection to your new address at no cost. If your new address is not nbn serviceable, our team will work with you to find a suitable alternative (charges may apply).

Eligible Families participating in the SSBI will receive the Optus School Student Broadband Plan with plan fees waived until 30 June 2028, unless extended or otherwise notified. Optus will be in contact prior to the SSBI ending to discuss options for customers with the SSBI service.

SSBI nbn Plan

For personal use only by approved persons or families that; (a) are deemed eligible to participate in the School Student Broadband Initiative (“SSBI”) by NBN; and (b) provide Optus with an eligible SSBI voucher code (“Eligible Families”). Eligible Families participating in the SSBI will receive the Optus School Student Broadband Plan until 30 June 2028, or as otherwise notified. Customers must use the Optus Supplied modem provided with the Plan. Plan available by calling Optus’ Specialist care team and quoting the voucher code to an Optus Expert. Plan available for purchase until the earlier of 31 December 2025 or SSBI allocation exhausted (limited customers only). The minimum monthly spend will be $0 per month. Customers can cancel at any time by calling our Specialist Care team. If the customer chooses to change to another retail service or change NBN plans, they will lose access to the SSBI NBN plan. Before the end of the service period Optus will contact you to advise you of your plan options.

General

Fair Go Policy applies to all Optus internet services. Available in selected premises.

Offer available to eligible customers.

These plans are subscription plans that do not include paper bills. See “Payment Information” below for more details.

Fees, charges, and cancellation

Start-up fee: There is no start-up fee for this plan. Any add-ons may be subject to additional charges e.g. SubHub services.

Installation fees: You need to plug in your modem to use the service. Nbn HFC customers will also receive a self-installation kit. No installation fees will apply for this service if you require a technician.

Minimum term: For month to month plans or services, you must connect for a minimum of one month. Minimum term commences once we confirm your nbn broadband service is operational or once we’ve automatically completed your order (whichever occurs first). See also ‘Use of modem and nbn services’ terms under ‘Important service and equipment information’ below for information. 

Minimum total cost: Minimum total cost for each month to month plan is calculated by adding the full device costs (if any) and one month of the applicable plan fee. This service is M2M and has a $0 MTC.

Phone plans and calls: a Phone service is not available with this plan.

Cancellation
You can cancel your plan at any time by notifying us. If you choose to change to another retail service provider or change speed tiers, you will lose access to a subsidised SSBI Retail Plan. 

There are no plan cancellation fees but you will need to: 
Pay any applicable additional charges incurred (e.g. SubHub services) up to the end of the payment cycle in which your service was cancelled (i.e there is no proration for mid payment cycle cancellations).

Payment information
No payment is required for this plan. Payment details will not be collected for this plan.

Important service and equipment information
Serviceability: Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee connection until we successfully install your service.

Priority Assistance: We do not offer Priority Assistance. A provider who does is Telstra.

Equipment and battery back-up: Equipment required for the nbn service requires mains power, which may not be suitable if you have a serious illness or condition and require an uninterrupted telephone or data service. We do not support battery back-up functionality for nbn services and in most cases, nbn services will not function during a power failure.

Some equipment like back-to-base and medical alarms and other devices may not be compatible with the nbn are not tested by us or supported on the Optus nbn. You should contact your device supplier to find out if your device will work before connecting to the nbn network.

Accessibility: For information about products and services we offer for customers with different disabilities, please see: https://www.optus.com.au/about/inclusion-diversity/differing-abilities/disability-services.

Use of modem and nbn services: You need to plug in your modem to use the service. Optus is required by law to confirm your nbn service is operational. We may not be able to confirm this if you do not use the modem that Optus supplies you. If you use a modem not supplied by Optus, that is, your own modem, we won’t be able to confirm your voice service (if applicable) is working so it may not be operational, and you will need to inform Optus of any issues with your nbn service before those issues will be rectified. If we supply you with an Optus modem, you should use the Optus supplied modem to ensure your Optus Service is operating optimally.

If you don’t plug in your modem, we will auto-complete your order 10 days after we have reminded you to plug in your modem.

nbn FTTC and HFC: If you are:

• an Optus nbn FTTC customer and fail to plug in your nbn equipment within 30 working days,
• an Optus nbn HFC customer and fail to plug in your nbn equipment within 60 working days, from your nbn equipment delivery date, your order may be cancelled automatically.

Speed & Video Quality: Many factors affect speed and video quality such as internet traffic, your line condition, your hardware and software, the data source or destination, your location and the number of simultaneous video streams or other downloads you have running over your connection.

Optus supplied equipment

Optus supplied Modem:

• Optus will provide an Optus Ultra Wifi Modem as part of your plan.
• Your Optus supplied modem must only be used at your home broadband service address.
• You must ensure your Optus supplied modem remains connected to your fixed line (for example, via the nbn® network terminating device) and you must not knowingly or recklessly interfere with your Optus supplied modem or home wiring in a way that may disable your fixed line home internet or phone service.
• The SIM supplied with the modem provides 4G Mobile Backup and must not be removed. The SIM will not work in any other device.

4G Mobile Backup:

• Optus 4G mobile backup is a complimentary service that provides an interim broadband service using the Optus 4G plus network in Optus 4G Coverage Areas only (4G backup service). It is only available using an Optus Ultra WiFi Modem with an Optus SIM on our network.
• The 4G backup service is available for use from when you receive your Optus Ultra WiFi Modem until your nbn service is fully activated. The Optus 4G backup will also provide an interim broadband service during service faults.
• The 4G backup service from the Optus Ultra WiFi Modem requires Optus 4G coverage.  4G backup speeds may vary and are limited to 25/2 Mbps.

Service Limitations: Some services or service features may not work while the Optus Ultra WiFi Modem is using the mobile backup pathway. This includes but is not limited to (as applicable) the voice service, static IP, and any speed upgrade on your home / small business broadband service. While using the 4G backup pathway on your Optus Ultra WiFi Modem. The 4G backup service is limited to 30 consecutive days unless you contact Optus with a problem. If you don’t contact us, Optus may suspend the 4G backup service until the fixed connection is online.

If you take up this Plan, you acknowledge and agree that:
A phone service is not supported with this option, which means you won’t have access to a landline home phone service that you can use to make or receive calls or contact emergency services like 000.

Some features such as Network feature products like Optus WiFi Secure and Optus TurboCharge and equipment like the Optus supplied Boosters are not available with this Plan.

Other Inclusions, optional add ons and services

Optus Pause: Available to Optus consumer and SMB (exc TechFund and Fleet) customers with an eligible mobile, home internet and/or nbn service (up to max. of 30 Optus services). Enabling Optus Pause will disable access to data (via mobile and/or WiFi) to the selected Optus services and devices for the chosen period. Optus Pause may be withdrawn without notice. See: https://www.optus.com.au/customer-extras/optus-pause more info and further T&Cs.

Changes to an Optus service may not be instantaneous and could take 24-48 hours after the change is requested.

There may be other special promotions, optional extras or subscriptions that you may access from time to time that are not set out here. Additional terms and conditions (including charges, changes and cancellation rights) may apply to such special promotions, optional extras and subscriptions.

Some features won’t be available to add to this plan and where they are available (e.g. SubHub services) you will be charged accordingly.

Trademark notices

nbn®, nbn co and other nbn® logos and brands are trademarks of nbn Colimited and used under licence.

The terms and conditions of these plans are set out at optus.com.au/standardagreements and go to Personal/Internet/Internet and Phone Standard Pricing Table.