A Guide to Mobile Broadband

19 January 2022

A young woman holding a tablet and looking at the tablet screen.

Image credit: Supplied

Being able to get your devices connected to the internet while you’re out and about can be very useful, whether you’re working or wanting to stream something. While using your phone as a hotspot can be great for once-off situations, it can also drain your phone battery quicker and may affect your download and upload speeds.

That’s where our mobile broadband options come in, giving you the option of getting online without the hassle of using a hotspot or finding a Wi-Fi network you can connect to.

There are a few different ways you can access mobile broadband and each way has its own strengths, depending on how you want to use the internet. We’ve put together some information on each to help you figure out which one you should choose.

The first is a mobile broadband modem i.e. the portable version of your home modem, which you might also know as ‘pocket Wi-Fi’. If you’re looking to enjoy 5G network speeds, then the ZTE 5G Modem will do the trick, and with up to 32 devices it is good if you want to connect a laptop, as well as your other devices like a tablet or phone that aren’t connected to a network.

The ZTE 5G Modem is designed to be an extremely portable Wi-Fi option, hence the term pocket Wi-Fi. The modem also has rechargeable batteries so you don’t have to worry about finding a power point to plug into.

The other option is to get a Data SIM plan and use the SIM in your iPad, laptop or tablet device the same way you do with your phone’s SIM. You’ll first need to make sure your device is SIM capable, as some devices are Wi-Fi only, which means you won’t be able to insert or use a SIM to connect to the 4G or 5G network. Once you’ve checked that your device can take a SIM, all you need to do is pick the plan that suits your usage, and you’ll be good to connect to the Optus network.

The type of Mobile Broadband you choose depends on what you’re wanting to use it for. If you only want to go online with the one SIM-capable device, a Data SIM will easily get you connected to the 4G or 5G network. If you have a few different devices that you want to get online, or the device you want to use isn’t SIM-capable, then portable Wi-Fi will suit your needs.

Now that you know your options, it’s just a matter of picking the one that works best, and enjoying being connected to the Optus network without being tied to a hotspot or Wi-Fi network. For more information, you can always chat to one of our experts online, over the phone or by heading in store.

Terms and Conditions

FAIR GO POLICY APPLIES

5G capable: The ZTE 5G Modem is capable of working on the Optus 5G network, which is available in selected areas and on selected plans. Excludes NT & Tas.

When not in a 5G coverage area, the device will switch to the Optus 4G network where it is available. For more details, check optus.com.au/5GCoverage.

Coverage: Coverage availability will vary depending on your device and location. Check coverage at optus.com.au/coverage.

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