Optus and QFF - Phone Plans

[exceladdict]

darnit, I just got notice today that in May they're discontinuing the plan with 4GB included roaming and pushing me on to another plan without. Anyone found anything comparable lately?

Oh man! I moved one service already but this forces the second. Bye Optus!

 

[RooFlyer]

Funny this thread should re-activate. I'm going OS - Europe mostly - for 5 weeks soon. A Telstra customer, I've just called Optus to see if I can take advantage of their $5/day prepaid plan with an eSim, keeping my main Telstra number.

Was offered $49/month, month-to-month plan, minus $20/month discount on an Esim. Then can add their $5 roaming plan. Then cancel the whole lot after 2 months. So total cost, if roaming activated every day for 40 days would be $258 Vs $400 incremental cost on Telstra's $10/day roaming add on. And I'd get a lot more data with Optus.

Sounds like a no-brainer. Does that cheap base plan, cancel any time, sound right?

 

[justinbrett]

I miss the old Telstra plans that had roaming included.

I now keep a US sim active and change it to a dormant $5/m plan between trips. Actually really useful keeping the same number as I can save it in my app profiles. Post covid seems a lot of use for a US number (vice roaming) for things like valet parking, restaurants etc who won't text/call back an international number.

Would never go Optus. Their coverage in Australia is terrible outside of the capital cities.

 

[exceladdict]

Funny this thread should re-activate. I'm going OS - Europe mostly - for 5 weeks soon. A Telstra customer, I've just called Optus to see if I can take advantage of their $5/day prepaid plan with an eSim, keeping my main Telstra number.

Was offered $49/month, month-to-month plan, minus $20/month discount on an Esim. Then can add their $5 roaming plan. Then cancel the whole lot after 2 months. So total cost, if roaming activated every day for 40 days would be $258 Vs $400 incremental cost on Telstra's $10/day roaming add on. And I'd get a lot more data with Optus.

Sounds like a no-brainer. Does that cheap base plan, cancel any time, sound right?

The two things that come to mind for me are, you'll probably have a credit check if you open the optus account, and if you choose to port over and then port back to Telstra, possibly two. Just thinking you may need that number for 2fa etc while overseas.

Also, case study of one, but when roaming in the Philippines pre-covid using this Optus plan I found coverage patchy at best, while a friend who used Telstra and roamed had less issues.

 

[SYD]

darnit, I just got notice today that in May they're discontinuing the plan with 4GB included roaming and pushing me on to another plan without. Anyone found anything comparable lately?

Are you on the $50 pm plan?

Optus new $50 SIM only with roaming

Optus have a new $50/mth SIM only plan with unlimited calls and data in “Zone 1” countries, and 4GB Roaming Data a month. I think it’s probably one of the best roaming deals out there as there’s no daily fee, and no limit on number of days as far as I can see. I found out about it in my The...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

A bunch of us (I presume) are still on that one. I'll be a bit pissed if they enhance the the data roaming (especially after the data breach fiasco).

So far nothing received here about a contract change - touch wood (about to head OS also!).

 

[randomly_chaotic]

Are you on the $50 pm plan?

Optus new $50 SIM only with roaming

Optus have a new $50/mth SIM only plan with unlimited calls and data in “Zone 1” countries, and 4GB Roaming Data a month. I think it’s probably one of the best roaming deals out there as there’s no daily fee, and no limit on number of days as far as I can see. I found out about it in my The...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

A bunch of us (I presume) are still on that one. I'll be a bit pissed if they enhance the the data roaming (especially after the data breach fiasco).

So far nothing received here about a contract change - touch wood (about to head OS also!).

Yep, I'm on that one, but "...we’ll be saying goodbye to our old plans and moving you to one of our newest mobile plans." They'll add on a "free" international calling add on but not the included roaming. The new plan kicks in at beginning of May.

 

[SYD]

Yep, I'm on that one, but "...we’ll be saying goodbye to our old plans and moving you to one of our newest mobile plans." They'll add on a "free" international calling add on but not the included roaming. The new plan kicks in at beginning of May.
View attachment 320003

Perhaps you could repost that info in the other thread.

Meanwhile, I'll rethink appropriate eSims for future roaming....

 

[transpactraveller]

Also got the email from Optus saying they're forcing me onto a new plan without any roaming data included.

And of course they're doing it right in the middle of my upcoming US trip.

Any suggestions of where to go now for plans with included roaming?

 

[SYD]

Also got the email from Optus saying they're forcing me onto a new plan without any roaming data included.

And of course they're doing it right in the middle of my upcoming US trip.

Any suggestions of where to go now for plans with included roaming?

You might look here if your phone is esim compatible.

eSims, what is your experience.

I am interested in the concept of eSims but have no experience with them. The notion of running my local sim plus having an international sim for phone use while in USA and EU could be handy. What have members experience been? TIA

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

If they're still providing the roaming calls/txt for free, then that may well be still good.

 

[RooFlyer]

Would never go Optus. Their coverage in Australia is terrible outside of the capital cities.

Strong agree! Living in rural Tasmania & all that. But their O/S roaming in Europe presumably OK.

The two things that come to mind for me are, you'll probably have a credit check if you open the optus account, and if you choose to port over and then port back to Telstra, possibly two. Just thinking you may need that number for 2fa etc while overseas.

I won't be porting my existing Telstra number over, just getting a new eSim number from Optus, for 2 months of pre-paid plan (then cancel), to which I will add their $5/day roaming. Or I might get a physical sim from them & put in my spare iPhone (kept up-to-date via wi-fi) that I always take these days. So will keep my existing number for anyone to contact me in emergency & Optus temporary # for roaming for 5 weeks.

I don't think I would have any fear of a credit check; I don't churn any more (Unfortunately). Anything you are thinking of in particular?

 

[justinbrett]

Strong agree! Living in rural Tasmania & all that. But their O/S roaming in Europe presumably OK.



I won't be porting my existing Telstra number over, just getting a new eSim number from Optus, for 2 months of pre-paid plan (then cancel), to which I will add their $5/day roaming. Or I might get a physical sim from them & put in my spare iPhone (kept up-to-date via wi-fi) that I always take these days. So will keep my existing number for anyone to contact me in emergency & Optus temporary # for roaming for 5 weeks.

I don't think I would have any fear of a credit check; I don't churn any more (Unfortunately). Anything you are thinking of in particular?

What's the point of roaming when it's not your usual number?

Wouldn't you be better off just getting a local sim instead of a second Australian sim? Will be a hell of a lot cheaper.

 

[TheInsider]

What's the point of roaming when it's not your usual number?

Wouldn't you be better off just getting a local sim instead of a second Australian sim? Will be a hell of a lot cheaper.

And better reception with better data speeds,

 

[RooFlyer]

What's the point of roaming when it's not your usual number?

Wouldn't you be better off just getting a local sim instead of a second Australian sim? Will be a hell of a lot cheaper.

Point of roaming is that I want the data, not the calls. And the reason I want a separate SIM (eSim or a physical in my spare phone) is so my usual number remains active if its needed.

Yes, a local sim is one way to go, although I prefer to be all set before I leave plus I hate faffing around getting stuff on arrival at airports. Just a personal preference. When I have a driver, I get them to stop off somewhere and I get a local SIM off-airport. Driving myself, I like to just get going.

And better reception with better data speeds,

Do you think Optus uses its own network overseas?

 

[justinbrett]

Point of roaming is that I want the data, not the calls. And the reason I want a separate SIM (eSim or a physical in my spare phone) is so my usual number remains active if its needed.

Yes, a local sim is one way to go, although I prefer to be all set before I leave plus I hate faffing around getting stuff on arrival at airports. Just a personal preference. When I have a driver, I get them to stop off somewhere and I get a local SIM off-airport. Driving myself, I like to just get going.



Do you think Optus uses its own network overseas?

Roaming is usually slower than a local sim. You almost will never get the same speeds as those using the local network organically - because of the roaming overhead.

I haven't used them but you should be able to get a foreign esim before you leave and use it for your trip.

I usually roam for the first day or two and then switch over to a local sim once I get a card - unless I'm in the country for less than a week in which case I just roam.

Getting a new Australian sim just to roam sounds like the worst of both worlds.

 

[RooFlyer]

Roaming is usually slower than a local sim. You almost will never get the same speeds as those using the local network organically - because of the roaming overhead.

I haven't used them but you should be able to get a foreign esim before you leave and use it for your trip.

I usually roam for the first day or two and then switch over to a local sim once I get a card - unless I'm in the country for less than a week in which case I just roam.

Getting a new Australian sim just to roam sounds like the worst of both worlds.

I have no problem with slower speeds - just like in Australia where I've run my business with 50Mbps; but I take the point.

I may well decide on looking for a local sim after a day or so on this trip - I'm driving straight off from ZRH at (hopefully) 8am heading for rural Alsace and Haute Savoie. Later will need coverage in the Balkans. I'll continue to investigate the Optus scheme though; the way I look at such things is that its all great until its not, and what then is the recovery?

 

[TheInsider]

Do you think Optus uses its own network overseas?

Clearly it doesn't

But it does and can use a lesser of a network when roaming overseas (ie a 5G or 4G network being available to local users, but roaming customers put on to a 3G band). Also when roaming, your phone internets ping will be dramatically higher due to it routing back to Australia first.

 

[RooFlyer]

Clearly it doesn't

But it does and can use a lesser of a network when roaming overseas (ie a 5G or 4G network being available to local users, but roaming customers put on to a 3G band). Also when roaming, your phone internets ping will be dramatically higher due to it routing back to Australia first.

I'll test it and let you know.

 

[exceladdict]

I don't think I would have any fear of a credit check; I don't churn any more (Unfortunately). Anything you are thinking of in particular?

Nothing particular, just have noticed the telco apps having an unusually harsh impact on my score, so if you are refinancing or churning thought it could be something to consider.

 

[exceladdict]

I may well decide on looking for a local sim after a day or so on this trip - I'm driving straight off from ZRH at (hopefully) 8am heading for rural Alsace and Haute Savoie. Later will need coverage in the Balkans. I'll continue to investigate the Optus scheme though; the way I look at such things is that its all great until its not, and what then is the recovery?

That's the key for me - roaming is a convenience option, not a cost or speed option (generally). 4 days in a country, probably easier to roam, and less time to faff around. 5 week trip - economics of a travel Sim or local Sim, or the scheme you've proposed, could change significantly.

 

[justinbrett]

That's the key for me - roaming is a convenience option, not a cost or speed option (generally). 4 days in a country, probably easier to roam, and less time to faff around. 5 week trip - economics of a travel Sim or local Sim, or the scheme you've proposed, could change significantly.

Roaming makes sense if you’re taking your normal service overseas.

eSims are going to change the game I think, get it all sorted before you leave australia and don’t have to go anywhere to pick it up. Even rusted on roamers might take that up.