Should I Get Telstra or Optus Cable Internet?

Cable broadband is the fastest home internet option for residences not yet connected to the NBN. Unfortunately, many Aussies do not live in cable-supported areas. Furthermore, just because you have Optus cable internet does not necessarily mean that Telstra cable is in your area. The Optus and Telstra HFC cable networks are separate, distinct entities relying on their own infrastructure.

If you do: luck you! Cable broadband will not cost you more than ADSL2+ and should be your connection of choice

If you’re asking whether you should go for Telstra or Optus cable, make sure you check which, if either, is available in your area before you go any further.

Once you've assessed its availability, the next step in the process is to find the best plan available. Check our Broadband Usage Guide to figure out how much data you need, then consider whether you'd like to bundle a home phone with your broadband, or add Foxtel or other TV services to your bill.

Naked

If you're only after a broadband plan and don't want any telephone or TV services bundled in then you'll need to go naked.

	Telstra			Optus
Plan	$93	$113	$133	$55	$80	$100
Data	50GB	200GB	500GB	30GB	200GB	Unlimited
Max Speed	100Mbps Pay $20 less for 30Mbps	100Mbps Pay $20 less for 30Mbps	100Mbps Pay $20 less for 30Mbps	100Mbps	100Mbps	100Mbps
Contract	24 Months	24 Months	24 Months	24 Months	24 Months	24 Months
	Show me the Telstra plans			Show me the Optus plans

These are the cheapest options from each provider in terms of total dollar spend, but if you do have the option to bundle you can end up saving money by combining your bills.

Broadband + Phone bundles

You can cut down on your monthly bill by bundling your home phone service in with your broadband. Remember: the Telstra prices include the optional $20 boost to bring their speed in line with the Optus offerings. If you think you can get by with just 30Mbps, you can knock $20 off of each Telstra plan.

Currently, Optus Bundle plans include a free 6 month Netflix subscription, although any data you use while watching Netflix will still count towards your monthly limit.

	Telstra			Optus
Plan	$100	$130	$150	$70	$90	$90*
Data	100GB	200GB	500GB	50GB	200GB	Unlimited
Max Speed	100Mbps Pay $20 less for 30Mbps	100Mbps Pay $20 less for 30Mbps	100Mbps Pay $20 less for 30Mbps	100Mbps	100Mbps	100Mbps
Local Calls	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included
National Calls	Included	Included	Included	20c/min 45c flagfall Capped at $2 for first hour	Included	Included
Calls to Mobiles	30c/min 49c flagfall Capped at $2 for first hour	Unlimited	Unlimited	20c/min 45c flagfall Capped at $2 for first hour	20c/min 45c flagfall Capped at $2 for first hour	Unlimited
Contract	24 Months	24 Months	24 Months	24 Months	24 Months	24 Months
	Show me the Telstra plans			Show me the Optus plans

*This price is part of an ongoing promotion. Standard amount is $115 per month. Offer ends May 31, 2015.

Interestingly, the lowest-tier Optus plan jumps from 30GB to 50GB and Telstra's bottom plan goes from 50GB to 100GB. These are the only notable differences between these options and the Naked ones listed above, apart from there obviously being a fixed-line phone plan tied in with your service.

Entertainment bundles

These are a little different. Entertainment bundles include broadband, a home phone and a TV service subscription. If you already subscribe to all of these three things separately, you can save money by joining them together.

Complications arise when comparing them directly. Telstra's Entertainer Supreme bundles offer Telstra broadband + a Foxtel subscription. You can opt for the Entertainment, Entertainment + Sport or Platinum packages from Foxtel. To keep things simple, we've only included the basic Entertainment prices below.

Not being a majority-owner of Foxtel, Optus is limited to offering its broadband plans combined with a Fetch TV subscription. Optus is also offering its 6 month complimentary Netflix subscription with these packages. Once again any data used while streaming Netflix still counts towards your monthly limit.

For a more in-depth comparison of Foxtel and Fetch, check out our Foxtel vs Fetch TV guide.

	Telstra			Optus
Plan	$120	$150	$170	$75	$90	$90**
Data	100GB	200GB	500GB	50GB	200GB	Unlimited
Max Speed	100Mbps Pay $20 less for 30Mbps	100Mbps Pay $20 less for 30Mbps	100Mbps Pay $20 less for 30Mbps	100Mbps	100Mbps	100Mbps
Local Calls	Included	Included	Included	30c/min	30c/min	Included
National Calls	Included	Included	Included	20c/min 45c flagfall Capped at $2 for first hour	20c/min 45c flagfall Capped at $2 for first hour	Included
Calls to Mobiles	30c/min 49c flagfall Capped at $2 for first hour	Unlimited	Unlimited	20c/min 45c flagfall Capped at $2 for first hour	20c/min 45c flagfall Capped at $2 for first hour	20c/min 45c flagfall Capped at $2 for first hour
Contract	24 Months	24 Months	24 Months	24 Months	24 Months	24 Months
TV Service	Foxtel	Foxtel	Foxtel	Fetch TV	Fetch TV	Fetch TV
Hardware	Foxtel iQ3 Set top box	Foxtel iQ3 Set top box	Foxtel iQ3 Set top box	Fetch TV box	Fetch TV box	Fetch TV box
	Show me the Telstra plans			Show me the Optus plans

**This price is part of an ongoing promotion. Standard amount is $115 per month. Offer ends May 31, 2015.

Telstra is by far the most expensive here if you want a 100Mbps connection. However, Foxtel is a much more popular service than Fetch TV, so your decision may come down to what payTV subscription you want, rather than price or other plan inclusions. Telstra also has the advantage in phone service inclusions with included local & national calls on all plans, and unlimited calls to mobiles on its top-tier plan.

Cable internet image from Shutterstock