Optus dumps wireless Fusion bundles due to 3G network congestion

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Angus Kidman17 September 2008, 2:25 PM

As criticism of its 3G service mounts, Optus has quietly ditched the 3G wireless version of its Fusion broadband and telephony plans.


The Wireless Fusion plans, launched in August, offered a combined 3G broadband service as well unlimited calls to landlines and Optus mobiles. Pricing started from $79 for a 2GB broadband capacity cap. (Like Telstra, Optus includes both uploads and downloads in those figures.)

While Optus had heavily promoted the service, it has been dropped after less than a month on the market. The list of Fusion bundles  featured on Optus' main site still promotes the landline Fusion plans, which were launched in 2007, but makes no mention of the wireless option.

An Optus spokesperson confirmed that the Fusion product had been withdrawn from sale on September 10, and said that the removal was "to ensure that we deliver an optimal service to our customers". Optus is describing the change as a "suspension", but there's no public timeframe for re-offering the product to new buyers. (Confusingly, the official Fusion site still includes a link to the wireless version of the service.)

A likely factor in the removal of the Wireless Fusion bundle is the increasing demand on Optus' 3G network, which seems to be buckling under the pressure of a new pool of iPhone users (from both Optus itself and Optus-owned Virgin) and various network management problems.

In the October issue of APC, on sale now, an analysis of 3G broadband plans found that Optus performs particularly poorly. We even captured some of the 3G testing on video. And earlier this week, we reported that Optus' 3G service had been ranked the slowest in the world for iPhone users and the company has suffered from numerous other quality control problems on its network .

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tfacter (User):

Omg they are finally realizing that there network is tripe... who is running that dump

17 September 2008, 2:54 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

simonnsw (New user):

The Optus Network has been put together on a shoe string budget, they have placed far to many customers on a network that is far beyond capacity, add to this their offering of wireless plans with massive downloads, it has crippled their entire network.
They need to increase their bandwidth between the towers and back into the core of their network, until this upgrade is made I wouldn't be touching Optus.

17 September 2008, 4:47 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

singo79 (New user):

I am certainly no Tel$tra fan, however if Optus pulled its finger out and invested in infrastructure (seriously) then they would compete far better with Tel$tra. I realise that Tel$tra were handed all of the infrastructure from the government in the old Telecom days, but if Optus really want to offer top service to their customers and expand their customer base, then they will need to take a long hard look at themselves!

17 September 2008, 5:36 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

NinjaSquirelz (New user):

Quoting singo79:
I realise that Tel$tra were handed all of the infrastructure from the government in the old Telecom days

umm we are talking wireless here, Telstra paid for the next g network by themselves the government did not pay for it



17 September 2008, 7:27 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Tin (Senior Forumologist):

Quoting NinjaSquirelz:
Telstra paid for the next g network by themselves the government did not pay for it

The government paid for most of the CDMA network. The fact that they already had the data on the frequency, and already had the physical sites ready would have saved them millions nationally.


17 September 2008, 8:56 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

singo79 (New user):

Yes that is true, Tel$tra did pay for the Next G network by themselves, but the issue is more complicated then that. Tel$tra's main revenue to help build the Next G network came from surplus' received from line rental and associated profits of running the copper line, GSM towers and CDMA. In fact they had the monopoly and other companies had to buy from Tel$tra. Now that makes a significant difference to resources and the amount of money/profit you receive. Hence my earlier comment, I believe that the handover of infrastructure from the government to Tel$tra made the main difference. Optus have come into the market with nothing and are having to build against a bigger and stronger competitor, yet they have managed to do the job so far, albeit not perfect. Don't get me wrong, I am no Optus fan, nor am I a Tel$tra fan. I just feel that the inheritance of the original infrastructure made a significant difference to Tel$tra's ability to afford to install the Next G equipment.

17 September 2008, 9:19 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Raindog (Senior Forumologist):

Quoting singo79:
I just feel that the inheritance of the original infrastructure made a significant difference to Tel$tra's ability to afford to install the Next G equipment.

Got it in one!! Telstra is still able to unfairly tax for services they do not deliver and able to unfairly level charges to all other players. The playing field is far from level.
Even with ULL or wireless services Telstra is still able to levy ludicrous rental and service charges which become a fair contribution on the price end users get slugged.
That in itself is no excuse for Optus over-subscribing a service, but it does contribute to the economies of delivering those services.
And with that idiot Conroy at the reins all we can expect is more of the same.



18 September 2008, 10:23 AM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Gareth (New user):

I have finaly (after three attempts) arrived at this site. I signed for Optus Fusion in September and have spent the intervening time regreting listening to the 3rd world currymuncher who sold me the lemon. (silly me). Listen Optus and listen well. I have been with you since dumping Telecom years ago. You have dropped the ball big time. My connection speed is now 7.2 as opposed to 52+. I dont know whether you give a toss but if you do not fix this consider me an ex LOYAL customer. Thet is 2x mobile phone, home phone and internet. Bye bye Optus...

22 November 2008, 6:03 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

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