BOOST for Mobile, Optus for 5G Wireless - Two Networks for Redundancy?

buckerooni on 01/09/2023 - 19:19
Last edited 01/09/2023 - 21:49

Hi there,

Our work address can only get 5G wireless, no NBN and looking to get a more reliable wireless service.

I have just purchased 3 BOOST 5G mobile deals ($160 for 12 months after discount + cashrewards - crazy!) which runs on Telstra network.

We also need 5G wireless for our workplace devices. Is there any logic in going with optus for 5G wireless broadband, so we aren't 100% reliant on either - hotspotting or working only from our phones.

We're located near the beach (mornington penninsula) so the population swells putting alot of pressure on the mobile networks and we need working internet for our business.

I hear mixed reports about optus, but their current deal ( Optus Plus Entertainer Superfast 5G, netflix account 240/20, $79 for 6 months, then $99) is a ripper, the hardware looks OK too.

Seems a reasonable hedge to use the 2 networks. any reason why I shouldn't, surely Optus can't suck that hard?!

Internet

Comments

  • dcep on 01/09/2023 - 19:30
    +2

    Starlink ?

    • buckerooni on 01/09/2023 - 19:39

      instead of optus, can they do $79 a month?

      • David2017 on 01/09/2023 - 19:51
        +1

        You’re not really comparing apples here. Whacking an aerial on an existing tower can’t be compared with launching satellites into space. If money is a problem don’t consider Starlink. If your phone tower falls over and you can’t operate your business is that going to cost you more than $139 a month? It’s an insurance policy to have different technology supplying internet.

        • buckerooni on 01/09/2023 - 20:45

          Starlink is cheaper than I thought, but have no idea how much data that also includes etc.

          It's not exactly an enterprise disaster recovery plan I know, a downed phone tower wouldn't affect our online presence, just our backend ops which could be redeployed for smaller periods of time.

          It's a good question but 'just enough tech' is my approach on this one, at this stage!

          • David2017 on 01/09/2023 - 21:18

            @buckerooni: Just FYI Starlink is unlimited. Provided you can get around an extended outage without crippling your business then just do what you’re doing with Optus and Boost.

            Some customers refuse a backup until the inevitable happens and they’re down for three days waiting for NBNCO to show up. They end up losing more in revenue and reputation in a few days than a backup service would have cost for 5 years. Every business is different. Good luck with it.

      • dcep on 01/09/2023 - 19:53

        population swells putting alot of pressure on the mobile networks and we need working internet for our business.

        Obviously not. I misread your OP as reliability & redundancy being the priority, rather than $79 is all you're willing to pay.

        Starlink is $139/month.

        • buckerooni on 01/09/2023 - 20:30

          No I appreciate the reply, I had assumed starlink would be waaaay more expensive tbh and thought it may have been a joke answer!

          I would hope reliability between the two mobile networks will be enough. Willing to take the chance, and could move to starlink if that's not the case.

          Had not even considered starlink so it's definitely good to know about!

    • David2017 on 01/09/2023 - 19:47

      That would have been my first thought as well. Price seems to be an issue here though and Starlink isn’t cheap when compared to any other option.

      • Soluble on 01/09/2023 - 20:37

        Read the topic, clicked, assuming starlink would be recommended. Not disappointed.

  • payless69 on 01/09/2023 - 21:08

    Boost is great, until you need support. Generally a discount service for bargainers.
    Out of the country they charge for roaming but fail to deliver.

    • buckerooni on 01/09/2023 - 21:22

      so roaming didn't work with your boost account, which country? I'll be mainly in india/nepal. 3rd party e-sims were good for most things, it's the occaisonal 2FA credit card purchase that was relying on SMS that tripped us up from time to time. hopefully these 2FA will move to authentictors/app based methods instead of relying on SMS.

      • payless69 on 01/09/2023 - 21:31
        +1

        Currently in Chennai, started in Goa, Hampi, Bengaluru, Munnar, Coimbatore, Mysuru, all do either not work on Boost or you get 18 Bits per sec. Useless chat support, asks to reset comms settings.
        THANKS Red Bull Mobile. On my S21u esim slot works like a charm, at least 4G and can even upload youtube movies.
        Telstra is even worse with $10 a day roaming fees.
        Missus gets the occasional 2FA on her Coles mobile. Recommend direct Optus or try luck with Voda who is also present in India.
        To fly Indigo it is a pain without 2FA but possible with the usual complicated negotions.
        No idea about Nepal.
        Namaste!

        • buckerooni on 01/09/2023 - 21:43

          ha! interesting - great trip! these are the places we go! really just need the roaming for SMS 2FA on boost - did this work at all?

          won't be over there for another 6+ months, hopefully they've got other 2FA options by then!

          keep on paying less…and 69ing!

          • payless69 on 01/09/2023 - 22:07

            @buckerooni: Should be monsoon season now. We are lucky. Just got hot weather, less humid than Cairns.
            Bring triple redundancy for getting money. 3 different bank credit cards. St.Geo works but ATM fees total 10%
            CBA needs to be authorised on EVERY transaction, works but NEED internet.
            Cash is king, low crime in south India half grocery stores take cards and never surcharge.
            Air is polluted, practically NO foreign tourists here. Good for awesome sights but hey do not expect clean and tidy streets. Smashing architecture and even more head turning dresses with endless spendings for them all important weddings. Yes parents do auction off their girls now to good families!
            New: Chennai metro has a section for transgender.
            Virtually no drunks and very few smokers.
            Happy planning.

            • buckerooni on 01/09/2023 - 22:14

              @payless69: thanks for the tips, had 4 trips over there already so know, well, a bit! Plenty of drunks in Bangalore lol! Old Monk FTW!

        • immortanwayne on 02/09/2023 - 06:02
          +1

          If you have a dual SIM phone which supports WiFi calling, you don't really need roaming on Boost. I was in India last year and bought a local Airtel eSIM and used the data connection on that SIM for WiFi calling on my Boost SIM. Worked very well for calls and messages.

          • buckerooni on 02/09/2023 - 07:15

            @immortanwayne: Interesting, so u recieved SMS for your Boost SIM via wifi calling O/S?

            • immortanwayne on 02/09/2023 - 14:42
              +1

              @buckerooni: Yup! Could make calls to Australian numbers as well.

              • buckerooni on 04/09/2023 - 14:14

                @immortanwayne: wow, really didn't expect SMS's could be recieved via WIFI when O/S without roaming, but there you go!

      • David2017 on 01/09/2023 - 21:50
        +2

        Payless has a good point here. Boost support is terrible. If it works - great, if it doesn’t - don’t expect help. The CEO is really something. He’s more interested in criticising Supercars management and bragging about spending money than he is in providing support to customers. People who live in glass houses and all that. If something in tech is comparatively cheap, it’s usually because the support isn’t great.

        • buckerooni on 01/09/2023 - 22:06

          I see, wow, fingers crossed I guess!

        • miwahni on 02/09/2023 - 01:05
          -2

          OMG can that man whinge. He could whinge for Australia in the Whinging Olympics.

  • GordonD on 02/09/2023 - 09:40

    If you want to run a business that NEEDS the internet in an area that doesn't have NBN you're just going to have pay what is required. You have to factor what you need into the cost of running that business there.

    Get 5G for cheapness.

    Get Starlink Roam for redundancy. Sign up, then pause it. The service stops, and the billing stops. When you need it because there's a problem like congestion from tourists then unpause it.

    • Twix on 02/09/2023 - 12:44
      +1

      The problem is that the builder didn't register the address with nbn. Someone has to fill out the nbn new development application and pay the fees. Telstra 5G is available.

    • buckerooni on 04/09/2023 - 14:17

      that's also good to know I can pause the service.

      • Chaddy on 05/09/2023 - 13:09

        Certainly happy to look into this further for you for no obligation.
        If you message me your business address I can look in our portal and see what other Fibre is near by. Won't be that hard getting you connected to something other then 4G or 5G. The mobile network is ok for a backup connection but I wouldn't rely on it for every day business use. Telstra can have 6 day outages with no notice what so ever on the mobile network they just don't care.
        NBN and the other Fibre providers will give you proper service level agreements.
        You should be able to get Telstra or TPG Fibre which I can look into for you.
        I own CPK Web Services.

    • [Deactivated] on 04/09/2023 - 14:31

      This. Furthermore, if you need a business grade service and it’s critical to be online with minimal disruption, get a business grade connection and not a home user service like Boost and the likes. But it will cost you as already mentioned.

      • buckerooni on 04/09/2023 - 17:13

        have got 2 other tenants support on this, will approach the landlord requesting it, if (most like WHEN) it's a no, then we will pony up the $300 together and get NBN done. I have heard costs of 300 to 1000 for the nbn registration, I'm assuming the lower figure and hope I'm right. A pretty good $100 investment for each tenant considering the alternatives :/

        good point on the business plan, from what I can see this specific optus plan - its the same, just the 'typical busy period' speeds are either business hours or after hours.Wil chat with them and see if there is any tangible difference on this one. I assume other providers may have more specific business plans - any suggestions for a business 5G wireless broadband?

        • Twix on 04/09/2023 - 21:08
          +1

          nbn new development fee is $300 each per premises + the developer contributions charge.

          The charge is determined on application, and is capped at the following amounts depending on the build type:

          Single Dwelling Unit (SDU): $600 inc. GST per premises
          Multi Dwelling Units (MDU): $400 inc. GST per premises

          Government policy for new developments

          • buckerooni on 05/09/2023 - 09:32
            +1

            @Twix: ahh, thanks for the clarification!

            • Chaddy on 05/09/2023 - 13:15

              @buckerooni: Just for further clarification you might be eligible for free Fibre as your running a business and NBN are providing their NBNEE Enterprise Ethernet offering for free on a 36 month contract. The cost for this is $300 a month depending on the chosen speed but you get the same download and upload speed, I just mention this as you mentioned the internet is critical.
              You can get speeds from 100Mbps/100Mbps to 1000 Mbps.
              Happy to give a no obligation look into this for you as well and a free quote if you like.
              No obligations.

          • Chaddy on 05/09/2023 - 15:52

            @Twix: Should point out the stuff you linked to is for residential customers, we are talking business NBN hear which is a different beast altogether.
            In most areas NBNCo will give business customers free Fibre installs depending on spend.

            • Twix on 05/09/2023 - 16:26

              @Chaddy: The fees can apply to businesses. Of course it's up to nbn what they do.

              Yeah I told buckerooni that nbn enterprise ethernet is another option. There is no OptiComm nearby. Around there is nbn FTTN and FTTP.

              • Chaddy on 05/09/2023 - 16:32

                @Twix: Does the Op know what zone they are in? If its zone one NBNEE will definitely be available, if its zone two or three it could still be available but NBNCo would need to do a site assessment and charge money for the privilege.

                • Twix on 05/09/2023 - 16:37

                  @Chaddy: Across the road is Cat A. Is Cat A zone 1?

                  NBN Enterprise Ethernet Result: PASS - Metro (NBN:CBD Category:A)

                  • Chaddy on 05/09/2023 - 16:42

                    @Twix: If you PM me the Cat A address i'll do a square lookup on it.

              • Chaddy on 05/09/2023 - 16:38

                @Twix: Yeah all seams to depend what day it is with NBN as to if the new development charges get charged or not.
                Without an address its difficult to look this up in more detail but I am certainly interested to as its pretty rare to find a building without NBN.
                Unless its actually serviced by Opticomm or another provider.

                • Twix on 05/09/2023 - 16:56

                  @Chaddy: I'll let buckerooni message you. The address never got registered. The street has nbn FTTN and FTTP upgrade works are happening.

                  • Chaddy on 05/09/2023 - 17:10

                    @Twix: No worries, I did just do a lookup on a random address in the area and it is in Zone 1. They also have access to 10GBPS Fibre from TPG most expensive option but high speed. 1GBPS from Telstra is also available which might work out cheaper then NBNEE. also for the TPG stuff you need to be near a lit building with the Fibre installed but pricing for the lower speeds on that is also quite competitive.
                    The Fibre 1000 offering is also available plus NBNEE so no need for cheap mobile plans to try and run a business off.
                    I didn't look at the cheaper TC4 options but believe they are actually FTTN.
                    Just based on Copper being mentioned.

        • Chaddy on 05/09/2023 - 14:58

          Do you know if the previous tenants have had internet connected? I ask this as the area could actually be served by Opticomm rather then NBNCo.
          As I said happy to look into this more for you.
          Or they might of had Telstra Fibre or AAPT / TPG Fibre 1000 connected which is a non NBN Fibre offering.
          I can check on all these offerings.
          Fibre 1000 or Telstra Fibre can be cheaper then NBN as well.

    • Chaddy on 05/09/2023 - 14:17

      The NBN is definitely available in that area, just needs to be connected. Also the business side of the NBN is where all the priority is given as that is where they make the most $$$ I mean NBN Co not the providers in this case.
      Well I mean the providers do OK out of business grade services as well but NBN Co gives priority to business customers rather then residential.
      I mean in terms of installations and fixing issues, you need to first talk to your provider and get them to raise the issue up the chain.
      I also back others suggestions to go for a business grade connection rather then residential although my opinion could be a bit biassed on that.

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