The telco has announced it will offer a bonus 200GB of data as compensation to eligible customers.
Here’s how you can get your free data from Optus.
Eligible mobile and tablet postpaid customers are being provided with “at least 200GB of extra data”, Optus wrote.
“From Monday, 13 November check back here for more details on how to add this to your plan before the end of year,” the telco said.
Prepaid customers will be given “unlimited data on the weekend for the rest of the year”.
Optus has promised unlimited data would be applied automatically to prepaid services starting next weekend, November 18.
Optus said these plans will automatically receive this offer:
- My Prepaid Ultra
- My Prepaid Ultra Plus
- My Prepaid Ultimate
- Prepaid Ultimate Plus
- Optus Prepaid Epic Data
- Optus Prepaid Epic Value
- My Prepaid Long Expiry
- Optus Prepaid Long Expiry
- Optus Flex
- Optus Flex 5G
- Optus Flex Plus
Business customers will be given at least 200GB of extra data for each eligible mobile service on their account.
“All businesses are unique and have been impacted in different ways and we’re here to help,” Optus said.
Business account holders are urged to check the Optus website for more details from Monday.
Can you get compensation for the Optus outage?
If you’re after a monetary refund, Optus isn’t offering anything – yet.
Telecommunications industry ombudsman Cynthia Gebert has indicated her office could force the telco into financial payments.
A Senate inquiry into the outage could also examine whether the data offer was adequate compensation.
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland advised customers to keep track of how the outage has impacted them in as much detail as possible.
“It is important, especially for small businesses, to keep receipts, so that any recourse and any redress that may be available to them has that evidentiary base,” she said during the outage.
Money expert Effie Zahos echoed that message.
“Look at your takings last Wednesday, compare it to this Wednesday…
“Gather your records, contact Optus and then go to the telecommunications ombudsman from there – they can help you with your loss, business, non-financial loss and financial loss.”
The Australian Media and Communications Authority (ACMA) says customers who have been impacted by a mobile or internet outage should file a formal complaint with their telco.