This article provides tips and suggestions to take control and monitor your mobile and home data usage.

• Mobile Phone Internet Usage
• Home & Mobile Broadband Internet Usage

Monitor your usage and know your plan

You should consider both your phone's, tablet's or computer settings as well as the plan you've chosen to make sure that it suits your needs.

You can check your data allowance and usage via the My Optus App (Mobile Phone) or via My Account (All) and Member Services (Home Broadband & Post-Paid Mobile Broadband)

Limiting your mobile data usage

Mobile Data

Did you know mobile phones can use data in lots of different ways?

eg. Your phone can update it's software, get your email automatically, use GPS location services or send you application updates automatically.

While these services can be useful and save you time, they may increase your mobile data usage. Here are some tips to manage the amount of data your mobile phone uses:

• Turn off automatic notifications (eg. Facebook alerts)
  
  
• Turn location services off, (eg. mapping services where data is used for GPS / location based services)
  
  
• Turn off automatic software updates (update via Wi-Fi, where available)
  
  
• Turn ‘Push’ email off (push email is when your handset automatically retrieves emails as they arrive)
  
  
• Use Wi-Fi networks (where available)
  
  
• Use tablet/mobile versions of websites (where available)
  
  
• Switch off multi-tasking and/or background apps that are no longer in use
  
  
• Close unused browser windows
  
  
• Keep your device's operating system up to date
  
  
• Delete apps you don't use (to avoid unnecessary updates)
  

For more information, consult your device's manual or the manufacturer’s website. Animated instructions for our most popular mobile phones are available here.

Home/MobileBroadband

To avoid going over your monthly usage allowance, here are some tips:

• Avoid ‘data rich’ sites that contain streaming videos, large pictures, animation
  
  
• Check for viruses as they can eat into your data allowance. (Check out Optus Internet Security Suite)
  
  
• Don’t use file-sharing/torrent sites
  
  
• Ensure you use an encrypted password to secure your Wi-Fi network
  
  
• Keep your web browser software up to date
  
  
• Keep your operating system up to date
  
  
• If you’re consistently exceeding your monthly data allowance you may want to change your broadband plan
  
  
• If you're going away for an extended period, switch your modem/router off
  
  
• Setup Home Broadband usage alerts