Optus gets Naked as iiNet reports strong growth

Australia's number two telco said today that it would launch a naked broadband plan for $49.99 per month with an eligible Optus postpaid mobile plan and 7GB of data.

It includes a zero dollar setup fee until the end of May, Optus said.

But the cost is $59.99 per month if a mobile plan isn't bundled in and a set-up fee of $248 also applies.

Naked broadband enables customers to run their home phone and Internet over the same piece of copper, eliminating the need to pay for a separate phone line.

ISPs including iiNet and Internode have previously enjoyed success with these types of services.

In an open briefing to the ASX today, iiNet managing director Michael Malone said that continued organic growth of its Naked DSL product had contributed to a strong revenue showing for the first half of the year.

"Naked surpassed the 50,000 customer milestone in February, less than 18 months since its launch, with 22,000 of those being added in the last half year alone," Malone said.

Optus also announced today new month-to-month broadband plans "for customers who cannot commit to a standard 24 month contract".