Optus Ultra WiFi Modem Gen 2: Ultra Speed meets Ultra Sustainability

This article is sponsored by Optus.

The new Optus Ultra WiFi Modem has received a mean, green upgrade, with WiFi 6 tech to boost speed and coverage, and a new-look design, built with sustainability in mind.

The powerhouse Ultra WiFi Modem is available to fixed-line nbn customers, and is included at no extra cost when you stay connected to an eligible Optus nbn plan for 36 months.

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The Optus Ultra WiFi Booster also receives a WiFi 6 upgrade, making it a must-have addition for large homes and offices. Customers choosing an Optus Family Entertainer nbn plan will receive an Ultra WiFi Booster at no extra cost, when you stay connected for 36 months.

Big upgrade in a greener package

The differences between the new Optus Ultra WiFi Modem (Gen 2) and the first generation modem start with a sleek new design. The older model was no ugly duckling, but we love the new charcoal-coloured chassis and smooth rounded edges.

Better yet, the Gen 2 modem is built using 95% recycled plastic and is packaged in entirely recycled cardboard with paper cable ties – there are no single-use plastic parts anywhere in the box.

Of course, the benefits of the upgraded tech are more than skin deep, with upgraded antennas in support of the new WiFi tech.

New Optus Ultra WiFi Modem compared

	Optus Ultra WiFi Modem (Gen 1)	Optus Ultra WiFi Modem (Gen 2)
WiFi	WiFi 5 (802.11ac) 2.5 Ghz - 3x3 Antenna 5 GHz - 4x4 Antenna	WiFi 6 (802.11ax) 2.5 Ghz - 4x4 Antenna 5 GHz - 4x4 Antenna
Memory	512MB - Storage Memory 512MB - Flash Memory	1GB - Storage Memory 1GB - Flash Memory
LTE LTE Speed	CAT 12 - Qualcomm 25Mbps Down, 2Mbps Up	CAT 12 - Qualcomm 25Mbps Down, 2Mbps Up
WiFi Certified	No	Yes
Sustainability	Modem has no recycled plastic 100% recycled cardboard Metal cable ties Use of single use plastics	Modem 95% recycled plastic 100% recycled cardboard Paper cable ties No single use plastics

Calling for back up

We all know that the nbn can have its ups and downs. Optus has planned ahead and included a 4G mobile SIM card in the Ultra WiFi Modem. This backup connection kicks in when your nbn service drops out for a period of time, and will keep you online until the nbn is up and running again.

Having the built-in SIM card inside also means youll be online as soon as you plug the modem in for the first time, even if there is a delay in connecting the nbn to your home.

The 4G SIM connects to the Optus mobile network, and download speeds of up to 25Mbps and upload speeds of 2Mbps. This is more than enough bandwidth for remote workers to connect with colleagues during business hours, and then stream some TV at the end of the day.

Blanket coverage with the new Ultra WiFi Booster

Families with larger homes will know how difficult it can be to cover every room in the house with a strong WiFi signal, and the best solution for this is a WiFi range extender. With an upgrade to WiFi 6, the Optus Ultra WiFi Booster is ready to take on this challenge, making sure you can get online on the top floor, in the man cave or around the BBQ in the backyard.

New Optus Ultra WiFi Booster compared

	Optus Ultra WiFi Booster (Gen 1)	Optus Ultra WiFi Booster (Gen 2)
WiFi	2.5 Ghz - 2x2 Antenna 5 GHz - 4x4 Antenna	WiFi 6 (802.11ax) 2.5 Ghz - 4x4 Antenna 5 GHz - 4x4 Antenna
Memory	256MB - Storage Memory 256MB - Flash Memory	512MB - Storage Memory 128MB - Flash Memory
LAN	2 x Gigabit Ethernet ports	2 x Gigabit Ethernet ports
Easy Mesh Certified	No	Yes
Sustainability	Modem has no recycled plastic 100% recycled cardboard Metal cable ties Use of single use plastics	Modem 95% recycled plastic 100% recycled cardboard Paper cable ties No single use plastics

Like the new Ultra WiFi Modem, this second generation Ultra WiFi Booster sports a slick new design, made from sustainable materials, and a technology bump from WiFi 5 to WiFi 6.

The Booster is designed to work seamlessly with the Ultra WiFi Modem, so that you shouldn’t even realise that you are connected to one router or the other. You connect to your WiFi with a single username and password, and the network is smart enough to move your devices to the router with the best connection.

The Optus WiFi Booster is included in all Optus Family Entertainer nbn plans, and Optus will cover the cost of the booster if you stay connected for 36 months. Alternatively, you can purchase a Booster outright, or choose to pay for it in installments over 36 months.

What’s the deal with WiFi 6?

WiFi 6 is the latest in wireless technology, and is the foundation of the numerous upgrades in this new Optus modem. As you might expect, WiFi 6 is faster than older WiFi standards, and this is seen with the Ultra Wifi (Gen 2) modem that is up to 150% faster than the Gen 1 modem.

But it’s not just about speed. WiFi 6 is designed to meet the increasing demands on our WiFi networks. You might not think of your family as heavy internet users, but the number of devices we use to connect to the internet is increasing at a rapid pace.

Research house Statista estimates that there are now an average of 20 connected devices in Aussie homes, with this number forecast to increase to an average of 34 devices by 2025. This sounds like a lot until you add up the number of phones, tablets, laptops, TVs, and gaming consoles your family uses each day. Then consider smart lights you may own, connected speakers, robot vacuum cleaners, and white goods, each of which adds to the load on your network.

All of these devices will request data regularly, and the secret sauce of WiFi 6 is how efficiently it handles all of these requests so that everyone sharing your WiFi network gets a seamless online experience.

In terms of speed, WiFi 6 is faster than the WiFi standards we’ve used before it, capable of transferring data at 9.6Gbps, compared to 3.5Gbps, but more importantly, it should feel faster. The way it manages simultaneous data requests from devices is far more efficient, so that each device receives data faster, and we experience the internet with fewer pauses, lags and buffering.