Optus review
Optus is a major Australian mobile network operator wholly owned by Singtel, selling business SMS through its Optus SMS Suite, powered by Modica. It publishes no per-message Australian dollar price, and pricing runs through its sales team, so you must request a quote. Support is a free helpdesk during business hours run by Modica on New Zealand time, with around the clock cover as a paid add-on.
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No overall score
One of 56 brands reviewed. Not in the priced comparison: publishes no Australian rate.
- One of Australia's own network operators, alongside Telstra, already reviewed in this comparison
- A dedicated CPaaS product, Optus API Connect, sits alongside its more general enterprise SMS messaging line
- Sends MMS, email-to-SMS and two-way SMS, with dedicated numbers and optional Sender ID registration
- SOC 2 certification for the Optus SMS Suite, powered by Modica, and a free trial through an online sign-up form
- No confirmed per-message Australian dollar price for its enterprise SMS or API Connect products, with pricing running through a sales conversation
- Optus names several related SMS products without one page clearly distinguishing them
- Its pages give inconsistent uptime figures of 99.99% and 99.9%, with no SLA document, credit schedule or remedy published
- Built for enterprise buyers rather than a small business wanting a self-serve rate card
Optus at a glance, checked 4 October 2026
What Optus publishes, read from its own pages, the Australian Business Register and ACMA's list. 7 of 9 facts are published; the rest say so. What each row measures.
| Fact | Optus | Read |
|---|---|---|
| Australian entity | Tier 1, Australian HQ | |
| ACMA Sender ID Register list | Listed under its own name as a certified telco, registers with or without an ABN | |
| Uptime or SLA published | Yes, Inconsistent on its own pages: the Enterprise SMS Messaging page claims "a 99.99% uptime guarantee" and, further down, "a 99.9% service level agreement (SLA)"; the SMS Suite overview says "99.9% availability" and Optus API Connect claims "99.99% uptime". No SLA document, credit schedule or remedy is published. | |
| Support as published | Run by Modica's Service Delivery team: email optussd@modicagroup.com or phone 1800 251 577 (Australia), free business-hours helpdesk 8:30am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday New Zealand time, with 24x7 cover as a paid add-on; the email queue is monitored only in New Zealand business hours | |
| Public review rating | None found on a public review platform | |
| Sending methods published | Web app, API and email to SMS | |
| Two-way SMS and MMS | Two-way yes, MMS yes | |
| Editorial score | Not scored by this site | |
| Head office | Sydney, New South Wales |
Optus publishes no per-message rate that maps onto a monthly volume, is a tier 1 provider, is on ACMA's approved list as a certified telco, publishes Inconsistent on its own pages: the Enterprise SMS Messaging page claims "a 99.99% uptime guarantee" and, further down, "a 99.9% service level agreement (SLA)"; the SMS Suite overview says "99.9% availability" and Optus API Connect claims "99.99% uptime". No SLA document, credit schedule or remedy is published, and offers support via Run by Modica's Service Delivery team: email optussd@modicagroup.com or phone 1800 251 577 (Australia), free business-hours helpdesk 8:30am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday New Zealand time, with 24x7 cover as a paid add-on; the email queue is monitored only in New Zealand business hours.
Where Optus stands
Optus is one of Australia's three major mobile network operators, wholly owned by Singapore Telecommunications, itself majority owned by Singapore's Temasek Holdings. Optus Enterprise sells a business SMS and messaging API product line under names including Enterprise SMS Messaging and Optus API Connect, described as a CPaaS platform with optional Sender ID registration for Australian sending. Its enterprise SMS product is the Optus SMS Suite, powered by Modica. Optus API Connect claims reach to over 1,600 telecommunications networks, but no page says Australian traffic terminates directly on the Optus network or names any other carrier. Support is a free business-hours helpdesk run by Modica's Service Delivery team, with 24x7 cover as a paid add-on. No per-message Australian dollar price could be confirmed, and pricing runs through Optus's sales team.
Australian presence: tier 1, Australian HQ.
ACMA lists it as OPTUS NETWORKS PTY LIMITED. ACMA's list read 19 September 2026.
What Optus offers Australian senders
| API | Yes |
|---|---|
| Email to SMS | Yes |
| Two-way SMS | Yes |
| MMS to Australian mobiles | Yes |
| Dedicated number | Yes |
| Alphanumeric sender ID | Yes |
Nothing published either way on SMPP, RCS or Shared number.
Optus states that it holds SOC 2 (Optus SMS Suite, powered by Modica; report type (I or II) not stated).
How Optus prices
Optus publishes no per-message rate that maps onto a monthly sending volume, so this page prints none.
Optus publishes no Australian per-message rate keyed to monthly volume, so this review prints none (why we never estimate one).
Optus SMS Suite and API Connect pricing
The pages read publish no Australian per-message rate for either the Optus SMS Suite or Optus API Connect. The SMS Suite overview and the Gateway API documentation both end at an enquiry form, so pricing runs through a sales conversation. The SMS Suite and API Connect are related but separate offerings, so do not assume a quote, certification, reach figure or uptime guarantee from one applies to the other.
Optus SMS features and limitations
The Gateway API documentation lists four APIs with fallback options, supporting domestic and international destinations, HTTPS and REST delivery, API keys, token-based authentication and MTLS. It also describes staggered-send and business-hour blocks, callbacks, response tracking and optional Sender ID registration for Australian sending. The SMS Suite overview adds Campaign Manager, email-to-SMS, a web-based interface, 2FA, Zapier integration, cost-centre tracking and single sign-on. These are published descriptions, not measurements we made; confirm each against your chosen API and account.
Optus support arrangements
Support is delivered by Modica's Service Delivery team, per the Optus support documentation. Free helpdesk access runs 8:30am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday New Zealand time, excluding NZ public holidays, reachable by email or an Australian 1800 number. Paid 24x7 telephone cover outside those hours requires quoting an Extended Support Plan Number. The email queue is monitored only during New Zealand business hours, worth weighing if your team works on Australian eastern time.
Who Optus suits, and what to ask for a quote
Optus suits enterprise buyers comfortable with a sales-led purchase, rather than a small business wanting a self-serve rate card. Before signing, request a written quote covering the platform, Australian outbound and inbound rates, dedicated number and branded sender fees, SMS-part billing rules, GST treatment, committed support hours and your chosen API. Ask for the SLA document and any credit schedule in writing. Optus operating a network does not mean Australian traffic terminates on it directly; ask for the routing in the contract. To compare API options, see our SMS API guide.
How much is Optus?
Optus publishes no per-message price that maps onto a monthly volume. Ask for a written quote before you compare it on cost.
Who owns Optus?
Optus is owned by Singtel, with its head office in Sydney, New South Wales.
Is Optus good?
This site has not scored Optus. It publishes a 99.99% uptime figure.
What is Optus used for?
Optus is used for bulk and transactional SMS from a web app and programmable SMS through an API, and it publishes email to SMS, two-way replies and MMS to Australian mobiles.
Similar providers to Optus
- SMSGlobal · South Melbourne, Victoria
- Esendex · Melbourne, Victoria
- Sinch Engage · Stockholm, Sweden
SMSGlobal is Australian-headquartered with email to SMS, two-way messaging and MMS, while Esendex and Sinch Engage operate through registered Australian entities if you compare beyond the telcos.
Compare Optus with another provider
| Measure | Optus | ClickSend |
|---|---|---|
| Dedicated number | Yes | Yes |
| Alpha sender ID | Yes | Yes |
| Email to SMS | Yes | Yes |
| Two way | Yes | Yes |
| MMS | Yes | Yes |
| Head office | Sydney, New South Wales | Melbourne, Victoria |
Verification log
What was read, where and when (our method).
| Checked | Date read | What it said |
|---|---|---|
| SMS Suite overview | Campaign Manager, email-to-SMS, Gateway API and Web2SMS are documented. | |
| Gateway API documentation | Four APIs, fallback options, callbacks and response tracking are documented. | |
| Optus support documentation | Free helpdesk in New Zealand business hours; extended 24x7 telephone support is a paid service. |