Optus customers can pay extra fee for better connectivity - but there's concerns about cost of VIP path

Optus customers will now have the ability to pay a fee for a short-term improvement to their home or mobile connection.

Customers will be able to choose a 24-hour improvement to their home internet connection for $5 or a one-hour enhancement to their mobile network for $2 through the My Optus app.

Optus said today the Internet Boost and Mobile Boost option is "revolutionising on-demand options that suit every lifestyle and budget".

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"At Optus, we understand that high-speed internet is incredibly valuable to Australians and we're delighted to offer an innovative and affordable way for customers to boost their internet speed whether it be for extra house guests on multiple devices, or gearing up for a day of online gaming," Optus Managing Director Marketing and Revenue Matt Williams.

"With a third of Aussies using their mobile and internet data for streaming movies, Optus Boost products are revolutionising on-demand options that suit every lifestyle and budget."

The telecommunications giant said Optus Boost is part of their commitment to delivering the best possible NBN and mobile experience, however there are concerns a program like this creates a class-based connectivity system - in particular on the mobile network.

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NBN customers have always been able to change to a higher or lower speed plan of their choice, depending on what is available where they live.

But that is generally done on a month-to-month basis.

This move offers customers the chance to go from a 50mbps plan to a 400mbps plan for $5, but only for 24 hours.

On the mobile network, customers who choose the one-hour $2 boost will be network priority.

This means if two Optus customers are sitting on a train platform streaming video of their favourite shows, the one who paid for the boost may get a consistent stream, while the other be more impacted by increases in network traffic or usage in the area.

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The concept of net neutrality has been much discussed in tech circles, a concept that everyone should have the same access to bandwidth and content as each other.

This concept from Optus appears to allow some to get a VIP path on the mobile network that others may not be able to afford.

Optus has also named the program Boost - despite there being a Telstra network-based mobile carrier in Australia called Boost Mobile.

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