Communications Minister Senator Mitch Fifield has told Optus that its muscular approach to getting its cable customers to move over to NBN connections is unacceptable.
Fifield's spokesperson told iTWire, in response to queries, that he had conveyed this directly to the company.
On Friday, Fairfax Media reported that Optus had been ignoring the NBN Co's 18-month switchover commitment and threatening to cut off cable customers within weeks.
It said Optus was contacting cable customers in areas where the NBN had become available and threatening that both telephone and broadband would be cut off in 30 days if they did not migrate.
{loadposition sam08}The report claimed that Optus was also threatening customers with permanent loss of their home phone number if they did not make the move.
Customers were being contacted before they had received the standard letter telling them that their premises were ready for being hooked up to the NBN and that they could choose an ISP to be connected.
The NBN Co has given individuals 18 months to switch to its network once their premises are certified as being able to connect to the NBN.
Businesses are being given three years to make the switch.
Fifield's spokesperson said: "Optus’ actions are a departure from the NBN Co's transition framework which the industry has been operating under.
"This aims to ensure service continuity and gives consumers up to 18 months to switch once the network goes live in their area.
"Residents are free to choose from dozens of different phone and Internet retailers which sell NBN plans and they should be given time to consider their options."