A number of Bigpond users experience mail server error in mail applications like outlook app and others if you are connected to the Optus internet network.
This is quite frustrating if you are regular email users going through email configuration or email send and receive problem. The issue could stem from network limitations, incorrect email configuration, or even a temporary server outage.
However, if you are stuck with this issue, you can take several steps to resolve it and make your Bigpond email account functional again.
Check Your Webmail Setup’s Configuration
Incorrect server mail configuration is one of the most frequent causes of Bigpond email difficulties. If your email worked perfectly on a different network but stopped functioning on Optus, check your email setup. Ensure that these settings are properly mentioned in imap and pop settings:
Incoming Mail Server for Bigpond (IMAP/POP3):
● IMAP: imap.telstra.com (SSL Port 993)
● POP3: pop.telstra.com (SSL Port 995)
Outgoing Mail Server for Bigpond (SMTP):
● SMTP: smtp.telstra.com (SSL Ports 465 or 587)
Authentication: Remember to enable authentication on the outgoing mail server. Your Bigpond email address and password will be required. In case BigPond webmail password do not work use app generated password through BigPond account.
If you are still unable to send or receive emails, try switching between IMAP and POP3 and see if either works better with the Optus network.
Find Out If Optus Has Blocked SMTP Port 25
Like other ISPs, Optus might block port 25 for outgoing emails to prevent spam and fraud activities. If your email configuration uses port 25 for SMTP, change it to port 465 or 587 and Enable SSL. This should resolve outgoing email issues.
Login Bigpond Webmail
If everything else fails and you cannot log into an email client like Outlook or Thunderbird etc, try accessing Bigpond Webmail directly though Telstra website https://email.telstra.com.
Sign in with your Bigpond email credentials.
If Webmail is working properly, there is a high chance that the issue is with your email client
configuration or Optus network policies for that contact Optus customer care.
Our Conclusion
Problems with Bigpond email accounts on the Optus network are usually caused by blocked
ports, incorrect email configuration, or busy servers. Changing your mail server
configuration, updating your SMTP port, or switching to Webmail are the most effective
ways to resolve these problems. If the issue still exists, contacting Telstra Customer Care
directly would be helpful.