Omari Gates
Virgin Mobile Australia uses the Optus 4G network to provide coverage to 97% of the country. Optus is a pretty advanced network with the fastest parts of its network beyond basic 4G technology. Optus offers a good mix of solid coverage at a fair price. Virgin Mobile Australia has been wholly owned by Optus since 2006, but despite sharing a network, the two companies are run very differently. Virgin Mobile offers unique plan features like data rollover and data gifting.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Coverage | 97% of Australia |
| Network | Optus 4G |
| SIM Card Sizes | Mini, Micro, and Nano |
| International Calls | Included on all postpaid plans |
| Data Plans | Competitive prices and plenty of data |
| Plan Features | Data rollover and data gifting |
| Customer Service | Good |
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What You'll Learn
Virgin Mobile uses the Optus network
Virgin Mobile Australia provides its customers with coverage to 97% of Australia by using the Optus network. Virgin Mobile uses the entire Optus 'Open network'. This means that Virgin Mobile customers can access the same mobile network coverage as Optus customers.
However, some users have reported issues with the Virgin Mobile network. For example, one user in Wollongong experienced frequent "all the lines in the area are busy" messages and a lack of data connectivity at peak times. Another long-time Virgin Mobile customer reported recently experiencing issues with missed calls and an inability to make calls.
It is worth noting that Optus will reportedly disconnect a Virgin Mobile call or data transfer if it has been connected for more than 90 minutes during a busy period to prioritise Optus products. Additionally, while Virgin Mobile uses the full Optus network, excess data is priced significantly higher at $52 per GB compared to $10 per GB with Optus.
Therefore, while Virgin Mobile uses the Optus network to provide extensive coverage across Australia, there may be other factors that affect the overall quality of the network experience for Virgin Mobile customers.
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Optus covers 98.5% of Australia's population
Virgin Mobile Australia's coverage is dependent on the Optus network. Optus is an Australian telecommunications company that covers 98.5% of the Australian population. Optus was designed to provide competition to the government-owned telecommunications company Telecom Australia, now known as Telstra. Optus gained the second general carrier licence in January 1991 and offered long-distance calls at cheaper rates than Telstra.
Optus has been constantly upgrading its network coverage, including a 5G rollout, to ensure better connectivity for its customers. Its mobile network covers a large part of Australia, with plans to cover 100% of the country by 2025 through its partnership with SpaceX.
The Optus network provides Virgin Mobile customers with coverage to 97% of Australia. Virgin Mobile customers experienced connection issues in 2024 when the 3G UMTS service provided by Optus was shut down. Customers were required to upgrade to phones capable of connecting to 4G LTE or 5G NR services to remain connected.
While Telstra has the widest coverage in Australia, Optus is a close second, with Vodafone slightly behind. Optus provides faster download speeds than Telstra and Vodafone, with an average of 209Mbps compared to 178Mbps and 163Mbps, respectively. Optus' coverage should be sufficient for most Australians, but more remote customers may experience connectivity issues.
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Virgin offers competitive prices and plenty of data
Virgin Mobile Australia (VMA) was a telecommunications company that offered competitive prices and plenty of data for its customers. VMA operated on the Optus network, which provided coverage to 97% of Australia.
VMA sold its products through 73 retail outlets, including flagship stores in major cities, as well as via telesales and an online store. In addition to a wide range of physical stores, VMA also offered online shopping with a \$75 service connection fee waiver when customers brought their own phones.
VMA offered both pre-paid and post-paid plans, targeting a younger population with flexible price plans and bundles. One of their plans included a \$39/month option with a \$50 Visa Prepaid Card. Another plan was priced at \$24/month, as mentioned by a customer who had been with Virgin Mobile for a long time.
In June 2016, Virgin Mobile Mexico started offering LTE access, and in April 2014, they introduced micro, nano, and regular SIM cards. Virgin Mobile Australia also provided its customers with access to the Optus network's 3G Dual Band and 3G Single Band frequencies.
Virgin Plus, the company's Canadian branch, has demonstrated a strong commitment to supporting the next generation, the planet, and its communities. During the wildfires in Manitoba, Virgin Plus provided eligible members with an extra 50 GB of mobile data.
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Virgin Mobile Australia is now wholly owned by Optus
Virgin Mobile Australia (VMA) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Optus. Optus initially acquired 74.15% of Virgin Mobile Australia from the Virgin Group in 2006, increasing its shareholding to 100%. Virgin Enterprises Ltd granted Optus a 15-year licence to use the Virgin Mobile brand in Australia. Optus has retained the Virgin brand and provides its own postpaid, wireless broadband, prepaid, switching, voicemail, and SMS platforms using the Optus network.
Virgin Mobile Australia was first launched in 2000 as a joint venture between Optus and Virgin Mobile UK, making it the first Mobile Virtual Network Operator in the country. Virgin Mobile UK boosted its stake to about 75% before Optus bought the remaining stake in 2006 for an upfront payment of $30 million. This agreement allowed Optus to continue using the Virgin Mobile brand in Australia for 15 years.
Virgin Mobile uses the Optus network to provide coverage to 97% of Australia. Virgin Mobile launched commercial 3G service running over the Optus network in April 2007. By 2008, Virgin Mobile Australia was performing reasonably well as a niche operator under the ownership of Optus.
In 2018, Optus announced that it would stop selling Virgin Mobile Australia services and phase out the brand over the next two years. Optus stated that it would support Virgin Mobile customers during the transition period by offering tailored plans for those who stayed on the Optus network. The company also committed to helping the affected Virgin Mobile employees find new work within the company.
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Virgin Mobile offers unique plan features like data rollover and gifting
Virgin Mobile Australia offers unique plan features like data rollover and gifting. Data rollover lets you carry unused data from one month to the next, ensuring you don't lose the data you've paid for. This feature is available for customers on specific plans, typically those with higher data allowances, and there may be caps on the amount of data that can be rolled over. With data gifting, Virgin Mobile customers on Postpaid plans can share their spare data with other Virgin Mobile Postpaid customers. There are no limits to how much data you can gift, giving you the freedom to help out family and friends who may need extra data.
The data rollover feature ensures that Virgin Mobile customers don't feel like they've wasted money on unused data. This feature is particularly useful for individuals who may have some months where they need more data than others. For example, someone might use less data during a month with minimal travel and more data the following month while on vacation. With data rollover, customers can make the most of their data allowances and avoid the frustration of missed opportunities.
Additionally, data gifting adds a layer of flexibility and sharing to Virgin Mobile's services. This feature is ideal for families or groups of friends who are all Virgin Mobile customers. If one person has extra data, they can easily share it with someone who may be running low, ensuring that everyone stays connected. Data gifting empowers customers to support each other and promotes a sense of community among Virgin Mobile users.
The combination of data rollover and gifting sets Virgin Mobile apart from competitors and demonstrates a customer-centric approach. By offering these features, Virgin Mobile Australia provides its customers with peace of mind, flexibility, and the ability to make the most of their mobile plans.
It's important to note that regarding coverage, Virgin Mobile Australia relies on the Optus network to provide service to 97% of the country. While this generally ensures broad coverage, some customers have reported issues with missed calls and connectivity in certain areas.
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Frequently asked questions
Virgin Mobile Australia uses the Optus 4G network to provide coverage to 97% of the country. Optus is a pretty advanced network with the fastest parts now beyond basic 4G technology. Optus covers 98.5% of the population of Australia, so you're likely to get good coverage, especially in populous areas.
While Optus has a wide reach, Virgin Mobile customers have reported issues with coverage in certain areas. One customer reported that their home coverage had been poor for 6 months, with lots of missed calls.
Some customers have reported issues with faulty devices and SIM cards. In one instance, a customer received a faulty Samsung phone and SIM card through Virgin Mobile Australia, which the company failed to replace.
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