Leslie Massey
Australia's most popular phone carriers include Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone. Telstra has consistently achieved the largest market share of mobile phone service providers in Australia since 2010, with a total share of 43% in 2023. Telstra's MVNO partners, such as Boost Mobile, operate on the wholesale Telstra network, which covers 98.8% of Australians. Optus comes in second, covering 98.5% of the Australian population, while Vodafone is the cheapest of the big three, offering coverage to around 96% of Australians. Smaller providers like Amaysim, ALDImobile, Southern Phone, and TeleChoice are also popular alternatives, offering SIM-only plans and competitive pricing.
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What You'll Learn
Telstra: Australia's largest telecommunications provider
Telstra is Australia's largest telecommunications provider in terms of revenue and market share. Since 2010, Telstra has consistently achieved the largest market share of mobile phone service providers in Australia, with a total share of between 37% in 2010 and 45% between 2014 and 2016. In 2023, Telstra's market share was 43%. Telstra's large market share can be attributed to its good customer satisfaction ratings. In 2021, the company achieved a score of 74% for its internet service, and 73.9% for mobile phone services in 2018.
Telstra provides a full range of competitive communication services across Australia, including mobile coverage to 99.5% of the population. The company offers a wide range of phones, including popular devices from Apple and Samsung, as well as customer-friendly month-to-month mobile plans and bundle plans. Telstra also stands out for its network technology, utilising 3G and 4G connections and now moving onto 5G.
Telstra's MVNO partners, or Mobile Virtual Network Operators, have access to parts of its 3G and 4G network space through its wholesale arm. This can result in a difference in speeds and coverage between a direct Telstra plan and one purchased through an MVNO retailer. Boost Mobile is the only exception, as it has full access to Telstra's wholesale network.
Telstra also offers international calling and texting options on its plans. On its medium and large plans, Telstra offers unlimited international calls and texts to standard numbers across 31 selected countries, while its small plan includes 100 minutes of international calling.
In summary, Telstra is Australia's largest telecommunications provider, offering a wide range of services and plans to its customers, as well as a large network coverage area. The company has achieved success and maintained its market share due to its competitive offerings and focus on customer satisfaction.
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Optus: second-largest network
Optus is Australia's second-largest mobile network, covering 98.5% of the population. It offers a full range of competitive communication services across Australia, including mobile coverage, trending mobile phones, and customer-friendly month-to-month mobile plans. Optus also provides bundle plans and data add-ons, as well as SIM-only plans.
Optus has a wide range of phones available, including popular devices from Apple and Samsung. Its plans tend to be cheaper than Telstra's, reflecting their slower speeds. Optus provides its full 4G network to its MVNO partners, ensuring no significant difference in connectivity and speed between Optus and its MVNO partner plans.
Optus scored below average for SIM-only plans in a customer satisfaction survey, along with the other two major providers, Telstra and Vodafone. However, Optus still has a large number of customers, and its MVNO partners benefit from utilising the Optus network to deliver outstanding value.
Optus's coverage commitment is a notable feature, allowing customers facing coverage issues to cancel at any time without incurring cancellation fees. The company is also moving towards 5G technology, having previously utilised 3G and 4G connections.
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Vodafone: cheapest of the 'big three'
In Australia, the three major phone carriers are Telstra, Vodafone, and Optus. While Telstra has the best coverage, Vodafone has long been the most affordable of the three. Vodafone's lower prices previously came with a trade-off in terms of coverage, but a deal with Optus and TPG has significantly boosted its network reach to 98.4% of Australians, comparable to Optus' 98.5% and Telstra's 99.6% or 99.7%.
Vodafone's MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operators) are also worth considering. These smaller providers buy network access and sell it on for cheap, often providing cheaper plans because they have fewer overheads, such as advertising or physical stores. Each Vodafone MVNO receives full access to the Vodafone network, which isn't the case for Telstra MVNOs. For instance, Telstra MVNOs can only access the Telstra 'Wholesale' network, which has an overall 4G coverage of 98.8% and 75% for 5G. The only exception is Boost Mobile, a Telstra MVNO with full access.
Vodafone's Small plan is one of the best phone plan options on the market, even when considering all SIM-only plans. It offers 100GB of data for AU$49 per month, but it's currently discounted to AU$39 per month for the first 12 months, with double data included. This plan is an excellent choice if you're in the market for an iPhone 16, as it includes a AU$350 discount on the device, 5G connectivity, and roaming in eligible countries for an extra AU$5 per day.
In addition to this plan, Vodafone is offering several other promotions in 2025 to celebrate its upgraded network:
- AU$10 off the first 12 months of all SIM plans
- Save AU$710 on the iPhone 16 Pro Max/Pro/Plus/regular over 36 months
- Save up to AU$1,950 on the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra with eligible device trade-in over 36 months
- Save up to AU$910 on the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge with eligible device trade-in
- Save AU$600 on the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL over 36 months
- Get the Samsung Galaxy A56 5G for half price over 36 months
- AU$330 off the Galaxy Watch Ultra over 24 or 36 months
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MVNOs: smaller providers that rent networks
In Australia, there are three phone networks: Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone. Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) are smaller providers that don't own their own mobile networks but buy access to these three networks at wholesale prices and then resell the service to customers. As they have lower overheads and don't have to cover the costs of building and maintaining mobile networks, MVNOs can offer more affordable plans than the big three telcos.
Telstra MVNOs are the most popular in Australia because Telstra's premium network coverage can be expensive. Telstra's network covers 99.7% of Australians, making it the best option for those in rural areas. All Telstra MVNOs, except for Boost Mobile, operate on the Telstra Wholesale Mobile Network, which covers 98.8% of Australians. Boost Mobile is the only MVNO with access to the full Telstra network.
Optus is the second-largest network, covering 98.5% of Australians. All MVNOs on the Optus network have the same coverage as Optus itself. Vodafone has the smallest network of the three, covering 96% of Australians. All Vodafone MVNOs have access to the full Vodafone network.
Some popular MVNOs in Australia include Amaysim, Aussie Broadband, Belong, Boost Mobile, ALDImobile, Woolworths Everyday Mobile, and Felix Mobile. Amaysim has 1.4 million customers, while Everyday Mobile is considered a good all-rounder when it comes to value and features.
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SIM-only plans: popular choice for flexibility
SIM-only plans are a popular choice for Australians seeking flexibility in their phone plans. These plans offer a range of benefits, including no lock-in contracts, a wide selection of providers and plan options, and the ability to bring your own device.
One of the key advantages of SIM-only plans is the freedom from long-term commitments. Unlike traditional phone plans that often require a 12- or 24-month contract, SIM-only plans provide the flexibility of no-contract or month-to-month options. This means you can easily change your plan or provider to suit your evolving needs without being tied down. Telstra, one of the major telco providers in Australia, offers SIM-only plans with no lock-in contracts, allowing users to switch plans or providers whenever they like.
Another appeal of SIM-only plans is the extensive choice of providers and plan variations. In addition to the big three telco providers—Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone—there are numerous smaller providers known as Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs). These MVNOs utilise the networks of the major telcos but often offer simpler and more affordable plans. The variety of providers and plans available empowers consumers to find an option that aligns perfectly with their specific requirements and budget.
SIM-only plans also provide the flexibility to bring your own device. Whether you're attached to your current phone or want to purchase a new one outright, SIM-only plans allow you to do so. You're not locked into using a specific handset provided by the carrier, giving you the freedom to choose the device that best meets your preferences and needs.
The popularity of SIM-only plans in Australia is evident, with 69% of respondents in a survey opting for this type of plan. When choosing a SIM-only plan, it's important to consider factors such as value for money, network reliability, coverage, and data allowance. While some plans offer unlimited local calls and texts, others provide additional features like data rollover and international call inclusions.
Overall, SIM-only plans offer Australians a flexible and versatile alternative to traditional phone plans. With the ability to choose from a wide range of providers and plans, bring their own device, and avoid long-term contracts, it's no surprise that SIM-only options are a popular choice for those seeking adaptability in their mobile phone plans.
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Frequently asked questions
The most popular phone carriers in Australia are Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone. Telstra has the largest market share of mobile phone service providers in Australia, with a share of 43% in 2023.
When choosing a phone carrier in Australia, you should consider factors such as value for money, network reliability, network coverage, and internet connectivity. You may also want to look at the range of phones offered by the carrier, as some carriers offer a wider selection of popular devices from Apple and Samsung.
MVNO stands for Mobile Virtual Network Operator. MVNOs are telco companies that resell mobile connectivity plans without owning their own network infrastructure. In Australia, MVNOs typically operate by leasing the phone and data services of the big three carriers: Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone. This allows them to offer cheaper deals and special offers to customers.
