Lexi Webster
Australia's three mobile network operators are Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone, and they are the most popular carriers in Australia. Telstra has the most extensive mobile network in Australia, covering 99.5% of the population. Optus has plenty of postpaid plans to choose from, and Vodafone offers a wider range of phone plans, including postpaid plans. Smaller providers, such as TPG and iiNet, are also available and tend to offer better value deals.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of mobile networks | 3 (Telstra, Optus, Vodafone) |
| Telco with the most extensive mobile network | Telstra (99.5% of the population) |
| Telco with the best overall satisfaction | Amaysim |
| Average cost of a postpaid SIM-only plan | $44 per month |
| Average data usage for postpaid plans | 17.4GB per month |
| Best overall postpaid plan | Moose Mobile (40GB for AU$12.40 per month) |
| Best cheap postpaid plan | Spintel (25GB for AU$14 per month) |
| Best high-data postpaid plan | Vodafone (360GB for AU$49 per month) |
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What You'll Learn
- Optus, Telstra and Vodafone are the three major phone carriers in Australia
- Telstra has the most extensive network, covering 99.5% of the population
- MVNOs offer better value with cheaper prices, but may not provide 5G
- Amaysim scored highest for overall satisfaction in a 2025 survey
- The average cost of a postpaid SIM-only plan is around $44 per month
Optus, Telstra and Vodafone are the three major phone carriers in Australia
All three carriers offer a range of phone plans, including SIM-only postpaid plans. Optus and Vodafone also provide prepaid plans, which are generally cheaper and more flexible, with the option of unlimited data on weekends. Postpaid plans, on the other hand, are usually required if you want a new phone on a plan. They are billed at the end of each month, with a two-week payment window. Telstra's Upfront plans are billed at the start of the month and are distinct from their prepaid plans.
The major carriers also provide 5G coverage, although it is not as readily available as 4G. Telstra has the most extensive mobile network, covering 99.5% of the population, making it a good option for rural customers. Optus and Vodafone also have MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operators) that use their networks, such as Amaysim and Belong. These smaller providers tend to offer better value and cheaper prices as they don't own the networks they operate on, but they may not provide full access to the bigger provider's network or 5G coverage.
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Telstra has the most extensive network, covering 99.5% of the population
Telstra has the most extensive network coverage in Australia, reaching 99.5% of the population. This is particularly useful for those in rural areas who may struggle to get service from other networks. Telstra's wholesale network, used by Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs), covers 98.8% of the population. The only exception to this is Boost Mobile, which has access to Telstra's full network.
Telstra is Australia's biggest telco and offers a wide range of phone plans, including SIM-only postpaid plans. While Telstra's plans are on the more expensive end, you'll get 5G coverage, no excess data charges, and access to Telstra's rewards program.
Telstra's MVNOs include Belong and Everyday Mobile, which only provide partial access to Telstra's network. This is a common feature of MVNOs, who typically offer cheaper prices as they don't own the network they operate on.
Telstra's two main competitors are Optus and Vodafone, who also offer a range of postpaid plans. Optus has plenty of postpaid plans to choose from, and Vodafone offers a wider range of phone plans, including plans bundled with a handset.
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MVNOs offer better value with cheaper prices, but may not provide 5G
Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) in Australia offer phone plans at cheaper prices than the three major carriers Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone. This is because MVNOs lease their services from the big three networks and sell them to customers at a lower price. However, one of the disadvantages of MVNOs is that they may not provide access to 5G networks.
MVNOs in Australia include Amaysim (Optus), Belong (Telstra), Circles.Life (Optus), and Everyday Mobile (Telstra). There are also small mobile providers reselling Vodafone’s network, such as TPG and iiNet. While these MVNOs provide great value with their cheaper prices, they may not offer 5G coverage.
For example, most Telstra MVNOs use the Telstra Wholesale Mobile Network, a slightly smaller version of Telstra’s market-leading 4G and 5G network. This network covers 98.8% of the population, while Telstra’s full network covers 99.5%. As a result, customers on a Telstra MVNO may not have access to the same 5G coverage as those on a plan directly from Telstra.
Optus is the only network operator in Australia that currently allows MVNOs to access its 5G network. Optus MVNOs have full access to the Optus 4G and 5G networks, which cover 98.5% of the population. This means that customers on an Optus MVNO can still enjoy 5G coverage, even if they are not on a plan directly from Optus.
Vodafone has the smallest network of the three big telcos, covering 96% of Australians. All Vodafone MVNOs have access to the full Vodafone network, which includes 4G and 3G coverage. While Vodafone is tight-lipped about its 5G coverage, it is currently rolling out 5G alongside the other two major carriers. Therefore, it is likely that Vodafone MVNOs will also offer 5G in the future.
In summary, MVNOs in Australia offer better value with their cheaper prices, but they may not provide 5G coverage. This is because they lease their services from the big three networks, and in some cases, the MVNOs do not have access to the full network, including 5G. However, with the ongoing rollout of 5G in Australia, it is possible that more MVNOs will gain access to 5G networks in the future.
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Amaysim scored highest for overall satisfaction in a 2025 survey
In a 2025 survey, Amaysim scored highest for overall satisfaction. Amaysim is a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) in Australia, which means it doesn't own the network it operates on. This is a common set-up in Australia, where there are only three mobile networks: Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone. Amaysim uses the Optus network, which is one of the three major networks in the country.
Amaysim's high satisfaction score may be due to a few factors. Firstly, MVNOs tend to offer better value and cheaper prices than the major networks as they don't have the same overheads. Amaysim also offers the latest iPhones along with select models from Google and Samsung, which is unusual for an MVNO. Typically, MVNOs only offer SIM-only plans or prepaid plans, but Amaysim offers a wider range of options.
The survey in question was conducted by Canstar Blue, which surveyed 2,402 Australians with a current postpaid service. Respondents rated their satisfaction with their postpaid provider on a scale of zero to 10, with zero being extremely dissatisfied and 10 being extremely satisfied. Amaysim scored highest, followed closely by ALDImobile, another MVNO.
It's worth noting that the three major networks, Telstra, Vodafone, and Optus, scored below average for SIM-only plans, taking the last three places for overall satisfaction. This may be due to a variety of factors, including price, network reliability, and value for money.
When choosing a postpaid provider in Australia, there are several important factors to consider. These include network availability, cost of the plan, network speed, data allowance, and the ability to manage your account online. It's also worth considering your data usage, as you don't want to pay for more data than you need.
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The average cost of a postpaid SIM-only plan is around $44 per month
In Australia, there are three mobile networks: Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone. Smaller providers, known as Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs), use these three networks to sell their SIM-only plans. The cheapest SIM-only plans in Australia start from around $5, but these plans have very short expiry periods of less than a week and less than 5GB of data. Cheap SIM-only plans start to get better around the $10 mark, but you get the most value on plans starting at $20 per month. The average cost of a postpaid SIM-only plan is around $40 per month, while prepaid plans average $38 per month.
When it comes to postpaid plans, Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone are the most popular carriers in Australia. Telstra has the most extensive mobile network in Australia, covering 99.5% of the population. Optus and Vodafone also have wide network coverage, reaching 98.4% of the population. Telstra SIM-only plans start at $70 a month for 50GB, while Optus plans cost more than what smaller providers charge. Vodafone offers a range of postpaid plans, with its best high-data postpaid plan providing 360GB for AU$49 per month.
If you're looking for a cheaper option, MVNOs typically offer better value with cheaper prices as they don't own the network they operate on. Some popular MVNOs in Australia include Amaysim (Optus), Belong (Telstra), Circles.Life (Optus), and Everyday Mobile (Telstra). MVNOs usually offer SIM-only plans or prepaid plans, and it's not common to get the latest flagship phones through them. Amaysim is an exception, offering the latest iPhones along with select models from Google and Samsung.
While prepaid plans used to be much cheaper than postpaid plans, the gap between the two has narrowed. Prepaid plans offer more flexibility, with monthly, short-term, and long-expiry plans up to 365 days. On the other hand, postpaid plans are billed month-to-month with no lock-in contract, providing the security of not needing to recharge every month.
When choosing between prepaid and postpaid SIM-only plans, it's important to consider your usage patterns and budget. Prepaid plans may be more suitable for light phone users, while postpaid plans offer more data and features.
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Frequently asked questions
Telstra, Optus and Vodafone are the three major phone carriers in Australia, also known as the 'big three'. Telstra has the most extensive mobile network in Australia, covering 99.5% of the population.
Postpaid plans are month-to-month plans. They are more expensive than prepaid plans, but you can get a new phone on a postpaid plan.
Here are some examples of postpaid plans in Australia:
- Telstra – 50GB for AU$65 per month
- Optus – 50GB for AU$44 per month
- Vodafone – 360GB for AU$49 per month
One pro of postpaid plans is that you can get a new phone on a plan, which can be paid off in monthly instalments. Another pro is that there are no lock-in contracts, so you can leave anytime by paying off the remaining phone cost. A con is that postpaid plans are generally more expensive than prepaid plans.
Some alternatives to the 'big three' postpaid plans in Australia are:
- Moose Mobile – 40GB for AU$12.40 per month
- Spintel – 25GB for AU$14 per month
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