Before you sign up for any mobile phone plan, you should have a sound understanding of a provider's coverage in your area. At a minimum, you should check coverage for where you live and work. After all, no coverage means no use of your smartphone.
In Australia, there are three mobile network owner-operators: Telstra, Optus and Vodafone. All other mobile service providers lease service from one of these three networks and re-sell it to their customers. These resellers are known as Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs).
MVNOs on the Optus and Vodafone network get full access (though some choose to limit themselves to 4G for some or all plans). But MVNOs that offer mobile plans on the Telstra Network are limited to the Telstra 'Wholesale' Network, which has a slightly smaller coverage footprint. The only exception is Boost Mobile, which can access the full Telstra Network.
A big change from last year is TPG's network-sharing agreement with Optus. Vodafone network customers get access to Optus coverage when in remote and regional areas. This means Vodafone's coverage is now 99% of the population, which is 0.1% below Optus' reported figures.
Another recent change is new coverage map standards. Under the new rules, areas with signal strengths below -115dBM are declared as not having usable services, and as such, can't be shown on coverage maps. This has cut Telstra's coverage maps, and as a result, Telstra is no longer reporting population-based coverage figures.
Telcos now also have to classify other coverage in one of three categories: good, moderate, or basic.
Who owns Vodafone?
Who has the best mobile coverage?
Overall, Telstra has the biggest network coverage in terms of sheer size, but that doesn't mean Telstra will necessarily have better coverage than Optus or Vodafone in your area.
When looking for the provider with the best phone coverage in Australia, the answer largely comes down to who has the best coverage in the areas you frequent the most.
Before we get into coverage maps and each provider, here's a look at how the big three owner-operators and MVNOs compare in terms of coverage:
| Network | 4G coverage | 5G coverage | Network Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Telstra network* | N/A | N/A | 2.14 mil square km |
| Telstra Wholesale network | N/A | N/A | 1.4 mil square km |
| Optus network | 99.1% | 94.5% | 1.2 million square km |
| Vodafone network | 99% | 94.5% | 1.2 million square km |
Numbers shown are a percentage of the Australian population.
*Telstra no longer provides population-based coverage figures. Boost Mobile is the only Telstra MVNO with access to the full Telstra network.
Coverage map of Australia
In the coverage map checker below, you can toggle between the three networks and 4G and 5G coverage.
Have you found out what coverage you can get in your area? Then it's time to take a look at some plans. Here are the cheapest mobile plans in our database from the three network providers in Australia on their postpaid services:
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#1
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$60 Optus Choice Plus Plan
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#2
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$70 Optus Choice Plus Plan
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#3
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$58 Small SIM Only Plan
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#4
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$68 Medium SIM Only Plan
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#5
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$74 Basic Upfront SIM Plan
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#6
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$84 Essential Upfront SIM Plan
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![Optus](data:image/svg+xml,<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="179" height="48"><rect fill-opacity="0"/></svg>)
![Vodafone](data:image/svg+xml,<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="190" height="60"><rect fill-opacity="0"/></svg>)
5G coverage in Australia
Telstra previously had the widest 5G coverage in Australia, but since the new coverage map standards have come in, it no longer says how much of the population its 5G network covers. It also hasn't provided a network size figure for 5G coverage in square kilometres.
Telstra previously said its 5G network covered 95% of the population. While all existing coverage is still there and usable, it may not be strong enough to appear on coverage maps. Meanwhile, Optus and and Vodafone both report their 5G networks cover 94.5% of the population.
Optus and Vodafone MVNOs have identical 5G coverage to the main network, but 5G coverage for Telstra power providers is a little trickier.
Telstra MNVOs have access to a smaller 5G footprint than customers on the main Telstra network, but Telstra has not shared any figures comparing this. When looking at coverage maps, the Telstra 5G footprint is clearly much bigger than the Telstra Wholesale 5G footprint.
Telstra coverage
Telstra's full network covers approximately 2.14 million square kilometres, giving it the largest physical network in Australia. Telstra used to say its network reached 99.7% of the population and its 5G reached 95% of the population, but it no longer provides these stats.
As per new network reporting rules, these numbers are likely to have shrunk, but we don't know by how much. All existing coverage in areas where connectivity is too weak to make it on coverage maps will still continue to work.
The Telstra network is often necessary with rural customers who may not get reception from any other provider. But if you live in a population centre, you might not notice much of a difference between Telstra and any other telco.
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#1
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$74 Basic Upfront SIM Plan
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#2
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$84 Essential Upfront SIM Plan
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#3
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$99 Premium Upfront SIM Plan
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Telstra MVNO coverage
While going with an MVNO means getting Telstra coverage for a discount, you're not getting the full Telstra experience. The Telstra Wholesale Network, which its MVNOs use, has a smaller footprint than the full Telstra network.
Telstra's network used to cover 99.7% of the population, while its Wholesale Network covered a bit less at 98.8%. These numbers would have shrunk per new coverage reporting rules, and Telstra has not provided updated figures. In terms of physical size, Telstra says its Wholesale Network covers 1.4 million square kilometres.
The Telstra Wholesale Network also has less 5G coverage than the full Telstra network, but we don't currently have an accurate figure for this.
Boost Mobile is the one exception, which has unfettered access to the full Telstra Network.
To avoid disappointment, rural Aussies should double-check the coverage available in their area before committing to a new plan. At the very least, a Telstra MVNO will usually be able to cover you with 4G, as long as the full network does.
You can compare Telstra and Telstra MVNO coverage in the below map. 5G is purple, 4G is green.
City-slickers will most likely be able to get away with more affordable Telstra coverage via a Telstra MVNO. Here's a look at some of the most popular plans in our database from Telstra network providers offering at least 10GB:
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#1
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$28 Prepaid
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#2
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30GB 5G Mobile SIM
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#3
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25GB Mobile Plan
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#4
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Plus One eSIM Plan
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#5
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SuperSim Saver 4G Plan
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#6
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Pre-paid Mobile $25 Recharge
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#7
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$23 Mobile Plan
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Optus coverage
Optus' network covers 99.1% of the Australian population, and its 5G network is a little smaller at 94.5% of the population. In terms of physical size, the Optus network spans approximately 1.2 million square kilometres. This kind of coverage should be fine for the vast majority of Aussies but more remote customers may struggle.
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#1
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$60 Optus Choice Plus Plan
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#2
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$70 Optus Choice Plus Plan
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#3
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$69 Optus Promo Plan
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#4
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$90 Optus Choice Plus Plan
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Optus MVNO coverage
Whether you pick Optus proper or one of Optus' MVNO providers, you will receive the exact same coverage for both 5G and 4G – as long as your provider doesn't limit 5G access based on the type of plan. This is good news, given the lion's share of cheap mobile providers in Australia operate over the Optus Network.
This means you can save a decent amount on your monthly bill by going with an Optus Network reseller, instead of with Optus itself.
These are the most popular plans in our database from Optus MVNOs, offering at least 10GB:
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#1
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Medium Mobile Plan
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#2
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$23 Mobile Plan
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#3
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Premium 5G SIM Plan
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#4
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$35 Mobile Plan
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Vodafone coverage
While sometimes thought of as a lesser network, Vodafone now covers 99% of the Australian population thanks to its network-sharing agreement with Optus. Vodafone's 5G network is the same size as Optus', however, covering 94.5% of the population.
Possibly due to some less-than-desirable preconceptions about its network, Vodafone offers a 30-day network guarantee. If you're Vo-curious then you can test it out for 30 days and if you're not happy you can opt out — no strings attached.
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#1
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$58 Small SIM Only Plan
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#2
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$68 Medium SIM Only Plan
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#3
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$78 Large SIM Only Plan
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Vodafone MVNO coverage
Vodafone's MVNOs have access to the entire Vodafone network, so opting for something cheaper won't cost you coverage with Vodafone.
While there are fewer Vodafone MVNOs compared to Optus and Telstra, you can still get a great deal. Check your coverage and, if you're ready to put yourself back on the telco market, why not give a Vodafone MVNO a go?
These plans are the most popular in our database from Vodafone MVNOs offering at least 10GB:
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#1
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felix 25GB Mobile Plan
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#2
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Small Monthly Plan
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#3
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25GB Small Plan
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#4
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25GB Small Plan
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#5
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$200 SIM Plan - 365 Days
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How to get the best plan and coverage
WhistleOut's coverage check feature supercharges our robust comparison engine by allowing you to instantly see what coverage is like at your location. All you have to do is punch in your address and we do the rest. This feature empowers you to make better decisions when it comes to which carrier you go with. If you need help figuring out how to use it, the GIF below should help:
In addition to showing you a map of your area with the coverage from the three major networks, we filter to ensure you're only seeing plans from providers who can provide you with good reception.
Mobile coverage FAQs
Does Vodafone offer coverage in remote or rural areas of Australia?
Yes, Vodafone does offer coverage in remote and rural areas of Australia but its coverage varies by location. Vodafone's rural coverage has expanded greatly thanks to its network-sharing agreement with Optus.
Is Telstra the most expensive option for network coverage in Australia?
It's true that Telstra plans tend to be the most expensive in terms of data per dollar and have a higher starting price than its competitors.
There are perks to being with Telstra, however. Telstra customers receive wider coverage than Optus and Vodafone customers plus its plans come with added benefits, like discounts off streaming services and access to its Telstra Plus rewards program.
Can I use my Telstra, Vodafone or Optus mobile plan when travelling outside of Australia?
Telstra, Vodafone and Optus all have international roaming options, which you can add to your current plan to continue using your phone number while overseas.
For Telstra roaming, Telstra's Day Pass allows customers to pay just $10 per day while overseas for a daily 1GB international data allowance unless travelling in New Zealand, Fiji, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Western Samoa, Tonga, or Vanuatu, in which case it drops to $5.
Optus customers on current postpaid plans can roam overseas for $5 per day using an Optus International Roaming add-on.
Vodafone has its famous $5 roaming option.
Alex Choros
