Comparing mobile phone and broadband providers in Australia might seem overwhelming, with so many choices available. Whether you’re looking for the cheapest mobile phone plan, the best NBN provider, or just want to know what telecom options are available to you, read on to learn more about broadband and mobile phone providers in Australia.
The Mobile Phone Network in Australia
Mobile phone coverage in Australia is tricky.
If you live in any of the major cities, you are likely to have great mobile phone coverage. However, for those living in rural and regional Australia, finding adequate mobile phone coverage can be tricky, but it's not impossible! In 2025, all of the big three providers, Telstra, Vodafone, and Optus, have extended their mobile coverage allowing most of Australians to be able to access 5G internet!
Before choosing a mobile phone plan, it’s useful to learn the difference between the different types of phone coverage in Australia and what phone coverage will work best for you, and if you should opt for a larger or smaller provider.
The Mobile Network Operators in Australia: Vodafone, Optus, Telstra
Regardless of which phone company you have your mobile phone plan through, all mobile phone plans run on one of three mobile networks in Australia: Vodafone, Optus, or Telstra.
These companies are also known as phone carriers, as they provide mobile network coverage to other phone companies in Australia.
Therefore, Vodafone, Optus, and Telstra not only provide mobile network services, but also operate and manage the phone lines in Australia.
Telstra has the largest mobile network of all mobile providers in Australia, covering approximately 99.5% of the total Australian population.
Telstra currently offers the most established 5G network in Australia. However its only available in parts of the country. Regionally, Telstra has the best overall coverage and their 4GX and 4G Plus coverage hopes to extend rural and regional coverage in the future.
Optus comes in second for mobile network coverage on our list of mobile providers in Australia. The Optus network covers 98.5% of the Australian population including in rural and regional areas. Optus mobile is currently also the first home wireless broadband provider to offer 5G wireless broadband where available.
Vodafone is the smallest network provider, but also the newest of the three, and covers 96% of the Australian population. Vodafone has the the least amount of rural and regional coverage and slowest 5G broadband rollout of these three mobile providers.
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Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) in Australia
All other phone companies in Australia are known as Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs). MVNOs lease their wireless mobile phone and data services from one of the big three operators: Vodafone, Optus, or Telstra.
These phone companies purchase mobile network service at wholesale prices, and resell the service to consumers. Because of this, they can often offer cheaper rates than the big-name operators.
However, some MVNOs don’t get access to the “full” mobile network meaning slower speeds. While this shouldn’t be an issue for most Australians living in big cities, it can be more of a problem in rural areas where coverage is spotty or for those interested in the faster speed offered by 5G plans.
Below you can see a list of major mobile phone providers in Australia and the Mobile network their services run on:
Which Network Mobile Phone Providers Use in Australia
5G is in Australia, and network operators are slowly beginning to rollout 5G coverage in major cities.
5G is the next evolution for mobile phones, with major improvements including:
Faster networks speed over minimum 100Mbps
Lower latency
Better simultaneous connection
These speeds and faster connection mean that 5G is no longer just for mobile phones. 5G can now be used as an NBN alternative with home wireless broadband, or with self-driving vehicles.
Australia’s largest mobile network operators are already starting to roll out 5G in major cities and are including new 5G access with their mobile phone plans. If you’re interested in 5G, you can find 5G rollout maps for each network, with Optus currently offering the most 5G coverage so far.
While most of us are looking for the cheapest mobile phone plan available that will still meet our needs, it’s important to consider what’s included in your phone plan for the price.
If you need lots of mobile data, for example, consider also the cost per MB of data included in the plan whereas if you need lots of international minutes to call family and friends, you might consider a more expensive option if it has international calling.
CALL & TEXT:
If you frequently call and text friends, you’ll want to be sure that your phone plan includes unlimited call and text. Different plans might include unlimited standard calls, but require you to pay for mobile calls or national numbers, so check that your plan covers the types of calls you want to make.
DATA ALLOWANCE:
How much data do you need on your phone? If you spend a lot of time on your phone out of the house, or use your phone as a mobile hotspot, you’ll probably want a mobile plan with a big data allowance.
DATA CAPPING:
Some mobile phone plans in Australia automatically suspend your data usage when you’ve gone over your allowance limit, while others will automatically charge you for each MB of data you’ve consumed once your allowance is used up. If you don’t want to be hit with bill shock, you might be better with a capped data allowance.
TYPE OF CONTRACT:
Mobile phone plans come with different types of contracts. While the more traditional mobile contract was a 12-month contract, many mobile phone providers in Australia are switching to month-to-month mobile plans with no lock-in contracts instead. This means you’re free to cancel or switch your plan at any time, without needing to worry about a cancellation fee.
PREPAID or POSTPAID:
Prepaid mobile plans mean you pay for your mobile phone service at the start of every month. Postpaid mobile plans mean you pay for the mobile phone service you used the previous month.
EXPIRY PERIOD:
Most mobile phone plans in Australia run on a month-to-month expiry, so every 30 days you need to pay for your mobile service.
Some plans, instead, run every 28 days, meaning you have to pay for an additional 24 total days with your service. Certain prepaid mobile phone plans in Australia might also have a 7 or 10-day expiry, or be a long-expiry plan with 6 or 12 months of service.
Compare Mobile Plans in Australia
Here are the top mobile plans in Australia as of August 2025:
Australia has three main mobile network operators: Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone. Every mobile plan in the country uses one of these networks, either directly (if you’re with Telstra, Optus, or Vodafone) or via a smaller provider (MVNO) that leases capacity from them.
What kind of mobile phone coverage can I expect?
If you live in a major city, you’ll likely get excellent coverage from all three networks. In rural and regional areas, Telstra typically provides the best coverage, followed by Optus, with Vodafone having the smallest regional footprint. All three now cover most Australians with 5G in metro areas, but coverage varies outside cities.
What is an MVNO and how does it work?
A Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) is a company that sells mobile plans using the infrastructure of the big three networks (Telstra, Optus, Vodafone). MVNOs lease capacity at wholesale prices and often offer more affordable plans. However, some MVNOs may not have access to the full network speed or coverage, especially in rural areas or for 5G.
Which network do popular providers use?
Providers like Boost Mobile and Belong Mobile use Telstra; Amaysim and Dodo use Optus; TPG and iiNet use Vodafone. Each MVNO contractually partners with one major network—you can check with a provider to see which network their plans use before signing up.
Is 5G available across Australia?
Yes, 5G networks are rolling out in major cities and some regional centres. Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone all offer 5G coverage, though Telstra and Optus currently have broader 5G footprints. 5G is available with many new plans and can even be used as a home broadband alternative.
How can I choose the best mobile plan for me?
Consider your budget, typical data usage, call and text allowance, network coverage in your area, contract length, and whether you prefer prepaid or postpaid billing. Also compare features like bill capping, data rollover, and international calling if they matter to you.
What does "expiry period" mean in mobile plans?
Expiry period is how long your credit or plan lasts. Most Australian plans are month-to-month (every 30 days), but some especially prepaid plans can expire every 28 or even 10 days. Always check your plan's expiry so you know when you need to recharge or pay again.
What’s the difference between prepaid and postpaid mobile plans?
With prepaid, you pay in advance for the service you’ll use in the coming period, and recharge when necessary. With postpaid, you receive a bill at the end of each month for what you’ve already used.
How do I compare mobile phone plans in Australia?
Compare plans based on price, data limits, call and text inclusions, network coverage, customer service reviews, contract terms, and any extra benefits or hidden fees. Using a comparison tool can make this process quicker and easier.
At Selectra Australia, we pride ourselves on delivering content that is 100% written, reviewed, and fact-checked by real people. We do not use artificial intelligence tools—such as ChatGPT, Google Gemini, or any other generative AI platforms—to produce or edit the content found on this page. Every article and guide is created by our in-house team of Australian content specialists, energy experts, and researchers who understand the local market and care deeply about providing accurate, up-to-date, and genuinely helpful information. We believe trust is built through transparency and human insight—never automation.
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