Vodafone offers free mobile broadband for bushfire victims - Customer or not

Anula Wiwatowska - Offsite Editorial Lead

Last updated 17 January 2020

Vodafone is offering free pocket WiFi modems to every home lost to bushfires, with absolutely no strings attached.

In its latest act of generosity, the provider is giving a free modem and 100GB of data per month for three months to anyone who has lost their home - whether they’re a Vodafone customer or not. This kind of plan would normally be billed at $60 per month.

The 4G Pocket WiFi Modem allows users to get connected anywhere there is 4G coverage on the Vodafone network. While there has been localised support from the NBN to get emergency shelters online in bushfire affected areas, this move by Vodafone will help victims to stay connected while they try to return to some normalcy.

After the three months free service have finished, people are under no obligation to return the device or continue their connection with Vodafone.

This offer is open to anyone who has lost their residence (either owning or renting) to bushfires since July 1st, 2019. Eligible people will need to prove that their home has been lost by providing a police or fire report, or an insurance claim document.

Applications for this offer close January 31st, 2020. To apply call Vodafone on 1800 130 424 or visit a local store.

This comes off the back of Vodafone comping Volunteer Firefighter’s phone bills in December and January, and automatically crediting extra data to all its customers in bushfire affected regions. It has also waived data usage for a selection of emergency websites (listed below), to ensure that no one is left without a connection in these trying times.

You can find out more about what your telco is offering as emergency relief here:
Telco bushfire relief

Anula Wiwatowska

Offsite Editorial Lead | Instagram

Anula is the Off-Site Editorial Lead for WhistleOut Australia, and an award winning tech journalist. She has been writing about the Australian telco industry, and consumer technology for over five years, and has been known to tell her Uber driver which phone they should upgrade to next.

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