Before you sign up for any mobile phone plan, you should have a good understanding about the strengths and weaknesses 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 expensive new 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. For example, Woolworths Mobile offers service on the Telstra network. Companies like Woolworths Mobile are known as Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs).
Telstra has the widest coverage followed by Optus and Vodafone closely behind. Those of us in capital cities should have our pick of the litter but it never hurts to check.
Follow the links below for a more in-depth look at the coverage maps for the three main networks and the MVNOs powered by them.
Telstra coverage map
Telstra's mobile network covers 99.4% of the population making it the farthest reaching network in the country. The Telstra network is synonymous with rural customers whom may not get reception with any other provider.
Lucky individuals might just be able to tap into the provider's 5G network in select areas too, but you'll have to pay extra for the privilege or stick with the 4G network.
Here are our most popular Telstra SIM-only plans.
Telstra MVNO coverage
Telstra wholesale network which it's MVNOs use is similar but not identical. While Telstra covers 99.4% of Australia's population the network used by MVNOs covers just 98.8% to the exclusion of Boost Mobile which has unfettered access to the full network.
To avoid disappointment rural Aussies should double check the coverage available in their area before committing to a new plan. You can read more about Telstra MVNO coverage here.
City-slickers on the other hand will most likely be able to get away with Telstra coverage with some of these Telstra MVNOs.
Optus coverage map
Optus' ever-growing network now covers 98.5% of the Australian population. This kind of coverage should be fine for the vast majority of Aussies (duh) but more remote customers may suffer. In saying that Optus is constantly upgrading its service including a 5G rollout which will help keep more of us connected.
Here are our most popular Optus SIM-only plans.
Optus MVNO coverage
Unlike Telstra, Optus doesn't differentiate it's wholesale offering. Whether you pick Optus proper or one of it's MVNO providers you will receive the exact same coverage.
Check to see if you're covered by Optus and take advantage of some Optus lite pricing instead.
Vodafone coverage map
While sometimes thought of as a lesser network Vodafone covers 96% of the Australian population which is just marginally less than Optus. Probably 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.
Vodafone MVNO coverage
Vodafone's MVNOs have access to the entire Vodafone network so opting for something cheaper won't cost you coverage.
While there are significantly less Vodafone MVNOs 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?
Read more about Vodafone MVNOs
Getting 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 is the first of its kind, and 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.
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