
Telstra's budget brand Belong has refreshed its entire range of SIM-only mobile plans, dialling up data allowances almost across the board. Diet Telstra now has three plans: a $25 plan with 20GB, a $35 plan with 40GB, and a $45 plan with 80GB. Here's the full range of options:
For comparison, Belong previously had a $25 plan with 10GB and a $40 plan with 40GB, so the new range is a significant improvement, especially for those looking for a more affordable service powered by the Telstra network.
While the data per dollar on Belong's new plans is better, there is a trade-off. Belong's $40 plan previously included unlimited international talk and text to 30 destinations at no extra cost. Now, international inclusions will cost you an extra $5 per month on every single plan. This makes the $35 plan identical to the old $40 plan if you're after international talk and text.
Notably, Belong's new $35 plan is a limited time offer, and will only be available until April 30. After this point, it seems that Belong will only have its $25 and $45 per month plans available.
Belong plans also include unlimited data rollover and data gifting to other Belong customers.
If you're looking at the $25 plan, Belong stacks up reasonably well to the competition.
ALDI is the only other Telstra-powered provider to offer 20GB at this price-point; most others tend to only give you 18GB for $25. You can however get the same amount of data for less from Optus-powered providers. Moose Mobile, for example, is currently offering 20GB for $19.80 per month for your first 12 months (and $23.80 per month thereafter). Alternatively, Circles.Life will do 50GB for $22 per month for your first year. This reverts to $28 for 20GB after your first 12 months are up. Both plans are contract-free, however.
It's a similar story when it comes to larger plans. 80GB for $45 per month is great for the Telstra network, but there are more affordable options available through other providers. Circles will do 100GB for $30 per month for your first year and $38 per month thereafter, and felix has an unlimited data plan (with speeds capped to 20Mbps) for $35 per month.
Belong is powered by the Telstra wholesale network, which covers 98.8% of the population. Telstra's full network reaches 99.4% of the population, for comparison. Boost is the only Telstra-powered provider to have access to the entire Telstra network (other than Telstra itself). Read more about the difference between the Telstra network and the Telstra wholesale network here.
Alex Choros