TPG, iiNet, Kogan, and Lebara customers get a free 5G trial on select mobile plans

Alex Choros - Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor

Last updated 20 July 2022

TPG Telecom (the parent company of Vodafone, TPG, et al) is switching on 5G for MVNOs, with four of its wholesale partners offering customers a free trial of next-generation connectivity on select plans. 5G will be available free of charge to eligible customers on TPG, iiNet, Lebara, and Kogan mobile plans until October 26, unless further extended.

TPG and iINet's mobile plans include in the free trial are as follows:

30GB Small Plan

30GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps
Vodafone 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices
Deal: 50% off - $15/mth for first 6 months, then $30/mth ongoing. Available until withdrawn. T&Cs apply.

$15.00

Per 1 Month Renewal

Link not supplied

$15.00

Per 1 Month Renewal

Link not supplied

30GB Small Plan

30GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps
Vodafone 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices
Deal: 50% off - $15/mth for first 6 months, then $30/mth ongoing. Available until withdrawn. T&Cs apply.

$15.00

Per 1 Month Renewal

Link not supplied

$15.00

Per 1 Month Renewal

Link not supplied

The 50% discount on these plans for the first six months is also valid with the free trial.

Customers on Kogan Mobile's Large and Extra Large 365-day expiry plans will get 5G connectivity, both on the regular and Flex variants. Kogan's Extra Large 12-month SIM-only plan is also eligible.

#1	Kogan Mobile	Kogan Mobile Large - 365 Day Flex Plan 400GB data On the Vodafone 4G Mobile Network Deal: Get 400GB data for only $179 (incl. $96 off + 100GB bonus data) on the Large 365 Day Flex Plan. Offer ends 11.10.26. $179.00 Per 365 Day Renewal Go to Site	$179.00 Per 365 Day Renewal	Go to Site
#2	Kogan Mobile	Kogan Mobile Extra Large - 365 Day Flex Plan 500GB data On the Vodafone 4G Mobile Network Deal: Get 500GB data for only $300 on the Extra Large 365 Day Flex Plan. Offer ends 30.11.26 $300.00 Per 365 Day Renewal Go to Site	$300.00 Per 365 Day Renewal	Go to Site

Lastly, every Lebara recharge valued at least $29.90 is part of the 5G trial, including long-expiry options.

$30 SIM Plan

70GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps
Vodafone 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices
Deal: Includes 35GB bonus data for first 3 recharges when you activate by 03.11.26

$30.00

Per 28 Day Renewal

Link not supplied

$30.00

Per 28 Day Renewal

Link not supplied

Existing customers on these plans will all get access to the 5G free trial, provided they have an active recharge or service. There's no need to opt-in, but a 5G handset is required, as is being in a 5G coverage area.

The TPG Telecom / Vodafone 5G footprint is available in over 1,000 suburbs across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Canberra, Perth, the Gold Coast, the Central Coast, Wollongong, and the Sunshine Coast.

TPG Telecom has yet to confirm what will happen at the end of the free trial period, but said it will get in touch with customers ahead of October 26.

None of these MVNOs currently have a 5G offering, so there's very little clarity as to what will happen after. 5G has thus far been a premium proposition in Australia, with smaller providers unable to undercut their parent networks in a meaningful way. This is quite different to 4G-only plans, where MVNOs can offer much better deals.

As such, it's possible that 5G could be restricted to a smaller amount of plans when the free trial is up, or alternatively, providers could charge an extra monthly fee to enable the feature. Of course, TPG Telecom could always be the brand to change this.

Telstra and Boost are currently also running a 5G free trial on prepaid plans, which lasts until September 26.

TPG Telecom is the last network provider to switch on 5G for MVNOs, with Telstra doing so over the last two months, and Optus being the first mover in the space back in 2020. So far Boost, ALDI Mobile, and Woolworths Mobile offer 5G plans on the Telstra network, while SpinTel, Aussie Broadband, and Southern Phone have 5G options on the Optus network.

Alex Choros

Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor | X | Instagram | Threads | LinkedIn

Alex Choros is the Managing Editor of WhistleOut Australia and an award-winning journalist. He's been writing about consumer technology for over a decade and is an expert on the Australian telco sector, to the point where he knows far too many phone and internet plans by heart. In addition to leading the WhistleOut editorial team, Alex is responsible for ruining the office Sonos with his troubled taste in music.

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