Telstra's prepaid 5G plans will change on February 1

Telstra's 5G situation has been somewhat amorphous, to say the least. Exactly which customers get 5G and when has been an ever shifting situation - and it's set to change once again on February 1 next year. 

All Telstra prepaid customers have access to 5G connectivity, provided they have coverage and a 5G device. Telstra has however recently added a stipulation that customers will only get 5G if they recharge prior to February 1. 

"Beyond 1 February customers will continue to have 5G for the length of their current recharge", said a Telstra spokesperson. 

At this stage, it is unclear what approach Telstra will take with 5G on prepaid going forward. A Telstra spokesperson told us "more details about compatible 5G plans" will be shared closer to February 1. 

Despite the unknowns, a prepaid plan is the cheapest way to get 5G network access on Telstra. Telstra prepaid plans start at $30 and include 8GB with a bonus 17GB for your first three recharges. For comparison, you'd need to spend a minimum of $65 per month to get 5G connectivity on a Telstra postpaid plan. 

Telstra and Vodafone are currently the only two telcos that offer 5G access on prepaid. Optus prepaid plans are currently limited to 4G connectivity.

If you're looking to see whether you can get 5G, WhistleOut's coverage checker tool has been upgraded with 5G coverage maps. All you need to do is pop in your address when searching for a new phone plan. After you've done so and hit Search, you can jump straight to the coverage map by tapping See Coverage Map and then tapping Click To Activate Interactive Map. 

This map will show you what kind of coverage you have in your area. 5G coverage is highlighted using the darkest shade of purple, but unticking 4G and 3G can help make it clearer. The drop down menu lets you choose between telcos.

At this stage, we don't have interactive maps for Vodafone due to the telco's limited 5G coverage.

Coverage maps are only approximate, only show outdoor coverage, and may be impacted by local conditions such as buildings. 

Update: An earlier version of this story incorrectly said that Telstra prepaid customers will be booted back to 4G after February 1. A Telstra spokesperson says this is not the case. We regret the mistake. 

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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