Telstra will discontinue its current range of postpaid SIM-only plans next week, replacing them with a family of "Upfront" plans where customers now pay ahead of each billing month.
On Telstra's current postpaid SIM-only plans, you won't receive your bill until the end of your billing month and have at least two weeks to pay it. With Upfront plans, your first payment as soon as your service is activated. It's ostensibly prepaid by a different name, but billed automatically on the same day each month. You don't have the choice not to recharge.
There are a few other key differences between Telstra's current postpaid range and the new Upfront plans. Upfront plans support data-sharing between up to ten plans on the same account. Telstra's current postpaid plans don't.
All upfront plans also include an unlimited SMS and MMS from Australia to all destinations, and 30 minutes of standard calls from Australia to overseas numbers. Further minutes can be purchased for an extra $10 per month. Telstra's current postpaid plans have no international inclusions without purchasing a $10 per month add-on.
Upfront plans currently don't support international roaming or use with a smartwatch, but Telstra says both these features are coming soon. Upfront plans don't come with access to Telstra Air and can't be attained as an eSIM. A Telstra spokesperson told us that Upfront plans will have eSIM in the future, however.
Upfront and postpaid SIM-only plans have the same data inclusions at the same price.
Here is the range of Telstra Upfront plans:
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Telstra
$84 Essential Upfront SIM Plan
$74.00/mth
Min. cost $74
Link not supplied
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Telstra soft-launched Upfront plans at the end of last year - you can even order one now - but will officially launch on February 16. While Telstra currently offers a choice between its postpaid SIM-only plans and new Upfront plans, Upfront will be the only option for SIM-only February 16 onward.
According to a Telstra spokesperson, Upfront plans will also be available to customers purchasing a new phone, but customers will still be able to choose a traditional postpaid plan to go with a device until March 30. After March 30, Upfront plans will be the only options available to new Telstra customers.
Telstra plans to move all existing mobile customers to Upfront plans over the coming months.
UPDATE (22/02/21): Telstra will now continue to sell postpaid SIM-only plans until March 2, and existing customers on postpaid plans will be able to stay on the them for between a year to 18 months.
Alex Choros
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