Overview of Telstra

Telstra was founded in 1901 and is headquartered in Melbourne, Australia.Telstra has a 100+ year legacy since its founding .It's considered one of the most reputable mobile companies in Australia and provides most of the network used for used by the NBN and other mobile phone providers in Australia.

Telstra  has long been the go-to provider for rural Australians due to its larger network footprint. The network coverage remains superior to the competition, with extended reach in regional and remote areas of Australia, and it is among the first of the network owners to roll out fast, new 5G coverage. As Telstra prepares to shut down its 3G network in 2025, the telco’s 4G regional speeds and availability have slipped behind rival Optus in a survey of Australian coverage by independent mobile analytics company Opensignal.

You’ll pay extra to be a Telstra customer, and in some cases this price difference is significant. But in return, you get access to Australia’s fastest mobile network, a huge customer support team, as well as plenty of exclusive offers and perks. Telstra is not for the budget-conscious.

Telstra Pros and Cons

Overview of Optus

Telstra Corporation Limited is an Australian telecommunications company which builds and operates telecommunications networks and markets voice, mobile, internet access, pay television and other products and services. It is a member of the S&P/ASX 20 and Australia's largest telecommunications company by market share.

Optus is Australia's second-largest network covering 98.5% of the Australian population (Telstra covers 99.5% and Vodafone covers 96%).It is also one of the most popular providers in Australia. Optus may not have Telstra's extensive coverage, but it should be more than enough for most people.It offers most of the perks, benefits, and customer service channels that Telstra does, but at a more reasonable price.Whether you’re looking for a phone plan with the latest iPhone, a SIM for your current phone or a Prepaid plan, Optus is a solid choice across the spectrum. Optus scores highly for data-per-dollar value. 

Optus Pros and Cons

Overview of Vodafone

Vodafone is one of Australia's largest providers alongside Optus and Telstra, though it has the smallest network out of the 3.It delivers total coverage to about 96% of the population, which is still around 22 million people. However, Vodafone has been a bit slow when it comes to 5G. The telco launched its 5G network in early 2020, with coverage still limited compared to Telstra and even Optus. Now with its 5G network live, Vodafone has started rolling out 5G-compatible devices, so customers can experience the Vodafone 5G network for themselves.

Vodafone offers the best value plans out of The Big Three providers and is hard to beat on international roaming, but if you're not looking for a new phone, you can get better bang for buck from a smaller telco.Vodafone has always been a popular choice thanks to its great roaming options, so is definitely worth considering for those who can't wait to get back on a plane, among others. 

Vodafone have experienced the challenges of the Australian national press for poor coverage since 2010. Despite this, Vodafone is a strong, international brand which should be seriously considered if you’re in the market for an Australian mobile.

Vodafone Pros and Cons

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Telstra vs. Optus vs. Vodafone: Comparison Side by Side

1.Network Coverage

Telstra Coverage

Telstra is known for having the largest network in Australia, with coverage reaching over 99% of the population, so it’s generally considered a good option for people living in remote and regional areas. As for 5G, Telstra is continually rolling out its 5G network, with more sites going live across Australia and several 5G-compatible devices now available to buy on a plan.As well as having the largest Australian network, Telstra also lays claim to the title of "fastest" thanks to its 4GX network technology, with download speeds of up to 450Mbps.

>>Enter your address to check coverage in your area

Optu Coverage

Optus is slightly behind Telstra when it comes to network coverage, with coverage to 98.5% of the population.While Telstra does have the advantage of a bigger mobile network — including its 5G network — Optus still has a very large mobile network, so most Australians will find coverage from both telcos in their area.Optus's outdoor 5G mobile coverage is available in selected metro areas, mostly on the east coast, with more areas coming soon4G coverage is available in metropolitan, regional and most rural areas. 

>>Enter your address to check coverage in your area

Vodafone Coverage

Vodafone's network footprint is smaller in comparison to Telstra and Optus.Vodafone's 3G and 4G network currently reaches 96% of the population. Vodafone is more forthcoming, with its 5G mobile network currently rolling out to 1,000 suburbs across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Canberra, Perth, Gold Coast, Central Coast, Wollongong and the Sunshine Coast. This map will show you what kind of coverage you have in your area. 

>>Enter your address to check coverage in your area

Determining which is the best mobile network will ultimately depend on whether you can get coverage in your area. You can check your address and any areas you frequent on the network coverage maps on each telco’s website.

2.Phone Plans & Pricing

SIM-only plans

#Telstra

#Optus

All plans include:

• Unlimited standard national talk & text.

• 5G network.

#Vodafone

Vodafone SIM Only Plans are perfect if you already have a phone that you love. The Ultra+ Plan has unlimited mobile data at the fastest speed the Vodafone network can deliver to your phone at the time and place you’re accessing data. Alternatively, choose a plan with heaps of Max Speed data and then you can keep using data in Oz at speeds of up to 2Mbps or 10Mbps, depending on your chosen plan. 

All plans include:

• 5G network.

• Unlimited standard national calls and text, andunlimited standard international SMS.

• Hotspot data.

• Network guarantee for 30 days.

All SIM Only plans come with an international call allowance, except for the cheapest $40 SIM Only Lite Plan. 

Prepaid Plan

#Telstra

With Telstra prepaid mobile phone plans, you can choose the length of expiry period and the amount of data and calls you want. You can also opt to contract a new phone and mobile plan with their month-to-month plans + mobile, or bring your own device and simply purchase a SIM card only plan.

Telstra offers two types of Pre-Paid plans. The Pre-Paid Mobile plan offers great value for everyday use, while Pre-Paid Mobile Casual plan is a good option if you don’t use your phone often. 

>Pre-Paid Mobile plan

All plans include:

• Pre-paid SIM.
  

• Unlimited calls and texts to standard Australian numbers.

• Continuous data rollover.

>Pre-Paid Mobile Casual plan

#Optus

Optus's prepaid plans come in 2 types: Flex and Epic plans.

>Optus Flex 4G

>Optus Flex 5G

>Optus Epic 4G

All Prepaid plans include:

• Unlimited standard nationaltalk & text to Australian.

• Up to 200GB data rollover

• Free express delivey on SIM Card.

#Vodafone

All plans include:

• Unlimited standard national calls and text.

• $5 off with every Automatic Recharge.

• BYO number.

• 5G network.

Vodafone also offers a 200GB data bank for Vodafone Prepaid customers, so unused megabytes can be carried over if you recharge before expiry. Prepaid customers can take advantage of this and nab $5 off per 28-day recharge by activating automatic recharge. Vodafone Prepaid plans also come with an international call allowance to selected countries. 

Usually, Telstra is the more expensive option in relation to the amount of data you get with your plan, while Vodafone generally offers the most amount of data in relation to price. Optus sits more in the middle ground. 

3.Loyalty Rewards

All customers on Telstra mobile plans get the opportunity to benefit from the Telstra Plus program.On Telstra Plus with every dollar you spend on your monthly bill you'll accumulate points which can then be used to buy tech, including smartphones, wireless headphones and buds, smart speakers, and more.And you'll also get discounted movie tickets through Event and BCC cinemas, as well as discounts and presale tickets for selected concerts and events. 

Optus customers can get access to the Optus Perks program. Benefits include discounted movie tickets through Hoyts and selected independent cinemas, discounted tickets to selected theme parks and "experiences", as well as presale tickets to selected concerts and events.

Vodafone doesn't run a perks or rewards program for its mobile customers. However, if you do go with Vodafone for your mobile plan, you can get a discount by bundling your plan with other services. 

Telstra vs. Optus vs. Vodafone: The Final Verdict

When it comes to choosing a phone plan, for some of us, mobile network coverage is high on the priority list. If you live in a more densely populated area, it’s likely you’ll not have an issue finding good mobile coverage. But, for those in regional and remote areas, and even some metropolitan areas which somehow seem to miss out on a solid connection, finding good network coverage is vital.

Telstra has the largest network but is also by the far the priciest. While Optus and Vodafone don’t contend on the same scale of network coverage as Telstra, they do offer a range of plan features that are appealing on the all-important value front and they are a lot cheaper.The best provider for you will depend entirely on your own personal circumstances such as location, coverage and what sort of plan you're looking for. 

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