A phone that works on one network will not necessarily work on another. If you’re buying a phone from overseas, or planning a trip down under, be sure to check if your phone will function on Aussie networks beforehand.
Mobile networks operate on different bandwidth frequencies measured in megahertz bands, such as 850MHz or 2100MHz. This is important, because not all mobile phones support all frequencies. In order to work on an Australian phone network, your phone's radio needs to match the local network bands.
To start, you'll want to look your phone's specifications. Ensure any information you find is from the same country as your phone, as many devices have subtle regional variations.
Your phone manufacturer's website tends to be a good bet. This information can be presented in a number of different ways, but in a spec sheet you want to look for UTMS or HSPDA for 3G networks, FDD LTE for 4G networks, and 5G NR for 5G networks.
3G networks are typically referred to using their frequency, while 4G networks can also be designated by their band number. In some cases, a manufacturer or a store may also refer to 3G frequencies by their band number.
The below gallery has a couple of examples of where you'd find the relevant information in a phone's spec sheet.
In Australia, 3G has been shut off. B1, B3, B5, B7, B8, and B28 are the main 4G bands. n78 is the main 5G band used in Australia, but we're now also seeing some coverage on n1, n5, n28, and n40. Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone are also using n258 for mmWave 5G but coverage is still scarce.
If you want to use a phone in Australia, it will need to support these frequencies and bands.
| 2G | 3G | 4G | 5G | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Telstra | N/A | N/A | 700MHz (B28) 850MHz (B5 & B26) 900MHz (B8) 1800MHz (B3) 2100MHz (B1) 2600MHz (B7) | 850MHz (n5 & n26) 2600MHz (n7) 3500MHz (n78) 26GHz (n258) |
| Optus | N/A | N/A | 700MHz (B28) 1800MHz (B3) 2100MHz (B1) 2300MHz (B40) 2600MHz (B7) | 700MHz (n28) 900MHz (n8) 2100MHz (n1) 2300MHz (n40) 2600MHz (n7) 3500MHz (n78) 26GHz (n258) |
| Vodafone | N/A | N/A | 850MHz (B5) 1800MHz (B3) 2100MHz (B1) | 700MHz (n28) 850MHz (n5) 1800Hz (n3) 2100MHz (n1) 3500MHz (n78) 26GHz (n258) |
Please note that it's not always enough to match just one frequency. Australian phone networks are built using multiple frequencies, and not all frequencies are available in every location. The network frequencies used in rural areas are often completely different to those used in the city.
Because of the 3G shutdown, some international phones may not be able to make calls in Australia. If a phone doesn't support VoLTE, it is no longer able to be used for phone calls.
If you're an Australian heading overseas, make sure your phone will work in your destination.
Use the WhistleOut search engine to compare mobile deals from 28 providers.
Aussie carriers and networks
The three mobile networks in Australia are owned and operated by Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone. The numerous other service providers are all powered by this trio of network networks. These smaller telcos are called mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs). MVNOs typically tend to offer basic services at a cheaper rate.
Australian networks use the GSM standard. This is the same as most other countries, although some places like the US and Japan also rely on CDMA. If you have a CDMA-only phone you will not be able to access 3G networks in Australia, which means no talk and text. You may be able to access 4G networks, but 4G networks are data-only. As such, you'll only be able to make phone calls if your phone supports VoLTE.
Each of the major networks operates over its own set of frequencies. There's some overlap, but this isn't always the case.
5G bands in Australia
5G networks have been live in Australia since the middle of 2019, but coverage is still far from ubiquitous. Telstra has the most 5G coverage so far, now covering over 87% of the population. Optus says its 5G network now covers over 80.5% of the population, while the Vodafone 5G footprint is available in over 3,000 suburbs across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Canberra, Perth, the Gold Coast, the Central Coast, Wollongong, and the Sunshine Coast.
The majority of Australian 5G exists on the 3500MHz band, also known as n78. However, Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone have all begun repurposing some of their 3G and 4G bands to enhance their 5G networks.
Telcos are also in the process of building mmWave 5G networks, that operate on the higher 26GHz frequency. The higher frequency will allow faster speeds, more capacity, at a cost of range. mmWave 5G coverage is still rare, however, and very few devices support it.
3G network shutdown
Australian telcos have shut down their shut down their 3G networks. There is no 3G in Australia.
Plans and trends
If you’re bringing a phone from overseas, or taking a phone between carriers, you’re probably looking at either a month-to-month, or prepaid plan.
Month-to-month, "SIM-only", or "BYO phone", all typically refers to postpaid plans, where you get a bill at the end of a billing month. While you can sign a 12-month contract on some of these plans, most are available on a no-contract basis where you can leave at any time. Just check how far in advance you have to notify your carrier you’re leaving; some require a full month’s warning.
Month-to-month plans mean that you can't run out of credit. You are given a monthly allocation of talk, text and data. If you go over any of these, you'll start paying excess usage fees, rather than being cut off. Talk and text tend to be unlimited in Australia now, and carriers will send you alerts as you burn through your data. You'll get notifications within 48 hours of hitting 50%, 85%, and 100% of your data cap.
With a prepaid plan, you pay for your service upfront. You buy your talk, text, and data in advance. Once you go through these inclusions, you'll need to recharge before you can use your service again. Prepaid credit tends to expire after 28 days in Australia, although some carriers offer longer recharges.
If you're visiting Australia and need help picking a phone plan, check out our guide for the best phone plans for travellers or our best prepaid plans guide.
Telstra network
Once wholly owned by the government and now a private entity, Telstra is Australia’s telecommunications juggernaut. Telstra has a reputation for having superior network coverage and reception, and this is often true, depending on where you are. The downside is that it also charges a premium for access to its network.
If you’re planning on doing a lot of rural travelling, then access to Telstra’s network may be advised, either through Telstra itself or through one of its MVNOs. If you are planning more of an urban stay then the other networks are equally valid as choices, depending on where you're going.
Here's a selection of popular plans powered by the Telstra network:
|
#1
|
Boost Mobile
$39 Prepaid
$39.00
Per 28 Day Renewal
|
|
#2
|
Tangerine Telecom
30GB 5G Mobile SIM
$30.00/mth
Min. cost $15
|
|
#3
|
Superloop
SuperSim Saver 4G Plan
$25.00
Per 30 Day Renewal
|
|
#4
|
Exetel
Plus One eSIM Plan
$40.00
Per 30 Day Renewal
|
|
#5
|
ALDI mobile
$28 Mobile Plan
$28.00
Per 30 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
|
|
#6
|
Telstra
$84 Essential Upfront SIM Plan
$84.00/mth
Min. cost $84
Link not supplied
|
|
#7
|
Everyday Mobile
Pre-paid Mobile $25 Recharge
$25.00
Per 30 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
|
|
#8
|
Belong
25GB Mobile Plan
$34.00/mth
Min. cost $34
Link not supplied
|
|
#9
|
More
75GB 5G Mobile SIM
$46.00/mth
Min. cost $46
Link not supplied
|
Optus network
Australia’s second-largest provider, Optus has been aggressively cutting the price of data, and offers some of the best bang-for-buck plans around.
Optus is Austalia's biggest network wholesaler, with the majority of local MVNOs relying on the Optus network to deliver services.
Here's a selection of popular plans powered by the Optus network:
|
#1
|
SpinTel
Editor's Pick
$23 Mobile Plan
$12.00/mth
Min. cost $12
|
|
#2
|
Dodo
Editor's Pick
Medium Mobile Plan
$30.00/mth
Min. cost $15
|
|
#3
|
Optus
$60 Optus Choice Plus Plan
$39.00/mth
Min. cost $39
|
|
#4
|
Yomojo
Starter 29GB Plan
$24.90
Per 30 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
|
|
#5
|
amaysim
7-day UNLIMITED 10GB Plan
$10.00
Per 7 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
|
|
#6
|
Coles Mobile
$35 Mobile Plan
$35.00/mth
Min. cost $12
Link not supplied
|
|
#7
|
Aussie Broadband
Saver 5G SIM Plan
$30.00/mth
Min. cost $30
Link not supplied
|
Vodafone network
Vodafone is Australia's third major telco player, and has made large inroads when it comes to connectivity and customers in cities. While Vodafone matches or bests Optus in many areas when it comes to 4G connectivity, Telstra is often still the best option in rural areas.
A large part of Vodafone's return to the fore is its focus on big deals and special features like $5 per day international roaming. It is rare that this provider doesn't have some kind of bonus promotion going.
Here's a selection of popular plans powered by the Vodafone network:
|
#1
|
TPG
Editor's Pick
30GB Small Plan
$15.00
Per 1 Month Renewal
Link not supplied
|
|
#2
|
felix mobile
felix 25GB Mobile Plan
$30.00
Per 1 Month Renewal
|
|
#3
|
Vodafone
$58 Small SIM Only Plan
$45.00/mth
Min. cost $45
|
|
#4
|
Kogan Mobile
Small Monthly Plan
$23.00
Per 30 Day Renewal
|
|
#5
|
iiNet
100GB Large Plan
$22.50
Per 1 Month Renewal
Link not supplied
|
|
#6
|
Lebara Mobile
$25 SIM Plan
$25.00
Per 28 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
|
FAQ
How easy is it to switch between carriers?
In Australia, it's very easy to move from one provider to another. All carriers use the same basic technologies, so cross-compatibility isn't an issue in the majority of cases, especially if your phone was bought in Australia.
If you are on a long-term contract, you must finish it before switching carriers (unless you are willing to pay an early termination fee). If you are on a month-to-month or prepaid plan, then you can switch any time you like.
Read more about changing your phone provider here.
Can I keep my number?
If you already have an existing and active Australian mobile number then it is very easy to switch between providers and keep your number. When you sign up to a new plan, make sure to either input your current number (if applying online) or tell your salesperson that you want to keep your number. Your new provider will contact your existing provider to arrange the transfer.
It usually takes between 15 minutes to 48 hours for the transfer to take effect. During this time you can usually continue to use your phone via your old telco. Once it stops working, switch out the old SIM card for your new one and keep going about your business.
If you are bringing a phone from overseas then you will be allocated a new phone number when you sign up to an Australian telco.
Is there an easy way to check if my phone will work?
The easiest way is to visit your phone manufacturer's website and check the device specifications. Make sure you are researching on an Australian website, as it is common for manufacturers to release models with different hardware in different regions.
Check the MHz frequencies against the table we've compiled at the top of the page.
What is the cheapest plan option?
If you already own a phone, the cheapest option is usually to go with an MVNO. These are small providers who buy access to the larger networks at wholesale prices and re-sell that access to customers at a discount.
You can check out a full list of Australia's MVNOs here.
If you need a new phone, and are planning on staying in Australia for at least two years, then you can sign up to a 24-month plan on Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone. Take a look at plans with phones here.
How do I check if my phone is locked?
Most phones sold in Australia are now unlocked, which means you can use them on any local phone network.
The main exception to this is if you've bought a phone on a prepaid plan, in which case you will need to get your provider to unlock it. If you've had it for a short amount of time, there may be a fee involved.
If you're visiting Australia with a phone you've bought overseas, you may need to ask your carrier before you leave. If you bought your phone through your carrier, it may be locked to its network.
Alex Choros
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