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WhistleOut has obtained new figures from Optus and Vodafone that indicate their 5G population coverage has recently grown to 91.9% and 91.3%, respectively. This has the two smaller telcos almost nipping at the heels of Telstra’s latest published figure of 95%.
These numbers represent a huge boost for Optus and Vodafone compared to where they were before their network sharing agreement went into effect at the end of January last year. This deal strategically combined the Vodafone and Optus networks in select areas where one or the other lacked robust coverage, generally located in regional, rural, and remote Australia.
The sharing agreement was a landmark moment in the Aussie telco industry, significantly boosting the mobile coverage of both networks and allowing these two major telcos and their network resellers (MVNOs) to compete more effectively against the full Telstra network – particularly with regards to 5G.
5G expansion: The numbers
So, how much have Australia’s number two and three telcos expanded their 5G? It’s hard to pin down precisely what the stats were immediately prior to the deal going live, but we can look at the broad strokes.
Back in early 2025, Telstra’s latest published 5G population coverage statistic was 91%, and the Telstra Wholesale network’s was 75%. Optus sat at 80.5% at the start of 2025 – almost 15% behind Telstra.
Vodafone didn’t even report 5G population coverage stats at the time; suffice to say, it wasn’t a main marketing point. Vodafone focused on providing 5G in heavily populated locations – specifically the ten most populous cities – but beyond these major metro areas, it was limited at best.
Now, Optus has confirmed to WhistleOut that its most recent 5G population coverage numbers put it at 91.9%, while Vodafone confirmed its 5G coverage as 91.3%.
But when it comes to pitting these figures against the latest ones from Telstra, there’s a catch. Just as Vodafone has finally started reporting 5G population coverage, Telstra has stopped providing updates. The 95% coverage figure we've been using for Telstra is still relatively recent, having been published in August 2025. But the 75% figure for Telstra Wholesale is unfortunately much older, having not been updated since it was first announced in May, 2022.
This in mind, here's a quick summary of the coverage figures we've discussed so far:
| 5G coverage, early 2025 | Latest 5G coverage figures | |
|---|---|---|
| Telstra | 91% | 95% |
| Telstra Wholesale | 75%* | Unreported |
| Optus | 80.5% | 91.9% |
| Vodafone | Unreported | 91.3% |
Percentage figures are based on population coverage.
*Last updated 2022.
After seeking current figures for Telstra Wholesale's 5G coverage, a spokesperson told us the telco is "refining how [it] shows coverage for [its] wholesale customers" ahead of new standards set to be enforced from June 30 this year. So, while it's all but certain that Telstra Wholesale's 5G coverage has grown beyond 75% since it first activated in 2022, for now we can't confirm this or say by how much.
What’s this about new coverage map standards?
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) recently announced new rules to standardise mobile network coverage maps, slated to come into effect on June 30 of this year.
The new map standards are designed to let consumers compare network coverage more easily. Currently, the network operators use different metrics to measure and report on their coverage, making direct comparisons difficult.
The standards will also mean telcos have to classify covered areas as good, moderate, basic, or no coverage, following technical specifications laid out by ACMA. There is also a new minimum signal strength threshold that could see coverage cut from existing maps.
Telstra has already spoken out against the impending changes, which will remove an estimated one million square kilometres from its coverage map – at least some of which the telco claims its customers will still be able to call from, leading to possible confusion.
Come June 30, we expect to see some coverage statistics change and new maps that account for signal strength. For now, we can at least see the Vodafone and Optus network sharing deal has enabled a big 5G coverage boost for both networks, their resellers, and their customers.
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#1
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Pivotel
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SpinTel
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Moose Mobile
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Alex Angove-Plumb
Digital Content Editor
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