
Vodafone has more than doubled the size of its mobile network, increasing its coverage from 95.4% of the Australian population to 98.4%.
This puts it just behind Optus' coverage which reaches 98.5% of Australians. You can effectively get close to Optus-level coverage for cheaper Vodafone prices.
This is a big gain for Vodafone customers who currently pay a few dollars less per month for the same amount of data. Here's how Optus and Vodafone's postpaid plans compare:
|
#1
|
Optus
|
Optus
$60 Optus Choice Plus Plan
$39.00/mth
Min. cost $39
|
$39.00/mth
Min. cost $39
|
|
|
#2
|
Vodafone
|
Vodafone
$58 Small SIM Only Plan
$45.00/mth
Min. cost $45
Link not supplied
|
$45.00/mth
Min. cost $45
|
Link not supplied
|
|
#3
|
Vodafone
|
Vodafone
$68 Medium SIM Only Plan
$50.00/mth
Min. cost $50
Link not supplied
|
$50.00/mth
Min. cost $50
|
Link not supplied
|
|
#4
|
Vodafone
|
Vodafone
$78 Large SIM Only Plan
$55.00/mth
Min. cost $55
Link not supplied
|
$55.00/mth
Min. cost $55
|
Link not supplied
|
|
#5
|
Optus
|
Optus
$69 Optus Promo Plan
$69.00/mth
Min. cost $69
|
$69.00/mth
Min. cost $69
|
|
|
#6
|
Optus
|
Optus
$70 Optus Choice Plus Plan
$70.00/mth
Min. cost $70
|
$70.00/mth
Min. cost $70
|
|
|
#7
|
Optus
|
Optus
$90 Optus Choice Plus Plan
$90.00/mth
Min. cost $90
|
$90.00/mth
Min. cost $90
|
However, the real savings can be found for those with a Vodafone MVNO such as felix, TPG or iiNet. Here are plans from these telcos and others on the Vodafone network:
|
#1
|
Lyca Mobile
|
Lyca Mobile
Unlimited Plan S
$15.00
Per 28 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
|
$15.00
Per 28 Day Renewal
|
Link not supplied
|
|
#2
|
iiNet
|
iiNet
30GB Small Plan
$15.00
Per 1 Month Renewal
Link not supplied
|
$15.00
Per 1 Month Renewal
|
Link not supplied
|
|
#3
|
TPG
|
TPG
30GB Small Plan
$15.00
Per 1 Month Renewal
Link not supplied
|
$15.00
Per 1 Month Renewal
|
Link not supplied
|
|
#4
|
Kogan Mobile
|
Kogan Mobile
Large Monthly Plan
$20.00
Per 30 Day Renewal
|
$20.00
Per 30 Day Renewal
|
|
|
#5
|
Kogan Mobile
|
Kogan Mobile
Small Monthly Plan
$23.00
Per 30 Day Renewal
|
$23.00
Per 30 Day Renewal
|
|
|
#6
|
Lebara Mobile
|
Lebara Mobile
$25 SIM Plan
$25.00
Per 28 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
|
$25.00
Per 28 Day Renewal
|
Link not supplied
|
|
#7
|
Kogan Mobile
|
Kogan Mobile
Medium Monthly Plan
$29.00
Per 30 Day Renewal
|
$29.00
Per 30 Day Renewal
|
|
|
#8
|
felix mobile
|
felix mobile
felix 25GB Mobile Plan
$30.00
Per 1 Month Renewal
|
$30.00
Per 1 Month Renewal
|
|
|
#9
|
felix mobile
|
felix mobile
felix 50GB Mobile Plan
$35.00
Per 1 Month Renewal
|
$35.00
Per 1 Month Renewal
|
|
|
#10
|
felix mobile
|
felix mobile
felix Unlimited Mobile Plan
$40.00
Per 1 Month Renewal
|
$40.00
Per 1 Month Renewal
|
And here's how they compare to telcos on the Optus network:
|
#1
|
SpinTel
|
SpinTel
$23 Mobile Plan
$12.00/mth
Min. cost $12
|
$12.00/mth
Min. cost $12
|
|
|
#2
|
Yomojo
|
Yomojo
Starter 29GB Plan
$24.90
Per 30 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
|
$24.90
Per 30 Day Renewal
|
Link not supplied
|
|
#3
|
Dodo
|
Dodo
Small Mobile Plan
$25.00/mth
Min. cost $25
|
$25.00/mth
Min. cost $25
|
|
|
#4
|
Coles Mobile
|
Coles Mobile
Prepaid $25 for 28 Days
$25.00
Per 28 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
|
$25.00
Per 28 Day Renewal
|
Link not supplied
|
|
#5
|
SpinTel
|
SpinTel
$29 Mobile Plan
$29.00/mth
Min. cost $29
|
$29.00/mth
Min. cost $29
|
|
|
#6
|
Dodo
|
Dodo
Medium Mobile Plan
$30.00/mth
Min. cost $15
|
$30.00/mth
Min. cost $15
|
|
|
#7
|
Aussie Broadband
|
Aussie Broadband
Saver 5G SIM Plan
$30.00/mth
Min. cost $30
Link not supplied
|
$30.00/mth
Min. cost $30
|
Link not supplied
|
|
#8
|
amaysim
|
amaysim
UNLIMITED 15GB Plan
$30.00
Per 28 Day Renewal
|
$30.00
Per 28 Day Renewal
|
|
|
#9
|
SpinTel
|
SpinTel
$35 Mobile Plan
$35.00/mth
Min. cost $35
|
$35.00/mth
Min. cost $35
|
|
|
#10
|
amaysim
|
amaysim
UNLIMITED 42GB Plan
$35.00
Per 28 Day Renewal
|
$35.00
Per 28 Day Renewal
|
Let's directly compare the cheapest option on each network with 25GB of data. If you signed up for iiNet or TPG's 25GB plan on the Vodafone network you'd pay $12.50 per month for the first six months, then $25 ongoing for a total of $225 over 12 months.
The cheapest plan in WhistleOut's database on the Optus network with 25GB of data is from SpinTel, it offers this plan for $14 per month for the first six months, then $22 ongoing for a total of $216. It works out to be the cheaper option by $9. Although it's worth noting iiNet/TPG's plans have a higher mobile speed cap at 150Mbps compared to 100Mbps.
Plans from MVNOs on either network work out to be significantly cheaper in the long term than the big telcos – and you can even find options with a similar amount of data as Vodafone or Optus' postpaid plans if you so desire.
For example, if you signed up for iiNet or TPG's 50GB plan you'd pay $17.50 for the first six months, then $35 ongoing for a total of $315 over 12 months. Compared to going with Vodafone's 50GB plan you'll have saved $273 or $309 if you'd chose Optus' 50GB plan.
Vodafone's network expansion is the result of the network-sharing agreement TPG Telecom (which owns Vodafone) signed with Optus in 2024. This agreement also gives Optus increased network capacity, and its customers in regional Australia faster speeds.
At a state level, Queenslanders will see the biggest increase with Vodafone's network coverage in the Sunshine State increasing by 312%.
| State/Territory | New population coverage | Network area/coverage increase |
|---|---|---|
| NSW/ACT | 98.4% | 89% |
| VIC | 99.6% | 129% |
| QLD | 98.1% | 312% |
| SA | 99.2% | 257% |
| WA | 97.3% | 182% |
| TAS | 96.4% | 88% |
| NT | 80.4% | 253% |
| National | 98.4% | 168% |
Telstra's mobile network is still the largest in the country, reaching 99.7% of the population. Telcos such as Belong, ALDI
Mobile and Superloop who use Telstra's wholesale network have a slightly
smaller footprint at 98.8%.
Vodafone has stated it won't increase mobile plan prices as a result of the network-sharing agreement.
These are the most popular NBN 50 plans with WhistleOut users this week:
|
#1
|
Belong
|
Belong
All Fixed Line nbn®
NBN Standard Plus – Unlimited
All Fixed Line nbn®
$55/mth
for first 6 mths, then $91/mth
Min. cost $55
|
$55/mth
for first 6 mths, then $91/mth
Min. cost $55
|
|
|
#2
|
Dodo
|
Dodo
All Fixed Line nbn®
nbn50 Unlimited Plan
All Fixed Line nbn®
$57.99/mth
for first 6 mths, then $87.99/mth
Min. cost $57.99
|
$57.99/mth
for first 6 mths, then $87.99/mth
Min. cost $57.99
|
|
|
#3
|
Tangerine Telecom
|
Tangerine Telecom
All Fixed Line nbn®
Value Plus NBN 50/20
All Fixed Line nbn®
$64.90/mth
for first 6 mths, then $89.90/mth
Min. cost $64.90
|
$64.90/mth
for first 6 mths, then $89.90/mth
Min. cost $64.90
|
|
|
#4
|
Superloop
|
Superloop
All Fixed Line nbn®
Extra-value nbn50/20
All Fixed Line nbn®
$69/mth
for first 6 mths, then $89/mth
Min. cost $69
|
$69/mth
for first 6 mths, then $89/mth
Min. cost $69
|
|
|
#5
|
iiNet
|
iiNet
All Fixed Line nbn®
nbn50 Liimitless
All Fixed Line nbn®
$69.99/mth
+ $10 Upfront
for first 6 mths, then $89.99/mth
Min. cost $79.99
Link not supplied
|
$69.99/mth
+ $10 Upfront
for first 6 mths, then $89.99/mth
Min. cost $79.99
|
Link not supplied
|
|
#6
|
TPG
|
TPG
All Fixed Line nbn®
nbn50 Unlimited Plan
All Fixed Line nbn®
$69.99/mth
for first 6 mths, then $89.99/mth
Min. cost $69.99
Link not supplied
|
$69.99/mth
for first 6 mths, then $89.99/mth
Min. cost $69.99
|
Link not supplied
|
|
#7
|
Moose NBN
|
Moose NBN
All Fixed Line nbn®
nbn 50/20 Premium
All Fixed Line nbn®
$59.80/mth
for first 6 mths, then $83.80/mth
Min. cost $59.80
Link not supplied
|
$59.80/mth
for first 6 mths, then $83.80/mth
Min. cost $59.80
|
Link not supplied
|
|
#8
|
Flip
|
Flip
All Fixed Line nbn®
Unlimited Family nbn50
All Fixed Line nbn®
$68/mth
for first 6 mths then $84.90/mth
Min. cost $68
|
$68/mth
for first 6 mths then $84.90/mth
Min. cost $68
|
|
|
#9
|
More
|
More
All Fixed Line nbn®
Value Plus NBN
All Fixed Line nbn®
$100/mth
Min. cost $100
Link not supplied
|
$100/mth
Min. cost $100
|
Link not supplied
|
|
#10
|
Kogan Internet
|
Kogan Internet
All Fixed Line nbn®
Silver Unlimited
All Fixed Line nbn®
$69.90/mth
for first 12 mths, then $80.90/mth
Min. cost $69.90
|
$69.90/mth
for first 12 mths, then $80.90/mth
Min. cost $69.90
|
Dylan Crismale
Digital Content Editor