Access the Optus, Telstra and Vodafone Mobile Networks for Cheap With an MVNO

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Contributor: Alex Choros

While Optus, Telstra and Vodafone have firmly established themselves as the greatest cellular suppliers in Australia that doesn’t imply they’re the solely sport on the town. There are smaller suppliers, that are usually known as Mobile Virtual Network Operators (or MVNOs), that use the similar cellular networks as the Big Three – they simply don’t personal them.

If you’re seeking to change up your cellular plan, these smaller suppliers normally supply higher offers that embrace extra information for much less cash. Better but, most MVNO plans are contract-free as of late. This means there’s no threat in attempting a smaller supplier. If you swap telco and you’re not completely satisfied, you don’t want to remain round. It additionally means you possibly can at all times change once more if a greater deal comes round, which occurs pretty ceaselessly.

Here are the finest entry-level cellular plans for MVNOs that use the Optus, Telstra and Vodafone networks, and how they examine with their dad or mum supplier.

Optus vs. Optus MVNOs

Many of the finest cellular offers round come from Optus-powered MVNOs. When it involves postpaid plans, Dodo and Southern Phone are each providing 30GB for $20 monthly if you happen to’re a brand new buyer. With Southern Phone, this pricing and information allowance will final for the lifespan of your plan.

However, if you happen to go together with Dodo, you’ll have 30GB for the first three months of your connection, and then 15GB thereafter. Dodo is working an identical providing for its 25GB plan, the place you’ll obtain double information for the first three months of your connection (now 50GB), for solely $25 monthly.

Alternatively, Moose Mobile at the moment has a plan the place you’ll get 25GB of information for $16 monthly. This pricing lasts for your first 12 months, after which you’ll pay $24 monthly. The plan is contract-free, so you possibly can at all times swap suppliers after the low cost runs out.

For comparability, Optus‘ SIM-only plans begin at $49 monthly for 30GB.

Telstra vs. Telstra MVNOs

Nowhere is the distinction in value between a telco and its MVNOs clearer than relating to Telstra. Telstra‘s non-prepaid SIM-only plans begin at $62 monthly for 50GB. The supplier will throw in some free presents, which embrace two months of BINGE, three months of Apple TV+ and 4 months of Spotify Premium.

Alternatively, for $25 monthly on numobile or Woolworths Mobile you will get 22GB of information. If you go together with Woolies, the supplier will allow you to knock 10 per cent off your grocery store as soon as monthly.

Telstra’s price range model Belong provides comparable worth with a bit extra information, the place you’ll pay $29 monthly for 25GB. This plan from Belong can also be the most cost-effective means you possibly can entry Telstra’s 5G cellular community.

Vodafone vs. Vodafone MVNOs

Vodafone has a smaller MVNO contingent that’s largely made up of sister firms together with TPG, iiNet, felix, and Lebara. Kogan is the fundamental exception, and even then, help is managed straight by Vodafone.

To begin, TPG is providing 25GB of information for $12.50 for your first six months, and $25 monthly thereafter. If you want extra information, you possibly can nab TPG’s 45GB plan for an additional $2.50 monthly ($15). However, very like its 25GB plan, this pricing will solely final for the first six months of your connection and enhance to $30 monthly as soon as the low cost interval ends.

There’s additionally iiNet, which is providing its 40GB plan for $15 monthly for your first six months. This rises to $29.99 monthly after this introductory interval ends, however if you happen to’re an iiNet web buyer, you’ll additionally get 80GB of bonus information if you happen to bundle on this cellular plan.

Felix is a quite fascinating Vodafone MVNO that has a singular proposition: you’ll pay $35 monthly for limitless information capped at speeds of 20Mbps. That’s much like an NBN 25 connection and nonetheless greater than quick sufficient for most cellular actions. You can at the moment get 50 per cent off your first three months if you happen to use the promo code FELIX50.

Vodafone’s most cost-effective SIM-only postpaid plan will set you again $45 monthly with 40GB.

What is an MVNO?

MVNOs purchase wholesale entry to the Telstra, Optus or Vodafone community and then resell it themselves – typically at a cheaper price. Since MVNOs are inclined to have decrease overheads, smaller advertising and marketing budgets and don’t have brick-and-mortar shops, you have a tendency to seek out cellular plans with higher information for {dollars} than what you’d get with their dad or mum community.

Also keep in mind which you can at all times maintain your telephone quantity once you change suppliers, irrespective of how typically you swap. Your quantity is protected by regulation, and your present telco must switch it to your new supplier once you swap. Or if you happen to don’t need it, you possibly can at all times get a brand new quantity to go along with your new plan.

What you miss out on with an MVNO

There are naturally nonetheless causes to contemplate a serious supplier. The most pertinent is if you happen to’re additionally after a brand new telephone. MVNOs don’t usually promote handsets, or once they do, it’s a a lot smaller vary. Woolworths Mobile shares Samsung and OPPO gadgets, however not a lot else, for instance.

Most MVNOs don’t supply worldwide roaming, and once they do, it’s much more costly than what you’d pay on the dad or mum community.

Alex Choros is Managing Editor at WhistleOut, Australia’s telephone and web comparability web site.