Vodafone network coverage: How does it work?
As the third largest mobile network in Australia, Vodafone covers 98.4% of the population — a number which grew after it entered a network sharing agreement with Optus. It offers 4G and 5G access across the country, although its 5G network, which was the last to launch in the country, is still being progressively rolled out. Since Vodafone’s merger with TPG, updated technology has also been rolled out to the network to improve performance.
The Vodafone network plays host to several smaller providers, known as Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs). So if you can access the Vodafone network in your area, you’ll also have access to a range of smaller Vodafone network providers, giving you more choice.
Vodafone coverage map
To see if you can get Vodafone network coverage in your area — along with any places you frequently visit — you can check the Vodafone coverage map on the telco’s website to find out more. Vodafone MVNOs will also have coverage maps on their respective websites if you choose to sign up to a smaller provider instead.
What are the Vodafone network coverage black spots?
Vodafone has committed to building new towers to expand regional coverage as part of the Australian Government’s Mobile Blackspot Program. Black spots refer to areas that are not covered by a mobile network, which are typically rural and remote areas where telco infrastructure isn’t supported, or where the phone signal is interrupted and blocked by things like tall buildings. If you’re in an area that doesn’t have Vodafone coverage now, this might change in the future.
Which providers use the Vodafone network?
There are several smaller providers offering Vodafone network coverage. After the TPG-Vodafone merger, many of these providers form part of the TPG Telecom group, so there may be some similarities between them. Here are some popular Vodafone network providers:
- Felix
- iiNet
- Kogan Mobile
- TPG
- Lyca Mobile
- Lebara
Felix
Felix — which is part of the TPG Telecom group — offers a simple range of plans on a pre-paid subscription basis on a monthly expiry period. All plans include unlimited standard national calls and SMS, along with the choice between an eSIM or physical SIM card. Felix also claims to be powered by 100% renewable electricity, and thanks to its partnership with the charity One Tree Planted, you’ll get a single tree planted each month you stay connected to a Felix plan.
The two cheaper plans both include a set data inclusion with unlimited data banking and no excess data charges (once you use up your data allowance, you’ll be able to keep using data at the capped speed of 1.5 megabits per second/Mbps), along with unlimited standard national talk and text. However its most expensive plan includes unlimited data by default, but at the capped speed of 40Mbps — which is still fast enough for HD video streaming, video calls, streaming music and playing games. Felix offers both 4G and 5G network access on all of its phone plans, however speeds are capped at 150Mbps on the two cheaper plans.
What’s good about Felix:
- Offers a truly unlimited data phone plan
- Unlimited data banking on the two cheaper plans
- Includes some environmentally-friendly initiatives.
Look out for:
- Speed caps are on all plans, with faster speeds (150Mbps) available on the data-capped plans compared to the unlimited data plan (40Mbps)
- Plans auto renew each month by default until you pause or cancel your plan
- International calls only available with an add on for an additional cost.
Kogan Mobile
Kogan Mobile offers a range of prepaid plans, over both monthly and 365-day expiry periods. All plans include unlimited standard national calls and texts and 4G connectivity, while only the most expensive monthly plan includes 5G access. Monthly plans also include up to 200GB of data rollover. You’ll have the choice between a physical SIM or eSIM.
What’s good about Kogan Mobile:
- Choice of plans on two expiry periods
- Data rollover on the monthly plans
- Qantas Frequent Flyer points can be earned when purchasing and recharging an eligible Kogan Mobile plan (Qantas and Kogan accounts must be linked).
Look out for:
- 5G access only on the most expensive monthly plan
- Heavy data users may have slowed speeds during busy periods
- Data rollover not available on 365-day plans.
TPG
One of Australia’s biggest home internet providers and part of the TPG Telecom group, TPG also offers a selection of prepaid mobile phone plans over a monthly expiry period, using the Vodafone 4G and 5G networks (although 5G speeds are capped at 150Mbps or 250Mbps depending on the plan). All plans include unlimited standard national talk and text, along with some international call and SMS inclusions (which differs between the plans). You’ll also have the choice between an eSIM or physical SIM card and select plans include discounts for bundling with a TPG internet plan.
What’s good about TPG:
- 5G access included on all plans
- International call and SMS inclusions on all plans
- Choice between eSIM or physical SIM card.
Look out for:
- Access to additional features, such as international roaming, requires you to set up a ‘Prepaid Balance’ to cover additional charges
- 5G speeds are capped on all plans
- No data rollover or data banking, which is offered by other prepaid providers.
Lebara
A mobile brand known across several countries (but part of the TPG Telecom group in Australia), Lebara offers a large range of prepaid phone plans across 30-day and long-term 360-day expiry periods. Its big drawcard is its international minute inclusions, making Lebara a great choice for Aussies with friends or family overseas. All plans include unlimited standard national calls and SMS, while select plans have 5G access but with speed caps of 150Mbps or 200Mbps (depending on your plan). Plans include up to 200GB of data banking along with the option to choose a physical SIM card or eSIM on sign up.
What’s good about Lebara:
- Good international call inclusions
- Up to 200GB of data banking available
- 5G network access.
Look out for:
- Better international call inclusions on more expensive plans
- 5G only available on select plans
- Speed caps on all plans, including 4G plans.
Pros and cons of Vodafone network providers
Choosing to sign up to a Vodafone MVNO can save you money, but there's things to consider first. Here are some pros and cons of telcos on the Vodafone network:
Pros
- Plans often have better value for money data inclusions at cheaper prices than Vodafone
- Access to the full Vodafone network
- Range of features including 5G access, eSIM and data banking offered by many providers
Cons
- Customer service may be limited when compared to Vodafone
- 5G access is often with capped speeds
- If you want a new smartphone on a plan, Vodafone is currently your only option on the network
Vodafone mobile plans
Vodafone offers a wide range of phone plans to suit different usage needs, whether you’re after just a SIM-only postpaid or prepaid plan, or you want a new phone bundled with a plan.
Vodafone postpaid plans
Vodafone SIM-only plans, which are month-to-month postpaid plans, all include unlimited standard national calls and SMS, along with uncapped 5G access. There are also no excess data charges so once you’ve used up your data, you can continue using it, just at capped speeds of 2Mbps. The capped speeds are all good for web browsing, and the 2Mbps speed is still fast enough to stream music and even standard-definition video, so you can continue to use your phone the same way with no excess data charges, although downloading of large files may be slow.
These plans also include access to $5 daily global roaming, which allows you to use your plan’s normal inclusions while travelling overseas, but for that $5 per day additional cost.
Vodafone prepaid plans
Vodafone offers different options for prepaid plans. The Prepaid Plus plans are available on seven-day, 28-day, six-month and 12-month expiry periods. These plans all include standard national calls and text along with uncapped 5G speeds. You can also roll over up to 200GB of data on all plans. The 28-day plans also include access to Vodafone’s ‘infinite’ data, so once you use up your full-speed data allowance, you can keep using data at the capped speed of 1.5Mbps.
Vodafone also offers some prepaid plans as a Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG) plan, which is more like the old-style prepaid plan. These come with long expiry periods and your call, text and data usage is taken from your credit balance.
Vodafone mobile phone-on-a-plan
Vodafone has a large selection of smartphones available, including the latest iPhones, Samsung Galaxy and Google devices. Once you’ve chosen your phone, you’ll then select whether you want to pay your device off over 12, 24 or 36 months, which determines how much you’ll pay each month for the handset. Then you can add on your choice of Vodafone’s postpaid plans which are technically month-to-month, but cancelling your plan altogether will require you to pay off your remaining device costs.
Vodafone phone plan pros and cons
Pros
- Large selection of phone plans, including pay-as-you-go prepaid plans
- 5G speeds uncapped on both prepaid and postpaid plans
- Wide range of new smartphones to bundle on a plan.
Cons
- Plan prices typically more expensive than what MVNOs offer
- $5 a day global roaming only available on the postpaid plans (both SIM-only and bundled with a phone)
- Infinite data on prepaid plans only available on 28-day expiry period.
What are the best mobile plans on the Vodafone network?
Choosing the best Vodafone mobile plans — whether that’s with Vodafone or one of the Vodafone network providers — will ultimately come down to what you need from a phone plan. If you’re after a cheaper mobile plan, plans from smaller providers might suit your needs better. If you’re looking for a new phone on a plan, Vodafone will be your choice.
You’ll also find you get similar Vodafone network coverage whether you go with Vodafone or a smaller provider, although there may be restrictions like speed caps or 5G access limited to certain plans. Finding the right plan for you will come down to a few considerations.
- Cost: Are you after a cheap plan or do you have a bigger budget?
- Data: How much data do you need on your plan?
- Network coverage: Do you need full Vodafone mobile coverage with faster 5G speeds, or will a smaller provider still suit your needs?
- Extras and other inclusions: What extra features are going to add value to a plan for you — international calls, good-value global roaming inclusions, a new smartphone on a plan, etc.
