Optus is increasing prices on its monthly postpaid plans by $5 today, marking the final stage of price rises from Australia’s major mobile providers, with similar hikes from Telstra on 5 May and Vodafone on 15 April.
While mobile providers typically adjust pricing annually, these increases have arrived earlier than usual and represent the second price rise for Telstra and Optus customers in under 12 months.
‘Big three’ | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Provider | Plans | Max | When? |
Vodafone | Prepaid | $5 | 15 |
Telstra | Prepaid & | $5 | 5 |
Optus | Postpaid | $5 | 18 |
Source: Canstar.
Savings available on same network, but different provider
Customers feeling the impact of these increases can find cheaper options by switching to smaller brands operating on the same networks.
Providers using the Optus and TPG (Vodafone) infrastructure get full access to their networks, while those with Telstra use the provider’s wholesale network, which covers 98.8% of the population, just 0.9% less than its retail network.
Analysis of postpaid plans with at least 50GB of data on Canstar shows potential savings of up to $456 a year when switching from one of the big three to a lowest‑cost provider on the same network.
Difference of cost | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Telstra | Optus | Vodafone | |
Major | $74 | $60 | $53 |
Lowest cost | $36 | $29 | $30 |
Monthly | -$38 | -$31 | -$23 |
Annual | -$456 | -$372 | -$276 |
Source: Canstar. Excludes discounts. Lowest cost provider on Telstra uses wholesale network. Lowest cost provider for Vodafone is a subscription.
Many Aussies could drop data to save
ACCC data shows the average Australian uses 14.5GB of mobile data per month, yet Canstar research finds 57% of people pay for more than 20GB.
Since most plans now include unlimited calls and texts, data allowance is the main driver of price, meaning many Australians may be paying for more than they need.
For example, prepaid plans from the major telcos have a $20 difference per recharge between those offering a minimum of 40GB compared to plans with a minimum of 20GB.
Data difference: | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Telstra | Optus | Vodafone | |
Minimum | $64 | $39 | $60 |
Minimum | $44 | $59 | $40 |
Difference | $20 | $20 | $20 |
Source: Canstar. Does not include introductory discounts or specials.
Canstar's Managing Editor, Utilities and Finance, Tara Donnelly, says, “This latest increase from Optus completes a round of price hikes across the big three providers, and it’s the second rise in less than a year for some customers.”
“At a time when budgets are already stretched, it’s more important than ever for households to review their plan and make sure they’re not overpaying.
“The network coverage myth – that cheaper providers come at the cost of network coverage – unfortunately still persists, leaving many Australians paying far more than they need to for their mobile plan.
“Rather, smaller providers use the same underlying infrastructure as the major telcos with the same network coverage, or in the case of Telstra’s wholesale network, coverage is almost identical. For customers willing to compare their options, the savings can be substantial.
“Canstar research shows many Australians are paying for far more data than they actually use. With data being the main driver of mobile plan pricing, simply choosing a lower‑data plan could deliver meaningful monthly savings.
