Apr 12, 2019, 8:18 pm
Last edit by: Mwenenzi
Summary
https://prepaid-data-sim-card.fandom.com/wiki/Australia
Reasonable summary of Au phones, but a changing market.
Networks 3G 4G
There are 3 main mobile phone networks in Australia
TPG was building a 4th network. Link--> https://www.canstarblue.com.au/phone/tpg-phone-network/ But the Australian Government banned Huawei equipment due to security concerns. And TPG & Vodafone may merge. Link
All other mobile phone plan retailers are resellers. Many resellers use the Optus network.
Phone & Data Plans
There are many phone-SIM-data plans available from bricks & mortar shops:- phone shops, supermarkets, post offices, newsagents, gas/petrol stations or on line. It can be confusing comparing the features & costs. Cost per month is reducing and data per month is increasing. The plans are aimed at Australia residents, so may not be that suitable for visitors to Australia. Some plans are 6/12 month locked-in contracts. Some plans include data roll over/bank and others do not. Some plans now have a 1 off bonus data at sign up. So check carefully.
A visitor to Australia should be able to get a 28/30 day plan for about $30 with unlimited local calls and local texts and with some data. Less than 30 days, if available, not a lot different. Check the conditions & fine print. To activate an Australian phone-SIM card an identity check is needed. Please refer below.
Most (all?) of the Australian international airports will have booths or shops selling SIM cards & phone-data plans.
Check if your unlocked phone works on the Australian networks:- http://willmyphonework.net
The supermarket chains offer some reasonable deals, with no locked-in contract.
Pick up a SIM card in the supermarket or have it delivered by mail
Other resellers (alphabetical order - not a recommendation)
There are comparison web sites aimed at Australia residents. These may not be that suitable for visitors to Australia. They may not be 100% independent or show all options.
Identify Check
To activate an Australian phone-SIM card a 100 point identity check is needed. It is not always asked for. There is a post where a FT’er had trouble doing this. Link---> Post 111
The airport booth guys or a phone shop will be able to activate a SIM card. Ask before you buy.
Australian Communications and Media Authority (Au gov) link---> https://www.acma.gov.au/acmas-rules-id-checks-prepaid-mobiles
Australian Government legislation link (very legalistic)--> https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2017L00399
Aldi pdf for information (typical?) https://www.aldimobile.com.au/m3/docs/identity_verification_policy.pdf
Coverage
The 2 main carriers claim high 90's% coverage of the Australian population centres. Note this is not the same as geographic coverage (land area). Any of the 2 (or 3) mains carriers will have coverage of the main areas where most people will visit. Telstra has the reputation for the largest geographic coverage. (Optus may not agree). If you are 100 miles out the back of Bourke or in remote Western Australia or on the Nullarbor or wherever there may be no coverage. Areas with no coverage exist all over the country. But it is not a problem for most visitor’s to Australia.
Telstra coverage map--------> https://www.telstra.com.au/coverage-networks/our-coverage
Telstra block spot program ----> https://www.telstra.com.au/coverage-networks/mobile-black-spot-program
Disclaimer
The above is a very general guide only. It may not be 100% accurate
Mobile phone plans are for ever changing.
Any additions or corrections are welcome
https://prepaid-data-sim-card.fandom.com/wiki/Australia
Reasonable summary of Au phones, but a changing market.
Networks 3G 4G
There are 3 main mobile phone networks in Australia
- Telstra
https://www.telstra.com.au/mobile-phones - Optus
https://www.optus.com.au/shop/mobile/phone-plans - Vodafone
https://www.vodafone.com.au/plans
TPG was building a 4th network. Link--> https://www.canstarblue.com.au/phone/tpg-phone-network/ But the Australian Government banned Huawei equipment due to security concerns. And TPG & Vodafone may merge. Link
All other mobile phone plan retailers are resellers. Many resellers use the Optus network.
Phone & Data Plans
There are many phone-SIM-data plans available from bricks & mortar shops:- phone shops, supermarkets, post offices, newsagents, gas/petrol stations or on line. It can be confusing comparing the features & costs. Cost per month is reducing and data per month is increasing. The plans are aimed at Australia residents, so may not be that suitable for visitors to Australia. Some plans are 6/12 month locked-in contracts. Some plans include data roll over/bank and others do not. Some plans now have a 1 off bonus data at sign up. So check carefully.
A visitor to Australia should be able to get a 28/30 day plan for about $30 with unlimited local calls and local texts and with some data. Less than 30 days, if available, not a lot different. Check the conditions & fine print. To activate an Australian phone-SIM card an identity check is needed. Please refer below.
Most (all?) of the Australian international airports will have booths or shops selling SIM cards & phone-data plans.
Check if your unlocked phone works on the Australian networks:- http://willmyphonework.net
The supermarket chains offer some reasonable deals, with no locked-in contract.
Pick up a SIM card in the supermarket or have it delivered by mail
- https://www.colesmobile.com.au (Optus network)
- https://mobile.woolworths.com.au (Telstra network)
- https://www.aldimobile.com.au/plans/value-packs (Telstra network)
Other resellers (alphabetical order - not a recommendation)
- https://www.amaysim.com.au/mobile-plans/
- https://www.belong.com.au/mobile (owned by Telstra)
- https://boost.com.au/plans/
- https://www.dodo.com.au/
- https://www.lebara.com.au/mobile-plans/30-day-plans
- https://www.tpg.com.au/mobile
- https://www.vaya.net.au
- and others
There are comparison web sites aimed at Australia residents. These may not be that suitable for visitors to Australia. They may not be 100% independent or show all options.
- https://youcompare.com.au/mobilephones/
- https://www.whistleout.com.au/MobilePhones/
- https://whatphone.com.au
- https://www.canstarblue.com.au/compare/mobile
- and others
Identify Check
To activate an Australian phone-SIM card a 100 point identity check is needed. It is not always asked for. There is a post where a FT’er had trouble doing this. Link---> Post 111
The airport booth guys or a phone shop will be able to activate a SIM card. Ask before you buy.
Australian Communications and Media Authority (Au gov) link---> https://www.acma.gov.au/acmas-rules-id-checks-prepaid-mobiles
Australian Government legislation link (very legalistic)--> https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2017L00399
Aldi pdf for information (typical?) https://www.aldimobile.com.au/m3/docs/identity_verification_policy.pdf
Coverage
The 2 main carriers claim high 90's% coverage of the Australian population centres. Note this is not the same as geographic coverage (land area). Any of the 2 (or 3) mains carriers will have coverage of the main areas where most people will visit. Telstra has the reputation for the largest geographic coverage. (Optus may not agree). If you are 100 miles out the back of Bourke or in remote Western Australia or on the Nullarbor or wherever there may be no coverage. Areas with no coverage exist all over the country. But it is not a problem for most visitor’s to Australia.
Telstra coverage map--------> https://www.telstra.com.au/coverage-networks/our-coverage
Telstra block spot program ----> https://www.telstra.com.au/coverage-networks/mobile-black-spot-program
Disclaimer
The above is a very general guide only. It may not be 100% accurate
Mobile phone plans are for ever changing.
Any additions or corrections are welcome
Prepaid SIM (Data or Voice) - Australia
Sep 20, 2018, 3:22 pm
#122
Moderator: American AAdvantage, Travel Safety/Security & Texas, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: AUS / GRK
Programs: AA, HHonors, Hertz
Posts: 13,492
I'll be visiting Australia for about 3 weeks, beginning in early October. We'll be flying into MEL, traveling to CNS and SYD, before flying back to the US. We are planning a few daytrips out of the cities (possibly to Twelve Apostles from Melbourne, up to Daintree from CNS, etc.)
A friend of mine suggested Telstra, and specifically this package:
https://www.telstra.com.au/mobile-ph...im-starter-kit
Any thoughts?
I was hoping to use Uber to get from MEL to our hotel downtown. It doesn't look like Telstra has an office at MEL International arrivals. Will WiFi at MEL be sufficient?
They do have an office in downtown Melbourne, so we can walk over there after we get to the hotel.
A friend of mine suggested Telstra, and specifically this package:
https://www.telstra.com.au/mobile-ph...im-starter-kit
Any thoughts?
I was hoping to use Uber to get from MEL to our hotel downtown. It doesn't look like Telstra has an office at MEL International arrivals. Will WiFi at MEL be sufficient?
They do have an office in downtown Melbourne, so we can walk over there after we get to the hotel.
Sep 20, 2018, 6:43 pm
#123
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Bay Area
Programs: DL SM, UA MP.
Posts: 12,729
I didn't take Uber from MEL but I did take it to MEL.
It appears you would have to leave the terminal to get to the pickup location:
https://www.uber.com/airports/mel/
Don't know if Wifi would be out there. I have T-Mobile so I rarely use airport Wifi, which often requires some kind of registration.
It appears you would have to leave the terminal to get to the pickup location:
https://www.uber.com/airports/mel/
Don't know if Wifi would be out there. I have T-Mobile so I rarely use airport Wifi, which often requires some kind of registration.
Sep 20, 2018, 7:01 pm
#124
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,030
And even still has a few pay phones, that take a credit card (ground floor international arrivals)
Oct 31, 2018, 1:50 pm
#125
Moderator: American AAdvantage, Travel Safety/Security & Texas, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: AUS / GRK
Programs: AA, HHonors, Hertz
Posts: 13,492
Just as a follow-up, we ended up getting Optus SIM Cards at MEL:
https://www.optus.com.au/shop/mobile/prepaid
We got that special, 20G for $30. During the nearly 3 week trip (including tethering to my laptop periodically) I didn't even use half of that 20G (I'd guess maybe 8 or 9G at most). I was able to download their app so I could monitor usage. We even listened to US satellite radio in rental cars periodically (via the SiriusXM app and a VPN).
There were some areas where coverage lapsed...such as the drive out to Twelve Apostles from Melbourne, and from Cairns up to Daintree NP.
I'm not sure if Telstra would have been any better...but convenience won out. Coverage was great in and around the cities. There was even great coverage while out on the Great Barrier Reef, and the boat ride to/from. Plus both ways of the Sydney-Manly ferry.
And we did call an Uber from MEL. There's a fixed point for rideshare, not too difficult to figure out.
There was WiFi at MEL, no registration required (I might have had to log in through Facebook, I can't remember). It was rather effortless.
https://www.optus.com.au/shop/mobile/prepaid
We got that special, 20G for $30. During the nearly 3 week trip (including tethering to my laptop periodically) I didn't even use half of that 20G (I'd guess maybe 8 or 9G at most). I was able to download their app so I could monitor usage. We even listened to US satellite radio in rental cars periodically (via the SiriusXM app and a VPN).
There were some areas where coverage lapsed...such as the drive out to Twelve Apostles from Melbourne, and from Cairns up to Daintree NP.
I'm not sure if Telstra would have been any better...but convenience won out. Coverage was great in and around the cities. There was even great coverage while out on the Great Barrier Reef, and the boat ride to/from. Plus both ways of the Sydney-Manly ferry.
And we did call an Uber from MEL. There's a fixed point for rideshare, not too difficult to figure out.
There was WiFi at MEL, no registration required (I might have had to log in through Facebook, I can't remember). It was rather effortless.
Nov 7, 2018, 10:58 am
#128
Moderator: American AAdvantage, Travel Safety/Security & Texas, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: AUS / GRK
Programs: AA, HHonors, Hertz
Posts: 13,492
Nov 14, 2018, 11:18 am
#129
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 552
Vodafone offers a A$25 prepaid with 1000mins calls to AU and some other countries plus 6GB data with possibility (which I had) to double it for free to 12GB. Validity is 35 days.
I got this last February direct at SYD arrival hall and when it is still available next Feb I'll do it again.
All major AU airports have a Vodafone shop in the arrival hall. Staff will install the SIM card.
Here the plan: https://www.vodafone.com.au/prepaid/plans
I got this last February direct at SYD arrival hall and when it is still available next Feb I'll do it again.
All major AU airports have a Vodafone shop in the arrival hall. Staff will install the SIM card.
Here the plan: https://www.vodafone.com.au/prepaid/plans
Last edited by airsurfer; Nov 15, 2018 at 10:09 am Reason: Added link
Mar 26, 2019, 2:24 am
#130
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Frankfurt
Programs: QR Platinum
Posts: 256
Travel Sim Card Australia East Coast
Good day
I will travel in Australia for 4 weeks on the East Coast from Melbourne up to Brisbane/Fraser Island. Which prepaid sim should I buy? I just need domestic calls and about10 GB data volume. If possible I would like to buy it when arriving in Melbourne airport.
Thanks for recommendations
I will travel in Australia for 4 weeks on the East Coast from Melbourne up to Brisbane/Fraser Island. Which prepaid sim should I buy? I just need domestic calls and about10 GB data volume. If possible I would like to buy it when arriving in Melbourne airport.
Thanks for recommendations
Mar 26, 2019, 2:46 am
#131
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,030
Good day
I will travel in Australia for 4 weeks on the East Coast from Melbourne up to Brisbane/Fraser Island. Which prepaid SIM should I buy? I just need domestic calls and about10 GB data volume. If possible I would like to buy it when arriving in Melbourne airport.
Thanks for recommendations
I will travel in Australia for 4 weeks on the East Coast from Melbourne up to Brisbane/Fraser Island. Which prepaid SIM should I buy? I just need domestic calls and about10 GB data volume. If possible I would like to buy it when arriving in Melbourne airport.
Thanks for recommendations
)After existing MEL T2 international arrivals hall to the right are several booths selling SIM cards (ground floor). Check them all before purchasing. Some SIM cards are 28 days and others a month. T2 is between T1 (Qantas) & T3 (Virgin Au)
Make sure your phone works on the Au network
https://willmyphonework.net/
I have requested moderators merge this thread into the main Au SIM card thread. That has information on the main providers
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trav...australia.html
SIM card for a short stay in Australia
Sim Card in Australia
Last edited by Mwenenzi; Mar 27, 2019 at 1:37 pm Reason: fixing links
Mar 26, 2019, 5:23 am
#132
Join Date: May 2006
Location: GA
Programs: VA-PLT, QF-GLD, DL-GM, UA-ex1K, AA-exPLT, HH-DM, IHG-PLT, MR-GLD
Posts: 8,242
Vodafone seems to have the best deals for lots of data (up to 50GB for quite a reasonable cost).
Telstra however has the best regional coverage. So if coverage in rural areas matters (sounds like it might), then consider Telstra. Boost Mobile and ALDI actually sell sim cards on the Telstra network, but not sure about how pricing compares.
Telstra however has the best regional coverage. So if coverage in rural areas matters (sounds like it might), then consider Telstra. Boost Mobile and ALDI actually sell sim cards on the Telstra network, but not sure about how pricing compares.
Mar 26, 2019, 12:30 pm
#133
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: most of them
Posts: 3,283
Good day
I will travel in Australia for 4 weeks on the East Coast from Melbourne up to Brisbane/Fraser Island. Which prepaid sim should I buy? I just need domestic calls and about10 GB data volume. If possible I would like to buy it when arriving in Melbourne airport.
Thanks for recommendations
I will travel in Australia for 4 weeks on the East Coast from Melbourne up to Brisbane/Fraser Island. Which prepaid sim should I buy? I just need domestic calls and about10 GB data volume. If possible I would like to buy it when arriving in Melbourne airport.
Thanks for recommendations
https://www.whistleout.com.au/MobilePhones
I ended up with Vodafone and had it delivered to my hotel for me to pickup when I arrived. I was just in Adelaide, Melbourne and Canberra. If you're going farther afield I agree that checking coverage is a good idea. I recall Telstra having major outages of their whole system while I was there in May last year...lots of unhappy people on the news.
Dec 6, 2019, 11:53 pm
#134
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 10,971
Planning a trip to Sydney (since I got a few nights booked on the IHG PointBreak) and wonder if they have plans there that are pay-as-you-go rather than a big block for xx days.
For example, when I went to the UK, I put 10 GBP on a Three SIM. It is pay-as-you-go and you can keep it active by using it every 6 months. So, after 2 1 week trips, I still have about 8 GBP left.
Anything like that in AU? The https://www.whistleout.com.au/MobilePhones page did not turn up any of those plans.
At SYD airport, are there a lot of options?
Thanks.
For example, when I went to the UK, I put 10 GBP on a Three SIM. It is pay-as-you-go and you can keep it active by using it every 6 months. So, after 2 1 week trips, I still have about 8 GBP left.
Anything like that in AU? The https://www.whistleout.com.au/MobilePhones page did not turn up any of those plans.
At SYD airport, are there a lot of options?
Thanks.
Dec 7, 2019, 12:00 am
#135
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Bay Area
Programs: DL SM, UA MP.
Posts: 12,729
https://prepaid-data-sim-card.fandom.com/wiki/Australia
Seems like they have both prepaid bundles which are only good during a certain period and those which are as-needed, that is you pay x per each day you use and there is a limit on how much data you can use on those days when you use the network.
Seems like they have both prepaid bundles which are only good during a certain period and those which are as-needed, that is you pay x per each day you use and there is a limit on how much data you can use on those days when you use the network.