Telstra coverage without dealing with Telstra - The best MVNOs on the network

Anula Wiwatowska - Offsite Editorial Lead

Last updated 16 June 2022

Best coverage

Full access to the Telstra network
Data-free Apple Music streaming
No contracts

Plans start from

$20 per month

Go to Site

Best to bundle

Wholesale Telstra network
Bundle with NBN for $10 discount
No contracts

Plans start from

$20 per month

Best big data

Telstra Wholesale network
Cheap plans with big data
No contracts

Plans start from

$10.99 per month

Link not supplied

Want the benefits of being with Telstra, but don’t fancy the idea of actually being WITH Telstra? We get it. Big T has great coverage but the prices are... Not so great.

There’s an easy solution - use a Telstra MVNO. Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNO) buy access to one of the three networks in Australia, and sell it on - usually at a much cheaper rate.

Right now there are nine providers using the Telstra MVNO network. Out of these, eight use the wholesale network which is smaller than Telstra proper, but still covers more of the population than Optus or Vodafone do. And one - Boost Mobile - has access to the full Telstra network but at a much lower cost for consumers.

If you want the cheapest way to get on the Telstra bandwagon, then this is it.

Telstra network plans under $10
Telstra network plans under $20
Telstra network plans under $40

#1	ALDI mobile	ALDI mobile $28 Mobile Plan 12GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Uses parts of Telstra’s 5G and 4G mobile networks $28.00 Per 30 Day Renewal Link not supplied	$28.00 Per 30 Day Renewal	Link not supplied
#2	Boost Mobile	Boost Mobile $28 Prepaid 8GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Telstra 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices $28.00 Per 28 Day Renewal Go to Site	$28.00 Per 28 Day Renewal	Go to Site
#3	Tangerine Telecom	Tangerine Telecom 15GB 5G Mobile SIM 15GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Uses parts of Telstra’s 5G and 4G mobile networks Deal: Bundle your mobile and nbn plans on the same account to get 10% off your mobile SIM-only plan fees. T&Cs apply. $30.00/mth Min. cost $30 Go to Site	$30.00/mth Min. cost $30	Go to Site
#4	Belong	Belong 25GB Mobile Plan 50GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Uses parts of Telstra’s 5G and 4G mobile networks Deal: Includes 25GB monthly bonus data for first 12 months when you activate your new service by 30.11.26. T&Cs apply. $34.00/mth Min. cost $34 Link not supplied	$34.00/mth Min. cost $34	Link not supplied
#5	Everyday Mobile	Everyday Mobile Pre-paid Mobile $35 Recharge 50GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Uses parts of Telstra’s 5G and 4G mobile networks Deal: Get 10% off an eligible Woolworths shop in store every month when you link your Everyday Rewards card. T&Cs apply $35.00 Per 30 Day Renewal Link not supplied	$35.00 Per 30 Day Renewal	Link not supplied

Plans under $10

Believe it or not you can get a plan on the Telstra network for less than $10 per month. Below are the most popular prepaid or postpaid plans available from Telstra MVNOs right now.

Plans under $20

$20 is still a bargain for a plan with Big T coverage. Below are the most popular deals under $20 per month on the Telstra network. These are a big step up in data from the $10 options for just a little bit more per month.

Plans under $40

While $40 a month isn’t necessarily cheap, it is still cheaper than Telstra proper’s most affordable plan. Here are the most popular plans using the Telstra network coming in at under $40 per month.

#1	Boost Mobile	Boost Mobile 80GB Data $39 Per 28 Day Renewal Min. cost $12 Deal: Grab a $39 SIM for $12 – save $27. Hurry! Offer ends 30.11.26. Terms Apply	100%	Go to Site
#2	Tangerine Telecom	Tangerine Telecom 15GB Data No Contract $30/mth Min. cost $30 Deal: Bundle your mobile and nbn plans on the same account to get 10% off your mobile SIM-only plan fees. T&Cs apply.	94%	Go to Site
#3	ALDI mobile	ALDI mobile 12GB Data $28 Per 30 Day Renewal Min. cost $28	38%	Link not supplied
#4	Belong	Belong 50GB Data No Contract $34/mth Min. cost $34 Deal: Includes 25GB monthly bonus data for first 12 months when you activate your new service by 30.11.26. T&Cs apply.	12%	Link not supplied
#5	Everyday Mobile	Everyday Mobile 50GB Data $35 Per 30 Day Renewal Min. cost $35 Deal: Get 10% off an eligible Woolworths shop in store every month when you link your Everyday Rewards card. T&Cs apply	10%	Link not supplied

The difference between the Telstra proper and Telstra wholesale networks

The majority of Telstra MVNOs offer service on the Telstra wholesale network. The wholesale network has a slightly smaller footprint than the Telstra network proper, covering 98.8% of the Australian population, compared to 99.4%.

However, unless you live in a very regional or remote area of Australia, you should find you are covered by the Telstra wholesale network. Here's how coverage between the Telstra network and the Telstra wholesale network compares:

Anula Wiwatowska

Offsite Editorial Lead | Instagram

Anula is the Off-Site Editorial Lead for WhistleOut Australia, and an award winning tech journalist. She has been writing about the Australian telco industry, and consumer technology for over five years, and has been known to tell her Uber driver which phone they should upgrade to next.

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