Telstra will be putting up the price of its postpaid plans from August 27 and the price of its prepaid plans from October 22. Most of its mobile plans will be increasing by between $2 and $4.
This follows an announcement in May where the business said it would no longer be making annual mobile price changes linked to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) each July. However, it didn't say it wouldn't be increasing prices later in the year instead.
At the time Telstra said it would "review [its] pricing and any changes [would] be communicated to customers in a timely and transparent way".
Here's how pricing is changing for Telstra's Upfront SIM-only plans:
| Plan | Current price | New price | Monthly data | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | $50 | N/A | Increased from 2GB to 5GB | 250Mbps cap removed |
| Basic | $62 | $65 | 50GB, unchanged | 250Mbps cap removed |
| Essential | $72 | $75 | 180GB, unchanged | Remains uncapped |
| Premium | $95 | $99 | 300GB, unchanged | Remains uncapped |
| Bundle | $50 | $52 | 25GB, unchanged | Remains uncapped |
Its Premium plan will see the biggest increase at $4 per month. Telstra is removing the 250Mbps speed cap on its two cheapest plans and increasing the monthly data on its Starter plan by 3GB. Except for the price increase, the majority of its Upfront plans remain unchanged.
Last year's CPI-based increase saw Telstra's Upfront plans increase by $4 to $5 per month.
Here's how pricing is changing for Telstra's prepaid plans:
| Plan/expiry | Current price | New price | Monthly data | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 days | $12 | $13 | 3GB, unchanged | 150Mbps, unchanged |
| 28 days | $35 | $39 | 15GB, unchanged | 150Mbps, unchanged |
| 28 days | $45 | $49 | 25GB, unchanged | 150Mbps, unchanged |
| 28 days | $55 | $59 | 35GB, unchanged | 250Mbps, unchanged |
| 28 days | $65 | $69 | 70GB, unchanged | Uncapped, unchanged |
| 6 months | $160 | $180 | 70GB, unchanged | 150Mbps, unchanged |
| 12 months | $320 | $350 | 165GB, unchanged | 150Mbps, unchanged |
On the prepaid front, the majority of plans (with 28-day expiry) are going up by $4 per month. The 7-day plan will see a $1 price increase while Telstra's long expiry plans are going up by $20 and $30 per recharge (which is between $2.50 and $4 a month when broken down). All data inclusions and speed caps for Telstra's prepaid plans remain the same.
Boost Mobile, which uses the Telstra mobile network has announced today, that its prices will also go up in October. Telstra-owned Belong's prices will go up from July 30. It's possible that other Telstra Mobile Virtual Network operators such as Tangerine, More and MATE may also go up later this year.
Here's what Telstra Upfront plans look like for the moment:
|
#1
|
Telstra
$74.00/mth
Min. cost $24
Link not supplied
|
|
#2
|
Telstra
$84.00/mth
Min. cost $42
Link not supplied
|
|
#3
|
Telstra
$99.00/mth
Min. cost $49
Link not supplied
|
And for comparison, here's a selection of the cheapest SIM-only plans in our database that use the Telstra network that have at least 20GB of data:
Optus put up its prices for customers in May, and is passing them on to existing customers from from August 5, while Vodafone increased its prices back in January. Telstra will remain the most expensive of the three major telcos.
See how Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone's cheapest SIM-only plans compare:
Why is Telstra increasing its prices?
Telstra says it moved away from CPI-linked annual pricing reviews to be more consistent across its product line and that there are a range of factors behind its pricing decisions. It points to the running costs of maintaining its network and the need to keep up with customer numbers. Telstra referred to Australian Bureau of Statistics data that the cost of telecommunications services has not increased at the rate of other goods and services.
Image source: Telstra
Customers with a valid Health Care, Pension Concession or Gold Veteran's Affairs card will still be able to access the Starter Plan for $31 per month.
Those who have taken up a free mobile plan via Telstra's Top Up program will also get the six-month prepaid plan with extra data included.
Customers who need assistance paying their bill may be able to access tailored payment plans from Telstra.
These are the most popular SIM-only mobile plans with WhistleOut users this week:
Dylan Crismale
Digital Content Editor
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