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Better internet for Regional, Remote and Rural Australia. Mobile Broadband and Home Wireless Plans.

Australia has 3 Mobile Network operators, Vodafone, Optus and Telstra. Combined these 3 networks also support over 150 smaller operators know as Mobile Virtual Network operators or MVNOs. However, this Guide will only focus on those operators who are well known.

*Please Note, all data is considered accurate at the time of this documents publishing and is subject to change, therefore it is recommended that you contact or visit each individual provider’s website to obtain the most Up to data information. Produced for the Better Internet for Rural, Remote and Regional Australia action and support network*

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TELSTRA.

Telstra operates Australia’s largest mobile network. Covering 99.3% of the Australian population with 3G and 97% of the population with 4GLTE.

Telstra has two Wireless Broadband offerings, classic Mobile Broadband, and a New product called Home Wireless Broadband:

Telstra Mobile Broadband:

These plans include 10gb of Telstra Air Data (Unlimited until the 30th of September 2016). To use Telstra Air, simply locate a Hotspot called Telstra Air, which are typically Telstra payphones with a Wi-Fi logo or some Telstra stores, then log in to the hotpot using your Telstra Account Login.

If you exceed your plans included data allowance, you will be charged $10 per gb, which is billed in 1gb blocks.

Available on BYO with your own device.*

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Telstra Home Wireless Broadband

Telstra Wireless broadband is a new service that is similar to that offered by Optus. However, the two differences are: No speed Cap No coverage Limitations.

Please Note, Mobile Customers cannot upgrade to this offer, as it is a separate offer you will need to order it as a new service and then cancel your old service if you wish, when you receive and activate your new modem. *BYO Device Requirements: Your device must support UMTS 850/2100Mhz and At least 700Mhz for rural LTE coverage. Prepaid:

New Data pass 2 offer now available:

Setting up auto-recharge for the $30 recharge gives you 6gb instead of the standard 3gb

https://www.telstra.com.au/broadband/mobile-broadband/prepaid?ti=TR:TR:mbb:button:prepaid

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TELSTRA RESELLERS:

Except for Boost who do not sell Mobile Broadband plans, all Telstra Resellers are subject to coverage and speed limitations, please use the individual coverage checkers to determine whether these products are available at your address.

Aldi; Sells the following data plans:

4GLTE Speed is capped at 100/50

Aldi sim cards can be purchased at any Aldi supermarket or from aldimobile.com.au

TELECHOICE

Telechoice sells Post Paid Mobile broadband plans:

These plans are subject to a credit assessment, for more information visit

https://www.telechoice.com.au/broadband-plans

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WOOLWORTHS CONNECT

Australia’s Largest Supermarket chain has since December been a Telstra reseller, you can get 10% off these prepaid prices with a registered Woolworths Reward Card:

Sim Cards cost $2 at available at all Woolworths stores nationally.

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OPTUS.

Optus is Australia’s second largest Mobile network provider. Offering Coverage to 98.5% off the population with the 3G900/2100 spectrum and to 90% of the population with LTE using the 700/1800/2300 and 2600mhz bands.

As with Telstra, Optus offers two Post Paid offers, a Standard Mobile Broadband offer and a Home Wireless Offer.

OPTUS MOBILE BROADBAND.

SIM Only plans:

Excess data is $10 per gb. Music streaming through selected services and English premier league is unmetered ($15 extra per month), only for use through the official apps on a compatible smartphone or tablet, and connected to via wifi or usb.

Unmetered TV is not available on the month to month plans.

Sim only requires a device that supports 3G 900/2100 and at a minimum of 4G 700/1800 for LTE speeds and coverage.

Visit: http://tinyurl.com/ho8crtu

For Standard Mobile Broadband plans with a Device or Tablet included:

Unmetered TV is only available on the $70 plan, and only on tablets or smartphones through the official apps. Must supply your own subscription to the services:

1.5mbps SD only

Netflix, Presto, Stan, ABCiview, ikids Iview.

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New Tablet Trade up means that after 12 months for a $99 fee you can return your current tablet and get a new one in return for restarting the Contract:

http://tinyurl.com/j49shmg

Home Wireless Broadband.

Get 200gb for $80 per month ($90 on a 12 month plan) with Optus Home Wireless.

http://www.optus.com.au/shop/broadband/home-wireless-broadband

A choice of 3 Contract options.

Month to Month with a cost of $240 upfront for the device and $80 per month

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12 month term with $10 a month device repayments

24 month term at $80 per month.

After 200gb used, you will receive a 10gb data topup for $10. Maximum of 5 topups per month, limit of 2 services per customer, so for $160 you could get 400gb.

Once included top ups are exhausted you will be shaped to 256kbps until next billing period. No unmetered content.

You will receive up to 12/1mbps in 2300mhz coverage areas and up to 5/1 in other areas. Please not coverage restrictions apply and sim only is not available for this plan.

VIRGIN MOBILE.

A wholly owned subsidiary of Optus. Virgin offers the following plans.

Sim only options are also available, with no contract. Once data is used, data will be shaped to 128kbps for the next 250mb. Use the 250mb up and your service will be suspended until the start of your next billing period.

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VAYA.

Now owned by Amaysim, Vaya offers three standard plans:

With these 12 month plan offers, you pay for the 12 months upfront and then excess usage is billed per month. However month by month options are available at $10, $25 and $45 respectfully. Vaya also offers a gamer data plan:

This plan is only available until the 8th of august EXTENDED.

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See: http://www.vaya.net.au/?option=Gamer%20Plans

Vaya has a history of billing errors and poor customer service. However recently negative feedback has decreased.

OVO.

Offers in my opinion the best prepaid plans on the Market.

$29.90 13gb

$44.95 25gb

$79.95 50gb

With unlimited OVO Play (V8 supercars) streaming through mobile or tablet.

https://www.ovo.com.au/ovo-products/

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VODAFONE:

Operates Australia’s 3rd largest network covering 96% of the population with 2G/3G/4GLTE.Also has a roaming agreement with Optus in place to reach areas not currently covered by Vodafone.

Offers no speciality plans like a Home Wireless solution. But does offer some high allowance options:

Extra data is only available on a 24-month plan.

If the month to month option is chosen, the standard allowances for the $30/50/100 plans are 7/13/30gb.