telstra business plan l

Compare Telstra business mobile plans

Posted by Bruce Pitchers 04/06/2024

Mobile phones play a vital role keeping businesses, their staff and customers connected. And all major telco providers offer plans tailored to their business customers’ needs.

In this guide, Canstar Blue explores Telstra’s business mobile plans, and reveals how they compare to those on offer from Optus and Vodafone.

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Telstra business plans

Telstra business mobile bundle plans, telstra business plans vs telstra upfront plans, telstra business mobiles on a plan, telstra enterprise phone plans.

• How do Telstra business plans compare to those from Vodafone and Optus?

Are Telstra business plans worth it?

Telstra offers three business mobile plans, each is payable upfront:

• Basic: $62 per month for 50GB (capped data download speed of 250Mbps)
• Essential: $72 per month for 180GB
• Premium: $95 per month for 300GB

Download speeds are uncapped within your plan’s monthly data allowance, and customers can add up to five bundle plans.  All Telstra business mobile plans come with following calls and texts:

• Unlimited calls, SMS and MMS to standard Australian numbers
• 30 minutes calls to standard international numbers
• Unlimited SMS and MMS to standard international numbers

All Telstra business mobile plans also come with:

• No lock-in contracts: Cancel any time or change plans on a month-to-month basis
• Data sharing: Shared data across up to 20 mobile plans on same account
• No excess data charges in Australia: Speeds slowed if you exceed data allowance
• 24/7 network surveillance
• Choice of eSIM or physical SIM
• Ability to earn Telstra Plus Points

Telstra business plans also offer a service unavailable to regular customers: the ability to pay extra for premium numbers. Premium numbers include sequences of numbers (e.g. 234 567), pairs of numbers (e.g. 14 14, 14), or triple sets (e.g. 319 319) that are easy to remember. A premium number is a useful marketing tool, as it helps customers remember a business’ contact details.

The following table shows a selection of sponsored SIM Only plans on Canstar Blue’s database with links to referral partners.

Customers with Essential and Premium Telstra business mobile plans can each add up to five bundle plans.

Bundle Plan: $50 per month for 25GB

Added bundle plans allow users to share data allowances across multiple devices on the same account.

Telstra’s three Upfront consumer mobile phone plans – Basic, Essential and Premium – are identical to its business plans.

The following table shows selected published Telstra Upfront plans on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of cost, from the lowest to highest and then by data allowance, largest to smallest. Use our comparison tool to see plans from a range of other providers. This is a selection of products with links to a referral partner.

Telstra offers a range of phones available to buy outright, or via interest-free instalments over 12, 24 and 36 months on a chosen business plan.

Phones on offer include the latest models from Apple, CAT, Google, Motorola, Nokia, OPPO and Samsung.

For large businesses, Telstra Enterprise offers a wide range of telecommunications solutions, including mobile plans and devices. These solutions are custom-designed on request. For more information, refer to the Telstra Enterprise website.

How do Telstra business plans compare to Optus and Vodafone?

Vodafone and  Optus also both offer a range of business mobile phone plans:

Vodafone business mobile plans

Vodafone offers Small, Medium and Large plans, with prices beginning from $49 per month. Vodafone’s Team Plan allows up to nine additional plans to be added onto one primary service connected to a Vodafone business account, available with or without a phone. All Vodafone plans offer no locked-in contracts, unlimited standard national calls and texts, and unlimited standard international texts. Medium and Large plans also offer international calls.

The max speed data allowances on the primary service and team plans combine into one pool to be shared between all users. No excess data charges apply, instead speeds are slowed to 2Mbps once the plans’ data cap is reached.

For more than ten connections, Vodafone offers Business Flex Plans, which are tailored to a business’ individual requirements by a Vodafone personal account manager.

The following table shows a selection of Vodafone postpaid plans on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of cost, from the lowest to highest. Use our comparison tool to see plans from a range of other providers. This is a selection of products with links to a referral partner.

Optus business mobile plans

Optus offers three small business mobile plans, including Small, Medium and Large options with prices from $52 monthly. All three plans offer no locked-in contracts and unlimited standard national calls and texts. The Medium and Large plans also offer international calls and texts.

The max speed data allowances on Business Choice plans combine into one pool to be shared between all users. No excess data charges apply, instead speeds are slowed to 1.5Mbps once the plans’ data cap is reached.

Optus also offers a four SIM Business Teams Plus Plan, which includes 320GB of data to share between four lines and the option to add additional SIMs. For larger companies, Optus offers Business Fund plans, which feature device credits, and are tailored to a business’ individual requirements by an Optus business consultant.

The following table shows a selection of Optus postpaid plans on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of cost, from the lowest to highest. Use our comparison tool to see plans from a range of other providers. This is a selection of products with links to a referral partner.

Ultimately, choosing the right mobile plan for a small business comes down to the number of phone plans required, and the firm’s data, phone-call and messaging needs. 

So before making a decision, it’s recommended to consider your business’ current and future requirements and to research the plans on offer, and if you have any questions to contact a telco directly.

Overall, while Telstra’s basic business mobile plans are not the cheapest in the market, and don’t offer the most data, they do come with the support of one of Australia’s leading telecommunications companies.

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Telstra announces T22 small business plans

Telstra has taken the wraps off its new small business plans, including a 24/7 tech support service and a fixed-line fault "concierge".

The plans were announced as part of the Telstra2022 strategy unveiled in June, which saw 8,000 jobs axed and is focused on "simplifying" the telco's offerings.

"Our new approach for small business is built around three things: Flexibility to enable businesses to scale and choose what is right for them; greater cost certainty and value; and expert service and advice," Telstra CEO Andy Penn said.

"This is a significant increase to the level of dedicated service and support we provide small businesses, to help take away complexity and give them peace of mind with their technology usage and support."

Under the AU$69 per month Business Choice mobile plan, small business will be able to order a mobile device -- with tablet plans costing AU$29 per month -- with no lock-in contracts, meaning they can add and subtract mobile plans month-to-month as their business peaks; remove excess data charges in Australia; and provide choices of add-ons, including business devices such as the Microsoft Surface Go.

According to the telco, making the plans more flexible will enable small businesses to scale with more cost certainty.

Telstra Platinum for Business is the telco's 24/7 phone and online tech advice and support offering, which comes with an on-call IT team that provides advice, installation, setup, troubleshooting across new technology hardware, software, cloud, and payment services. The service is priced at AU$40 per month or AU$60 per month with Platinum Business Security Service thrown in.

"From 26 December, Platinum for Business Security Service will also be available to small business customers, providing three security assessments, an annual health check report, and updates on the latest threats to help keep businesses up to date about their security," the telco explained.

Telstra is also launching unlimited data broadband plans starting at AU$100 per month for 24 months as a standard inclusion on its Business Bundle plans, which also includes a Telstra Business Smart Modem providing mobile backup for broadband dropouts.

In addition, the telco said it will triple its small business specialists in retail stores nationwide, bringing the number up to 3,000.

Telstra will also launch a new national IT channel for small business customers who have "more complex technology needs", called Telstra Business Technology Centres, in early 2019.

"Telstra Business Technology Centres ... will operate across a national footprint of 28 regions and be run by expert teams from Telstra's existing group of channel partners," Telstra said.

"The teams in each centre will provide personal and virtual account management to local business customers, helping them make the most of technology to do things such as be found and sell online, operate virtual teams across geographies, and keep their operations and their customers' data safe and secure."

Lastly, Telstra's new "concierge" tech support service will help small business customers with National Broadband Network (NBN) or fixed-line service faults, which will be included in all of its broadband bundles.

Previously under T22, Telstra had introduced new consumer mobile plans in July, which were based around greater personalisation as well as removing excess data charges and improving customer experience.

Telstra's goal is to have 20 core plans in a modular design by June next year covering both consumer and small business, with its next milestone under the T22 strategy to be to introduce a "market-leading loyalty program" in March 2019.

The four-pillar strategy for the next three years has six goals: to improve customer experiences; simplify its products, business, and operating model; extend its "network superiority and 5G leadership"; achieve global high performance in employee engagement; achieve a net cost productivity of AU$2.5 billion by FY22; and attain a post-NBN return on invested capital of 10 percent.

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Home » Mobile

Telstra Mobile: Plans and prices

• What are the different types of Telstra mobile plans?
• What do you get with Telstra mobile plans?

Telstra deals

• Telstra mobile plan features

Telstra mobile phones

Telstra coverage map.

• How to switch to Telstra mobile
• Telstra mobile FAQs
• Telstra features breakdown

Telstra is perhaps the most renowned telco in Australia with, inarguably, the largest collective mobile network. Comparatively, Telstra mobile plans are pricier than the competition. But that extra investment typically leads to more expansive coverage, faster potential speeds and more plan perks.

Telstra mobile quick facts

• The Telstra mobile network reaches 99.5% of the Australian population across 5G, 4G and 3G technologies. Telstra 5G is available to 85% of Australians.
• Telstra offers Prepaid Prepaid, SIM Only (paid in advance) and plans with the option to bundle a handset outright or pay off a mobile phone over one, two or three years.
• Telstra SIM Only mobile plans come with limitless data, wherein speeds after a full-speed allowance are capped at 1.5Mbps, while Telstra Prepaid plans have a 200GB data bank.
• Telstra Plus is an opt-in program that offers discounted and presale tickets, plus a rewards store.

What are the different types of Telstra plans?

Telstra mobile plans are available in a few different flavours. For controlled spending, there are Telstra Prepaid plans . For more data and inclusions, consider a Telstra SIM Only plan. If you’re in the market for a new mobile phone, have a look at a Telstra mobile bundled plan, which are the same as Telstra SIM Only plans albeit with a handset repayment.

Telstra SIM Only mobile plans and prices

These days, Telstra SIM Only mobile plans are called Telstra Upfront plans. Why? Like Telstra Prepaid plans, Telstra Upfront plans are paid in advance of a monthly billing cycle, though the inclusions are similar to SIM Only plans from competing telcos. All Telstra SIM Only plans include access to the Telstra 5G network these days, though speeds may be capped on the cheapest plan. Basically, the more you pay, the more data you get with a gigabyte leap between the cheapest Telstra SIM Only plan and the next option.

Telstra Prepaid mobile plans and prices

Telstra sells a range of Prepaid mobile plans, available as Starter Packs of ongoing Prepaid plans. Starter Packs are generally a cheaper way to get started and include a Telstra SIM card . Telstra ongoing Prepaid plans are charged in either 28-day, six-month or 12-month blocks. While Telstra Prepaid plans have access to the Telstra 5G network, speeds are capped.

Telstra Postpaid mobile plans and prices

Telstra Postpaid mobile plans are identical to Telstra Upfront/SIM Only plans in terms of data and inclusions except they let customers bundle a handset. You’ll have the choice of paying outright or paying off the mobile phone over a fixed period.

What do you get with Telstra plans?

Telstra mobile plan speeds.

All Telstra mobile plans include access to the Telstra 5G network, though the speeds vary based on the type and price of the plan. For Telstra Prepaid plans, download speeds are capped at 150Mbps. For Telstra SIM Only plans, speeds are either capped at 250Mbps on the cheapest plan or uncapped on pricier options. According to Opensignal , Telstra mobile download speeds average out at around 60Mbps collectively and around 81Mbps for 5G users. Upload speeds around 9Mbps.

Telstra mobile plan data

Data allowances also vary based on how much you pay. The data inclusions for Telstra SIM Only plans are comfortably above the median mobile phone data allowance (35GB per month). More expensive Telstra SIM Only plans offer hundreds of gigabytes of monthly data. Telstra Prepaid plans may have bonus data for initial recharges but, compared to Telstra SIM Only plans, they have lower dollar-to-data value.

Telstra mobile plan international calls

As is the norm these days, unlimited standard national calls and text are a baseline part of Telstra SIM Only and Prepaid plans. International calls vary by plan type. Telstra SIM Only plans include unlimited standard text to any international number and 30 minutes of calls to any country. For Telstra Prepaid plans, it depends on which one you buy, with international call minutes ranging from 300–6,000 for Zone 1 countries.

Telstra Prepaid plans also include fewer minutes for Zone 2 (60–800 minutes) and Zone 3 (5–100 minutes) countries. Note that international text isn’t included. Here are the Telstra Zone 1 dialling destinations: Canada, China, Denmark, Germany, Guam, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Norway, Puerto Rico, Romania, Singapore, South Korea, United Kingdom, United States of America and Vietnam.

These are the Telstra Zone 2 international options: Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, Cambodia, Chile, Colombia, Iceland, Greece, Italy, Lebanon, France, Iran, Israel, Kenya, Kuwait, Mexico, Nepal, Netherlands, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Peru, Sri Lanka, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand and United Arab Emirates.

And here are the Telstra Zone 3 dialling destinations: Austria, Comoros, Croatia, East Timor, Egypt, Fiji, Ghana, Mauritius, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Russia, Samoa, Serbia, Solomon Islands, Surinam, Switzerland, Tonga, Turkey, Vanuatu and Zimbabwe.

If there’s a Telstra mobile deal today, whether it’s for SIM Only or Prepaid, you’ll see it listed below.

Telstra plan features

Telstra has a reputation for pricey but feature-rich mobile plans. While promotional pricing isn’t as common as competing telcos, Telstra Prepaid plans tend to come with bonus data on initial recharges and you shouldn’t expect any upfront fees outside of the cost of the plan.

Whether you go with Telstra SIM Only or Telstra Prepaid, international roaming is via paid add-on. There’s a day pass, which includes 1GB of data as well as unlimited calls and SMS for Zone 1 and Zone 2 countries. Zone 3 countries only have unlimited calls and SMS. There’s also a 1GB data top-up for eligible countries. Note that country eligibility may be determined by Telstra plan type.

Telstra is one of a growing number of telcos to support eSIM . Customers with compatible mobile phones can opt for an eSIM instead of a physical SIM card on a Telstra Prepaid or Telstra SIM Only plan via the My Telstra app. While there isn’t any data rollover for SIM Only plans, Telstra Prepaid customers can access up to 200GB of data rollover. Data sharing is available for Telstra SIM Only plans, which includes Telstra family plans. Bundle up to five eligible mobile or data plans under a single Telstra family plan.

Students and pensioners may also be eligible for discounted fees on Telstra mobile plans. Telstra customers can also tap into the opt-in perks of the Telstra Plus program. This rewards program is available to all Telstra customers and offers discounted tickets (movies and sports) as well as presale access to selected concerts, art performances and galleries. There’s also a rewards store where customers can spend points—or a mix of points and money—for a range of products and services.

Telstra Upfront and Telstra Prepaid customers have the option of purchasing a mobile phone. Brands like Apple iPhone, Google Pixel, Samsung Galaxy and Motorola Razr are available to buy outright or as part of an interest-free payment. Handset repayment terms are either 12 months, 24 months or 36 months. You’re free to cancel a no-contract Telstra Upfront plan at any time and just pay out the remainder of your handset repayment.

Telstra customers after a mobile phone can choose from a range of colours and storage capacities (where available), plus there’s free delivery and, in some instances, bonus trade-in credit for eligible handsets. Pair a flagship smartphone or mid-range handset with a Telstra Upfront plan to get the process started.

Additionally, Telstra also stocks a range of comparatively cheaper phones for pairing with Telstra Prepaid plans. The selection includes cheaper options like Telstra-branded mobile phones to budget models from known brands like the Samsung Galaxy A and Motorola Moto G ranges. Prepaid phones are purchased outright and prices range from around $60 to under $350.

Telstra has the largest mobile network in Australia across 5G, 4G and 3G technologies. For Telstra (and Boost Mobile ) customers, that translates to a mobile network that’s available to 99.5% of the Australian population. Reportedly, 85% of Australians can access the Telstra 5G network. The interactive map below provides a visual idea of Telstra coverage. Tick or untick the 5G, 4G and 3G boxes then move the map to a desired location to see network coverage. Note that Telstra is shutting down its 3G network on 30 June 2024.

How to switch to Telstra

Switching between telcos in Australia is a straightforward process, and Telstra is no exception. Here’s how to switch to Telstra:

• Pick the Telstra mobile plan that works best for your needs. Optionally, add an available mobile phone. Click the ‘Go to Site’ button (if available) or head to the Telstra website.
• Confirm your Telstra Upfront or Telstra Prepaid by clicking the corresponding blue-circle (SIM Only) or blue-box (Prepaid) plan on the Telstra website. Click ‘Add to cart’ to proceed.
• Click on the ‘Secure checkout’ button. Register for a Telstra ID if you’re a new Telstra customer or sign in with your Telstra ID if you’re a returning customer.
• Follow the prompts and enter the requested details to complete the sign-up process. Note you may need to provide an Australian driver licence or passport as well as income and/or employment details.

For new Telstra SIM Only services, SIM cards should automatically activate within four hours after confirmation of delivery. Insert the Telstra SIM card into a compatible device and, if four hours has passed without activation, restart the handset. We recommend pre-downloading the My Telstra app before inserting a SIM card. Activate the SIM for Telstra SIM Only or Prepaid plans inside My Telstra under ‘Get Help’, ‘My Orders’ and then ‘Activate your SIM’.

Telstra mobile frequently asked questions

Telstra mobile features breakdown.

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Disclaimer: The information featured in this article is based on our best estimates of pricing, package details, contract stipulations, and service available at the time of writing. This is not a guarantee. All information is subject to change. Pricing will vary based on various factors, including, but not limited to, the customer’s location, package chosen, added features and equipment, the purchaser’s credit score, etc. For the most accurate information, please ask your customer service representative. Clarify all fees and contract details before signing a contract or finalizing your purchase. Each individual's unique needs should be considered when deciding on chosen products.

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Business phone plans

Keep your employees connected and your business moving without breaking the bank..

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In this guide

What is a business phone plan?

Is it worth getting a business mobile plan, how do i compare business phone plans, what is the best business mobile plan in australia, telstra business mobile plans, optus business mobile plans, vodafone business phone plans.

Why compare mobile plans with Finder?

We don't charge extra. Prices shown on Finder are the same as those you get directly from mobile plan providers.

We regularly work with providers to deliver amazing exclusive offers you won't find anywhere else.

We have a team dedicated to monitoring mobile plan prices and keeping deals updated daily.

Business phone plans are designed for businesses to give to their employees, so they can keep in touch with clients and co-workers.

If you're running a business with multiple employees that need work numbers, it makes sense to look at getting a business mobile plan to make it easier for organisational or tax purposes.

They have different inclusions to personal mobile plans because people tend to use their phones differently for business than they would for recreation.

Business plans are also designed for lots of employees to share inclusions.

They also often have better access to support , because the consequences of a business phone being down are much harsher than that of a personal phone.

• Keep in mind: SME's and larger enterprises reap the most rewards with a business mobile plan. Business phone plans won't really benefit sole traders (depending on how you handle tax).

Depending on the size of your business, a mobile plan specifically designed for work may or may not benefit your organisation.

• Designed specifically for business. Many also allow you to tailor the plans specifically to suit your business needs. For example, if you need international call inclusions to keep in touch with international clients, or have multiple employees who can share a data pool.
• Lots of options available. Businesses come in so many different flavours – a cheese factory and game development studio would have vastly different calling and data needs, so providers have plenty of options to make sure you get the right plan.
• Extra value. Because most businesses are signing up for a bunch of mobile plans at once, providers will often kick in extra perks like international call inclusions, or discounts.
• Cost and contracts. These plans tend to be more expensive than regular mobile plans and often have long contracts. Think carefully about whether a business plan or a regular account with multiple personal plans is better for you.

Note for sole traders:

You don't need to have a business phone plan to be able to claim your phone on tax . You can claim the portion you use for business on a regular, personal phone plan. This will be the most cost-effective choice for most sole traders who only have 1 phone.

There are a lot of options in the business mobile world, and your needs will be different from other businesses. Here are some things to consider besides the cost of your plan.

Business support

This is the main thing business plans offer over personal ones. If this is something that's important to you, make sure you're being offered tech support and personalised service in the way you prefer.

Network coverage

Telstra covers the most places in Australia, so if your business will take your employees out into rural and regional areas, a plan on the Telstra network may be worth the extra dollars it costs.

Flexibility

What you need this quarter might not be the same as what you need next quarter. In many businesses, being able to reduce costs quickly can be vital. While all providers will let you add plans and upgrade to more expensive ones with more inclusions, make sure the one you choose will also let you move down to a cheaper plan and even remove plans in case of tough times.

Do you already have devices you can give to your employees? The major providers will often have device bundles available to sign up to which can be convenient, but could you get a better discount on bulk phones elsewhere?

How much data do you really need? Consider whether a large data pool shared amongst employees is a good option, or if you'd rather each employee has their own set amount of data each month.

As each business is so wildly different from the next, it's impossible to pick a mobile plan that will best suit every business.

Many businesses may prefer to sign up to a larger, more established provider, but that's not to say you won't get excellent service and cheaper prices from smaller providers too.

We've broken down the main offerings from the 3 largest business mobile providers in Australia to give you a taste of what's on offer.

Telstra's business phone plans operate in the same sizes as its general consumer plans, with Small, Medium, Large and Extra Large plans. All include:

• Data, from 40GB–180GB
• Data sharing between plans on the 1 account
• Unlimited standard national calls and texts
• Medium and above plans include the 5G network
• No excess data charges in Australia
• The option to add a phone to each plan for an added monthly cost spread over 24–36 months
• Good to know: To get the right mix of plans for your business, Telstra encourages you to book an appointment with one of the company's dedicated small business experts.

You can see Telstra's business plans here

• Compare Clear

Optus offers a huge range of plans to suit every kind of business with 1–300 plans able to be put on the same account and share data.

• Good to know: Companies that require 10+ SIMs are encouraged to talk to an account manager to tailor data allowances, monthly rates and device inclusions to suit their business.

Here are the details of the plans available to every business without negotiation:

• Plans start from $50 month-to-month or $47.50 on a 24-month plan or $45 on a 36-month plan – prices get cheaper the more SIMs you're after
• 50GB of data, which accumulates and pools with other phones on the same account
• Unlimited standard talk and text
• Unlimited international talk and text to selected countries
• Multiple service discount for total number of Business Mobile Plus services on the 1 plan, starting at 10% for 2, and up to 34% for 12+
• Option to add $10 roaming packs for business trips

For businesses that need 6+ plans with devices, there are Tech Fund plans. These plans include:

• Device credits from $300–$1,800, depending on the plan and length of contract
• Up to 10GB of included international roaming data each month
• Data ranging from 6GB–200GB (which is pooled)
• The option to blend different plans on the 1 account (such as cheaper plans with no roaming for local sales reps, and plans with 10GB roaming inclusions for regional managers)

You can see Optus business plans here

Vodafone offers the most affordable plans of the big 3 telcos, along with including some added features.

• Good to know: If your employees need to travel overseas, the $5 a day roaming add on will allow them to keep the same number without breaking the budget.

Vodafone has 3 types of business plans:

• Team plans. These allow data sharing between employees, and you can add a phone onto the individual plans. This is for when you have fewer than 10 services on the 1 account.
• SIM only Business Flex mobile plans. Best for teams of 10+, which includes the use of a personal account manager.
• Tech Fund Business Flex plans. These include credit towards buying handsets, as well as the use of a personal account manager.

You can see Vodafone's business plans here

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Alice Clarke

Alice Clarke is an award-winning freelance journalist, producer and presenter, as well as co-curator of the PAX Aus Together Lounge. In her 15 years as a journalist she’s appeared in The Age, Herald Sun Finder, Gizmodo, Kotaku, the ABC, Stevivor, Cracked, Curve and many other publications. See full bio

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Business vs personal mobile plans

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Sweating in spring office air isn't helping, five minimum features needed in your choice of a business laptop, venom blackbook zero 15 phantom, do business plans offer any benefits for small businesses we compare mobile plans from major providers..

Have you ever wondered how ‘business’ mobile plans differ from ‘personal’ plans? 

Well, quite often for small businesses, the only significant difference is the name, according to our research.

We compared a number of business plans with equivalent consumer plans, and found some curious anomalies. In a couple of cases, for example, the fine print for ‘business’ mobile plans indicated they could only be used for personal use.

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At Optus, its $40 consumer plan provides unlimited standard national calls, unlimited SMS and MMS within Australia and to certain countries, and up to 300 voice minutes to those selected countries. Plus 7GB of data. 

And the $40 business plan? As far as we can see, the inclusions and terms are pretty much the same. The consumer plan rules out ‘non-ordinary’ or ‘commercial purpose use’ but bizarrely the critical information summary for the business plan makes the same exclusion.

So we turned to the Optus Fair Go policy for clarification.

“If you are a residential customer our services are for your personal use only,” the policy said.

“If you are a business customer, including a small to medium business customer, our services are for your use in the ordinary course of business.

“You may not use the service in a manner which is ‘unreasonable’ or ‘unacceptable’.”

That seems to mean that you aren't allowed to make or take business calls on a personal plan, or personal calls (“should I buy some milk on the way home?”) on a business plan.

An Optus spokesperson explained: “Our consumer plans are designed for personal use while our business plans are for use in the ordinary course of business plus some personal use where needed.

“We understand there will be certain circumstances where a customer needs to use their service outside its primary intended purpose. In these cases, we offer a level of flexibility for customers to make a judgement on what is reasonable and acceptable use of their service based on their contract.”

So the good news is that the way most of us use one plan for business and personal purposes is acceptable, providing the selected plan reflects the main use.

It might not be obvious from the everyday use of the terms, but Optus (and probably other carriers) distinguishes between ‘business’ and ‘commercial’ use. The company confirmed that ‘commercial use' refers to levels of voice or data use normally seen only in call centres, or to mobile data used to access enterprise-style services rather than those associated with micro to medium businesses.

And although the inclusions and price may be the same for consumer and business plans, “Our SMB plans offer a number of benefits for business customers including billing made out to your registered ABN for tax purposes, access to business specialists in over 120 of our retail stores, premium support from our dedicated SMB team when you bundle two or more services, and invitations to exclusive business events,” said the Optus spokesperson.

The Optus Fair Go policy does goes on to give several examples of unreasonable use, most of which seem quite reasonable, such as not allowing automatic diallers, resale and bulk messaging. But the prohibition on using a ‘mobile voice’ SIM card in a non ‘mobile voice’ device seems odd. What difference does it make to the carrier whether you tether a tablet to the phone or temporarily move the SIM from a phone to a tablet?

The reason, according to the Optus spokesperson, is that requiring separate SIMs “allows us to optimise their service for the device, the network and billing purposes”. Optus does allow data pooling between plans, but you’re up for at least $10 a month per additional device, though that does include 1GB of shareable data.

Over at Vodafone, it’s pretty much the same situation when it comes to distinctions between personal and business customers.

The $60 personal plan provides unlimited standard national calls, unlimited standard national and overseas SMSes, 120 standard international minutes to selected countries and 6GB of data (a special offer running at the time of writing boosts that to 12GB).

The $60 business plan has the same inclusions.

But the personal plan is for “personal use by approved customers only” while the business plan is for “personal use by approved customers with an ABN/ACN only”.

We asked Vodafone to explain how a business plan can be for personal use only, but received no reply more than a week later. The only interpretations we can suggest are either that it essentially the same as Optus's business/commercial dichotomy but using different words, or that you can’t use that plan on a phone that’s used by more than one person (for example, the phone carried by whichever member of a team is on call over a particular weekend).

Telstra's personal and business plans are slightly different. For example, $50 a month gets personal customers ‘$1000 worth of calls’, unlimited SMS and 2.5GB of data, while business customers pay $55 for ‘$1200 worth of calls’, unlimited SMS and 5GB of data.

Bear in mind Telstra’s call values are calculated on what we consider to be an inflated tariff of $1 per minute. By comparison, even a $19 Virgin Mobile prepaid recharge can have a rate as low as 15c per minute.

A Telstra spokesperson* said that customers must have an ACN or ABN to qualify for a business plan, but business customers can opt for consumer plans if they consider the price and inclusions are a better fit.

"For example, we provide our small business customers with more voice value, because we know they make calls more frequently than our consumer customers," the spokesperson said, adding that the business plans also allow for free calls between mobiles on the same account.

Other benefits of the Go Business Mobile plans include a free data SIM for use with a tablet or dongle, with both devices sharing the same pot of data, and the ability to put cloud services such as Office 365, Symantec Endpoint Protection and Deputy rostering and workforce management onto the same bill.

Data sharing across multiple services is available on Telstra's consumer and business plans.

Mobile virtual network operators – the companies that provide mobile services based on third-party networks such as Telstra, Optus or Vodafone – generally make a clear distinction between personal and business usage.

For example, the conditions for amaysim's Unlimited plans flatly state they are “available to individual customers only (not companies or businesses), who use their mobile phone for personal use only. If we determine that you are using Unlimited 3GB other than for personal use or if we determine that you are using the Plan in a way that does or may, in our opinion, adversely affect the network, we reserve the right (at our option) to transfer you to the amaysim As You Go Plan, or to immediately suspend or cancel your access to the Service”.

We asked amaysim what it considers ‘personal use’ to be, and its compliance and service operations manager Chad Heininger responded: “We see personal use as individuals using their amaysim service primarily for private use in a way not connected with carrying out a business activity. As per our Fair Go Policy, our customers are unable to use our service for ‘business purposes’ as this falls outside of personal use. We aren’t specific about what constitutes as business use, because we trust our customers to use their judgment and play by the rules. For example, we would not expect our customers to use our service to support a large business or organisation as this clearly would be for ‘business purposes’. We also expect our customers to use our service in a reasonable and acceptable manner.”

It sounds to us that there's a certain amount of wriggle room – if your small-business ‘business use’ is similar to that of a personal customer in terms of the number of calls and texts, how would Amaysim tell the difference, and why would it be bothered? That said, we're not encouraging anyone to breach the T&Cs.

While large organisations can receive volume pricing, the benefits of business plans for small businesses are hard to quantify. In fact, the differences between many personal and business plans in terms of inclusions and costs are so insignificant that we can’t help feeling that the distinction is mostly arbitrary.

However, that also means there’s rarely any downside to opting for a business plan rather than the corresponding personal version.

So if a phone is going to be used primarily for business purposes, you might as well opt for a business plan and be fully compliant with the plan’s terms and conditions. It’s likely to cost much the same – and it reduces the admittedly slight risk that your service will be terminated because you went outside the T&Cs. 

* Note: This article was updated on 21 April 2016 due to Telstra responding to our request for more information after the article's publication.

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Telstra mobile plans review

How does australia's biggest telco fare against the competition.

Tom's Guide Verdict

As Australia's largest provider, it should come as no surprise that Telstra's mobile coverage is unmatched. Apart from boasting the country's largest 5G network, Telstra also offers great options for those after huge amounts of data. That said, Telstra is easily the priciest major telco in Australia, and its entry-level plans aren't great value.

Most reliable network

Widest coverage

Plenty of options

Comparatively expensive

Weak value on cheaper plans

Why you can trust Tom's Guide Our writers and editors spend hours analyzing and reviewing products, services, and apps to help find what's best for you. Find out more about how we test, analyze, and rate.

As Australia's leading telecommunications provider, Telstra undoubtedly offers the most reliable mobile network in the country, not to mention the widest coverage, with its 5G network now reaching 85% of Aussies.

Telstra also provides a number of wide-ranging mobile plan options, from options which include a handset, to pre-paid and post-paid SIM-only choices for those who already have a device.

And while off-shore customer service has long been a thorn in the side of the average Telstra customer, we were pleased to discover that this has improved over the last couple of years — as of mid-2022, Telstra's support team now mostly consists of remote workers within Australia , making it easier for Aussies to communicate their issues over the phone.

That said, Telstra's premium service comes at a significant cost, with plans that are generally more expensive than the competition — particularly at the entry level. 

For the price, you do get the most consistent download speeds of any 5G mobile network in Australia (although Optus has taken OpenSignal's 5G Download Speed award for the last 4 years straight), along with huge amounts of data on the higher-priced plans.

It's also worth noting that while an internal error saw Telstra accidentally leak the personal data of some customers in the past , the company has never been the victim of a cyberattack — a claim that its biggest rival, Optus, cannot make after suffering a massive data breach in 2022.

Telstra mobile plans and pricing

• Telstra SIM Only plans significantly more expensive than competitors
• No lock-in contracts for Telstra Upfront plans

When it comes to pricing, there's no denying that Telstra's plans are among the most expensive you can sign up for in Australia. Of course, value for money is subjective, and some may consider Telstra's high prices worth paying for the best coverage in Australia.

Telstra offers its own take on SIM-only plans, dubbed 'Upfront' plans, which are named as such because they are charged ahead of time as opposed to after the fact. Thankfully, there are no lock-in contracts for any of the Upfront plans, and users can switch to another Telstra plan once a month if they find their needs have changed.

Telstra's Upfront plans start at AU$62 p/m for its Basic plan, which offers 50GB of monthly data with download speeds capped at 250Mbps. Next, Telstra's Essential plan grants users 180GB of monthly data at uncapped speeds for AU$72 p/m. 

Call us crazy, but we'd argue that there's an unreasonable gulf between the Basic and Essential plan in terms of value — the fact that only 10 bucks separates plans with 50GB of data at capped speeds and 180GB of data at uncapped speeds is honestly mind-boggling.

Rounding things out, Telstra's third and final Upfront plan offers 300GB of monthly data at uncapped speeds for AU$95 p/m. Included with each Upfront plan are unlimited calls and texts to standard Australian numbers, 30 minutes of calls to standard international numbers and unlimited texts to standard international numbers.

For the sake of comparison, Telstra's nearest competitor, Optus, offers significantly better value with its SIM-only plans — its AU$62 p/m Medium Optus Choice Plus Plan  is the same price as Telstra's entry-level Basic (50GB) offering, only with 130GB of additional monthly data and with uncapped 5G download speeds.

Alternatively, Telstra also offers a range of pre-paid SIM starter kits for new customers, starting from AU$12 for 3GB of data and a 7-day expiry. 

We can't see any Australian residents choosing this option, so we'll skip ahead to the AU$35 starter kit, which has a 28-day expiry period and offers 35GB of monthly data for the first 3 months. After this, the limit drops down to 15GB.

Next, you have a AU$45 starter kit which provides 50GB of monthly data for the first 3 months, after which it drops to 25GB. From here on, Telstra's SIM starter kits are for 6 and 12-month expiry periods.

Please note, while all of Telstra's pre-paid SIM starter kits offer access to the telco's 4G and 5G networks, download speeds are capped to 150Mbps.

Telstra mobile plans: price and data comparison

Telstra mobile coverage

• Telstra has the widest reach of the three major telcos
• Optus still holds award for fastest 5G download speeds

As we mentioned earlier, Telstra has the largest reach in Australia when it comes to coverage, with its 5G network now reaching around 87% of Australians as of February 2024 . 

That's an impressive number, and we have to assume it's still a substantial lead over Optus and Vodafone — both of which haven't yet divulged percentage figures for their Aussie 5G coverage.

But while Telstra's 5G network has the best coverage, it can't claim to be the fastest in Australia — that honour goes to Optus, which has won OpenSignal's 5G Download Speed award for the last four years in a row.

Of course, those speeds were achieved under very specific circumstances and don't necessarily reflect real-world usage for most Aussies. In fact, OpenSignal still acknowledges Telstra as the "outright winner" when it comes to 5G reach and overall reliability.

When it comes to the reach of its older 3G and 4G networks, Telstra again takes the crown for widest coverage, claiming to reach 99.6% of the Australian population. Optus isn't far behind however, and states its 3G and 4G networks cover 98.5% of the population. Things get a bit fuzzier when it comes to Vodafone. The latter claims its networks reach 96% of the 'metropolitan' population, which is quite different from Telstra and Optus's statements, which imply the Australian population as a whole.

Telstra mobile plans: Extras, perks and offers

• Telstra Plus members earn points to spend in Telstra Rewards store
• Telstra Personal customers get bonus streaming offers

All Telstra customers have the option of signing up to Telstra Plus — a rewards program that's free to join if you have a Telstra ID account and are paying for an eligible Telstra mobile or internet service.

Telstra Plus membership comes in four tiers depending on your annual spend with the telco. The entry-level tier is Member, which gets benefits like discounted tickets to movies, concerts and sporting events. Next is Silver, which gets the same, along with extra customer service attention in the My Telstra app, and 25% off points used to buy content on Telstra TV. Gold goes one step further, adding VIP customer service in the My Telstra app and Gold early access to concert pre-sales. Finally, there is the Business tier, which is reserved for businesses and offers similar value to the Member tier.

Every dollar spent on one of Telstra's eligible services also gets you Telstra Points, which can be spent in the Telstra Rewards Store. These points can be used to redeem anything from a USB charging cable, to a new iPhone. Of course, you'll need to spend upwards of 500,000 points to get your hands on the latter.

Additionally, Telstra Personal customers (excluding pre-paid) also get a range of entertainment offers, including 4 months of Spotify Premium, 2 months of Binge, 3 months of Flash, 14-days of Kayo and a month of Foxtel Now — so long as you sign up via Telstra.

Telstra mobile plans: customer service and community reviews

• Support team now almost entirely based within Australia
• Mostly negative online reviews from customers

As we mentioned earlier, Telstra's customer service received a massive upgrade in quality starting around mid-2022, with the telco drastically reducing its use of off-shore call centres in favour of a new local support team. 

When Telstra customers phone customer service now, they'll more than likely end up speaking to a support agent based locally in Australia, rather than someone overseas — a move which should minimise communication barriers.

Alternatively, customers who'd rather solve their account or service-related issues in person also have the option of visiting a Telstra retail store for face-to-face support. Telstra's retail network consists of around 270 stores across Australia, including independent licensees (in 2021, Telstra announced it would be shaking up its retail store network, with major changes expected by 2025).

Of course, not all Telstra customers are happy — the telco has received overwhelmingly negative online reviews from customers on sites like Product Review and Trustpilot , earning a score of 1.4 stars out of 5 on the former, and 1.3 stars out of 5 on the latter. 

Before you get your pitchfork out, it's worth noting that Optus and Vodafone have both received similar scores on the same sites. All those ratings are likely skewed by the fact that many customers only bother reviewing a service when they've had a bad experience, resulting in a score that's biased towards the negative, and doesn't necessarily reflect the opinion of most customers.

Furthermore, the consumer advocacy group Choice awarded Telstra as the Best SIM + handset phone plan provider in Australia last year.

Telstra mobile plans: Bottom line

Is a Telstra mobile plan worth your money? There's no denying that Telstra offers the most premium service of the three major telcos in Australia, boasting not only the largest 5G network, but also the most reliable and wide-reaching coverage. It also provides a sense of safety and dependability when it comes to your private data, as Telstra's cybersecurity has never been breached.

On top of this, Telstra has recently taken steps to radically improve its customer service, which has to be commended. Telstra Plus customers also get access to some nice benefits, including event discounts and points which can be redeemed on a variety of goodies.

But does the quality of its service justify its high pricing? All of Telstra's Upfront plans are far more expensive than equivalent offerings from other telcos, offering less monthly data for more money in every instance — particularly at the entry level. It's also worth noting that not everyone will care about the perks and extras that come with a Telstra Plus membership.

If you value reliability above all else, a Telstra mobile plan is likely your best option. However, if you're after value for money, you'll be better off choosing a plan from a Telstra network reseller , or alternatively opting for an Optus mobile plan .

• Best Australian phone plans with international roaming

Stephen Lambrechts is the Managing Editor of Tom's Guide AU and has written professionally across the categories of tech, film, television and gaming for the last 15 years. Before Tom's Guide, he spent several years as a Senior Journalist at TechRadar, had a brief stint as Editor in Chief at Official Xbox Magazine Australia, and has written for such publications as APC, TechLife Australia, T3, FilmInk, AskMen, Daily Telegraph and IGN. He's an expert when it comes to smartphones, TVs, gaming and streaming. In his spare time, he enjoys watching obscure horror movies on physical media, keeping an eye on the latest retro sneaker releases and listening to vinyl. Occasionally, he also indulges in other non-hipster stuff, like hiking.

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Cheap plans on the Telstra network: stay connected for less

Telstra’s prices have gone up – is it time to switch?

• Best plan overall
• Best high data plan
• Telstra’s network
• Telstra MVNOs

Telstra has the largest mobile network in Australia, and it’s also the telco with the widest-reaching 5G network. Its coverage comes at a high cost though, with prices starting at AU$62 a month. We think that’s incredibly expensive, but this has been the case since Telstra increased the price of its mobile plans by as much as AU$6p/m on July 4, 2023.

Luckily, there’s a way you can get Telstra’s coverage for a cheaper price, and that’s by signing up to a Telstra mobile virtual network operator (MVNO). An MVNO is a mobile provider that doesn’t own the infrastructure it uses to provide mobile services to its customers. Instead, it leases the network of one of the major players and resells it to you – at a much cheaper price. Here, we’ll delve into the other Telstra network providers that can get you the same (or very similar) Telstra mobile coverage for less.

Best SIM-only plan on the Telstra network

Mate | 22GB data | No lock-in contract | AU$1 for first month (then AU$25p/m)

Mate is our recommendation for the best SIM-only plan on the Telstra network. Thanks to an excellent introductory offer, you’ll get your first month on this plan for just AU$1, before it increases to AU$25 a month ongoing. You’ll get 22GB a month, and any unused data will automatically roll over into the next month (up to 500GB). Use the promo code MATE1 .

Total minimum cost is AU$1 | Total cost for first year: AU$276 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$300

Best high data SIM-only plan on the Telstra network

Mate | 240GB data | No lock-in contract | AU$1 for first month (then AU$45p/m)

Mate is also our choice for a high data SIM-only plan using the Telstra network. This plan usually comes with 120GB a month, but you can currently get double data for your first six months. You’ll also pay just AU$1 for your first month on this plan, before the price reverts back to the standard AU$45 a month.

Total minimum cost is AU$1 | Total cost for first year: AU$496 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$540

Telstra’s mobile network

• Basic plan : 50GB for AU$62p/m
• Essential plan : 180GB for AU$72p/m
• Premium plan : 300GB for AU$95p/m

Telstra’s mobile plans are the most expensive in Australia, and as we’ve mentioned, its prices increased by up to AU$6p/m from July 4, 2023. Still, Telstra can be an appealing choice for many, and for some living in regional and rural areas of Australia, it may be the only choice that’ll provide them the coverage they need.

Other Telstra network providers

There’s at least 10 other providers which also offer full (or partial) access to Telstra’s mobile network, and most of them do so for a much cheaper price than Telstra. Here’s a breakdown of your alternatives for Telstra network mobile plans:

Boost Mobile

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• Uses full Telstra network

Boost Mobile is the only provider to offer full Telstra network coverage, and it’s a much cheaper alternative than going with Telstra directly. This provider, however, only offers prepaid mobile plans – some coming with a 28-day expiry while others have a 12-month expiry.

Most of Boost Mobile’s plans include full access to Telstra’s 5G network, but depending on your plan, you might have to contend with a download speed cap. The cheaper options tend to cap download speeds at 150Mbps, while a mid-range plan has capped download speeds at 250Mbps. On the most expensive plan, there’s no cap at all.

All of Boost Mobile’s 28-day expiry plans come with data rollover, provided you recharge before the expiry date. Boost Mobile’s plans include the basics of unlimited calls and texts to standard numbers in Australia, while some add inclusions such as unlimited calls to select countries, or included international minutes.

See more: Boost Mobile’s plans

• Uses parts of the Telstra network

Belong is owned by Telstra, but it’s a much cheaper alternative. Belong markets itself as Australia’s first carbon neutral telco, and it received certification by Climate Active in 2019. If you’re looking for a sustainable mobile provider, Belong is a good choice.

Each of Belong’s plans come with unlimited calls and texts to standard numbers in Australia, as well as 5G network access. Your download speeds are capped at 100Mbps on most plans, but the most expensive option caps speeds at 250Mbps.

We like that Belong’s mobile plans all come with unlimited data banking, which sets it apart from most other Telstra MVNOs that typically offer data banking up to 500GB.

See more: Belong’s plans

Woolworths Mobile

Unlike most other mobile providers on the Telstra network, Woolworths Mobile gives you the option of getting a new phone with your plan, though it currently only offers the Samsung Galaxy S23 .

If you don’t need a new phone, Woolworths Mobile offers SIM-only plans and prepaid plans, too. All plans come with unlimited calls and texts, and you can bank any of your unused data up to a maximum of 500GB. 5G access isn’t included as standard with Woolworths Mobile, but a free 5G trial is currently available on select plans.

An excellent perk of Woolworths Mobile is that it includes 10% off a grocery shop in store every month. That means if you were to get the cheapest plan at AU$25 a month, and you spend AU$250 on groceries in a month, the plan would essentially be free.

Numobile takes a fresh approach to mobile plans – along with SIM-only plans, it also offers refurbished mobiles on a plan, as well as subscriptions to brand-new devices such as the iPhone 14 . Currently, only iPhones are available from Numobile.  

Numobile’s subscription plans are essentially akin to renting the phone, and the lease period can last for 24 or 36 months. They’re SIM-free, so you’ve got the option of leasing the phone and getting your SIM plan from Numobile, or going with another telco entirely. After your subscription period has finished, you can choose to upgrade to a newer device.

If your main motivation to join Numbile is to save money, we recommend comparing the cost of Numobile’s subscription plans to those of other telcos such as Optus and Vodafone before signing up. While Numobile is almost always going to be cheaper than Telstra, you can sometimes find cheaper deals with Vodafone if it’s discounted its handsets.

See more: Numobile’s plans

You might know Superloop for its NBN plans, but the provider also offers mobile plans on the Telstra network. All of Superloop’s mobile plans are prepaid and renew every 30 days, which we consider much better than a 28-day cycle offered by some telcos.

You’ve got the option of bundling your internet with Superloop’s mobile plans, which will give you a AU$5 discount if you bundle your broadband with one mobile service. Before bundling your mobile and internet with any provider, we strongly recommend comparing the best NBN plans with the best SIM-only plans , to ensure you’re getting a genuinely good deal.

Like most other Telstra MVNOs, Superloop offers unlimited national calls and texts to standard numbers, and unused data banking up to 500GB.

See more: Superloop’s plans

Exetel is owned by Superloop, and their mobile plans are fairly similar. Like Superloop, all of Exetel’s mobile plans are prepaid and come with a 30-day expiry, with the option of auto-recharges available. 

We rate Exetel as one of the best NBN providers on the market, and it gives you the option of bundling your mobile and internet plans together. Before doing so, though, we recommend comparing plans to ensure you’re getting the best deal possible.

We’ve spotted Exetel offering double data deals on select mobile plans, so keep an eye out for these offers if you want to get more value for money out of an Exetel mobile plan.

See more: Exetel’s plans

Aldi Mobile

Aldi Mobile offers prepaid plans that come with a 30-day expiry. Its mobile plans come with unlimited data rollover, and in order to keep any of your unused data, you just need to recharge within 24 hours of expiry and choose a plan of equal or higher value. 

Aldi Mobile is unique in that it also offers family mobile plans. These plans offer shared data, and can include up to six different services on the same plan. So, if you’ve got a phone you’re happy with and you’re looking to save some money, it could be a great option using the Telstra network.

See more: Aldi Mobile’s plans

Mate offers mobile plans with parts of Telstra’s 4G and 5G network coverage, and thanks to its current offer, you can trial any plan for just AU$1 . That makes it a really appealing option if you’re looking to test out a cheaper plan on the Telstra network for the first time.

As with most other Telstra MVNOs, Mate has all your basics covered including unlimited talk and text to standard numbers in Australia, and data banking up to 500GB. Mate also offers NBN plans, and bundling your mobile and internet together will knock AU$10 off your monthly bill. As always, compare your options before bundling together services.

Aside from its excellent introductory offer, we love that Mate is Australian owned and offers an Australian-based support team. It’s also got a largely positive rating on Product Review , which is quite an impressive feat.

See more: Mate’s plans

More is an Australian-owned telco that’s part-owned by Commonwealth Bank. In fact, CommBank customers can get access to exclusive offers from More, such as discounted mobile and NBN plans.

It’s worth noting that most of More’s mobile plans cap your 4G download speeds at 100Mbps, while its most expensive plan caps speeds at 250Mbps for both 4G and 5G usage. Some of the telco’s mobile plans include a free 5G network trial.

You can bank up to 500GB of unused data on More’s mobile plans, and get the usual unlimited calls and texts to standard numbers in Australia. Some plans also include calls to selected countries.

See more: More’s plans

Tangerine is an Australian-owned telco offering much the same proposition as other providers on the Telstra network: unlimited standard calls and texts within Australia, data banking up to 500GB and a 5G network trial included with select plans.

Tangerine also caps the download speed on its 4G mobile plans at 100Mbps, while its most premium plan, which includes 5G network coverage, has downloads capped at 250Mbps.

See more: Tangerine’s plans

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Jasmine Gearie was previously an Ecommerce Editor at TechRadar Australia, with a primary focus on helping readers find the best mobile and NBN plans. During her time with TechRadar, she also reported on important telco news in Australia, and helped track down tech deals to help readers save money.

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Why I think now is an excellent time to buy Telstra shares

I'm calling this stock a solid buy right now.

Image source: Getty Images

You’re reading a free article with opinions that may differ from The Motley Fool’s Premium Investing Services. Become a Motley Fool member today to get instant access to our top analyst recommendations, in-depth research, investing resources , and more. Learn More

In my view, Telstra Group Ltd  ( ASX: TLS ) shares could be one of the best ASX  blue chip  options to own .

As the biggest telecommunications business in Australia, it has several advantages, including the ability to spend the most on mobile spectrum and offer customers the widest network coverage in the country. Its network covers around 1 million square kilometres, more than its closest competitor's.

The ASX telco share recently reported its FY24 result , which reaffirmed to me the attractiveness of Telstra shares and the strength of the business.

Below are my three favourite reasons for liking Telstra shares right now.

Growing subscribers and operating leverage

In FY24, the business increased its total mobile handheld users by 4.1%, or 562,000. That growth was for postpaid, prepaid, and wholesale customers.

The overall mobile average revenue per user (ARPU) grew by 2.7%, excluding a prepaid one-off product migration. ARPU for postpaid users grew due to consumer and business price rises, prepaid user ARPU growth occurred after a "plan refresh", and wholesale customers saw ARPU growth due to a change in the mix of plans.

In my opinion, more subscribers and a higher ARPU are a winning combination.

The mobile division saw total income growth of 5% to $10.7 billion and earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) growth of 9% to $5 billion. It's a great sign when profit rises faster than revenue.

For the overall business, underlying total income rose 1% to $23.4 billion, underlying EBITDA grew 3.7% to $8.2 billion, and underlying net profit after tax (NPAT) grew 7.5% to $2.3 billion.

New subscribers are utilising the existing Telstra infrastructure, which boosts the profit margins because the infrastructure costs are being spread across more users.

Increasingly technological world

The world is becoming increasingly digital, and I don't think that's going to change any time soon, which should be good news for Telstra shares.

Developments like 5G, automated cars, VR, AI, data centres, 5G-powered home internet, and the internet of things benefit Telstra because they should increase demand for Telstra's services. Most of those developments are not cyclical, but I think they'll boost core demand significantly and create a new base for the business.

According to Telstra, over the five years ending FY24, network traffic on Telstra's mobile network has increased by approximately 3.5x and continues to grow by 20% per annum. This growing demand helped Telstra justify another price increase for mobile customers.

Rising dividend

If Telstra continues its dividend growth streak, lo ng-term shareholders can benefit from capital growth over time and a rising cash payout each year. In FY24, the annual dividend was increased by 5.9% to 18 cents per share.

It's rewarding to own Telstra shares and receive passive income for no work each year.

At the current Telstra share price, it offers a grossed-up dividend yield of 6.4%. This could be a solid cash return as investors remain patient for higher share prices.

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Telstra Business - Data Plans 2024

Casual Month to Month

Information about the service

No excess data charges in australia.

Once you exceed your included data allowance, your speed will be capped at 1.5Mbps, and slowed further in busy periods. This means it is not suitable for HD video or high speed applications and means that some webpages, videos, social media content and files may take longer to load, but you can still stream video in standard definition, listen to music, browse the web and access social media, even if the experience is slower sometimes. Heavy data users (users in the top 1% of all data users) may experience slower speeds than other users during busy periods.

Plan Speeds

Speeds may vary due to factors such as location, distance from the base station, local conditions, concurrent users, hardware and software configuration and download/upload destination. For 5G coverage information, see telstra.com/coverage

Bundle Plan

You're eligible to add on up to 5 Bundle Plans if you’re on an Essential or Premium Mobile plan. If you cancel or change your Essential or Premium Mobile plan you will no longer be eligible for Bundle Plans and existing Mobile Bundle Plans or Data Bundle Plans will be moved to an in-market plan. We’ll be in touch to let you know about these changes.

Existing services on your account

If you have existing shareable services on your account, and you connect a new, or change an existing shareable service to a Telstra Business Mobile or Telstra Business Data Plan, we will automatically:

• change your existing eligible shareable services to have no excess data charges in Australia. This means that when you exceed your included data allowance your speeds will be slowed
• remove Business Demand Data from your existing eligible shareable services. 

See Our Customer Terms for a full list of eligible services.

Accessory Repayment Options

You can choose to repay the cost of eligible accessories over a fixed period of time. This applies to accessories with a cost of $120 or more and can be paid over a 12 month period. The charge for accessories will appear as a separate line item on your bill. There are 4 tiers available and if the total value of the accessory is more than one of these tiers, you’ll need to pay the difference upfront. If you cancel your accessory repayment early or cancel your service(s), your accessory repayment will also terminate and you will be required to pay out the remainder of your accessory repayments.

What happens if I cancel my plan early?

You'll need to pay out any remaining device and accessory payments. If you receive a monthly credit and cancel your Plan or Device Payment Contract early, you will lose your credit and must pay the balance of any remaining device repayments on your next bill.

Changes to your plan

From time to time we may make changes to your plan or add-ons (including price and inclusions), or we may move you to a new plan (which may cost more). If we reasonably think that a change is likely to be detrimental to you, we'll tell you at least 30 days before making it. If you don't like the change you can change or cancel your plan or add-ons and just pay out your device, accessories and services in full.

What happens if I go overseas?

If you are moving your existing service and it currently has International Roaming blocked this will continue to apply on your new Plan, otherwise, International Roaming and International Roaming Day Pass are activated by default on your plan. You can deactivate them using the MyTelstra app (data charges may apply), or by calling us between 8am-7pm AEST Monday to Friday on 125 109 from within Australia or +61 439 125 109 outside of Australia free of charge from your Telstra service. For an additional charge per day an International Roaming Day Pass lets you make and receive unlimited standard voice calls and SMS and includes 2GB data for use each day (AEST) when travelling in Eligible Roaming Destinations. If you use more than the International Roaming Day Pass data allowance, we will automatically add extra data in blocks of 2GB for $10 each.

Calls/SMS/MMS will be charged at International Roaming rates (refer to telstra.com/overseas) and mobile data at $3 per MB (charged per KB or part) if you:

• use your service outside of Eligible Roaming Destinations 
• choose to opt out of your International Roaming Day Pass

Eligible Roaming Destinations

Visit telstra.com/overseas for the latest list or for more information on using your device overseas.

Bill payment charges

Fees and charges may apply for bill delivery and payment of your invoice, depending on the method.

We do have fee free options available - more information is available at:

Personal:  telstra.com/payment-fees

Business:  telstra.com/fees-on-payment-methods

Understanding my bill

When you start or change your plan part way through a billing period, your first bill will have part month charges. Your Order Estimate will breakdown these charges for you and provide you with your ongoing monthly charges after your first bill.

How can I monitor and manage my usage?

You'll receive email alerts when you reach 50%, 85% and 100% of your Monthly Data allowance. To check your usage:

• Sign in to My Telstra at  telstra.com/my-telstra
• use My Plan Manager by going to  telstra.com/mpm  on your mobile’s browser (select the ‘My’ tab to view details)
• use the My Telstra app on your compatible smartphone or tablet (available at  telstra.com/business/app )

Find out more at  telstra.com/myusage

FairPlay Policy

You must comply with our FairPlay Policy and not use your service in an unacceptable, unreasonable or fraudulent manner, or in a way that detrimentally interferes with the integrity of, or causes significant congestion to, the network. We may take action if you breach the FairPlay Policy, including suspending or cancelling your  service.

Need help? We're here for you

Visit telstra.com/contactus for our support options. Call 13 22 00 or 133 677 (TTY), or +61 439 12 5109 from overseas, to speak to someone about your plan or to obtain a copy of this summary in an alternative/accessible format.

If there’s something you’re not happy with and you wish to make a complaint, visit telstra.com/complaints . We like to make every attempt to resolve any issue but you can contact the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman by phone on 1800 062 058 or visit tio.com.au/about-us/contact-us if you'd like an independent investigation.

Staying safe online

Learn about staying safe online , including the safe use of devices and content filters, the role of eSafety, and how to report harmful online content.

This is a summary only. The full legal terms for this plan are available at telstra.com/customer-terms

MOSB2414-27082024

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