Excess Data Charges Statistics

Tips on how to save on your mobile

Re-evaluate your mobile plan

If you're constantly going over your data limit it's likely that you're not on a plan that suits your needs. Compare mobile plans and switch to one with a bigger data limit, or find our curated list of the best mobile deals for the month.

Go prepaid

A prepaid SIM might sound a little dated but it gives you more control over how much you spend. You'll never pay an excess data charge again if you opt for prepaid.

Monitor and manage your apps

Most phones will have a function that allows you to monitor how much data each app is chewing up. Once you have an idea you'll be able to change your habits accordingly. It's also a good idea to switch off the auto-play function so video content doesn't automatically start playing when you're scrolling through Facebook.

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We’ve all been stung by excess data charges at some point. While Aussies are getting better at sticking to their mobile data limit to avoid those charges, finder.com.au research* reveals we’re still wasting millions of dollars.

How much are we wasting on excess data charges?

15% of Aussies regularly exceed their data limit, down from 20% in 2017.
In the last 12 months*, Aussies collectively wasted $181 million in excess data charges.
In 2017, Aussies wasted $259 million. That’s 30% less compared to the previous year.

How much data are we using?

On average, Aussies are on a mobile plan with a data limit of 10GB.
This is up from 6GB in 2017.
5% of Aussies are on an unlimited data mobile plan.
The number of Aussies on 21GB+ has almost doubled from 9% in 2017 to 17% in 2018.

Why is it going down?

In May 2018, unlimited data plans were introduced in Australia.
Telcos changed their plans to include the feature, claiming excess data charges would become a thing of the past.
To become more competitive, smaller players increased data allowances.

April - June 2017	175,076 TB
Oct - Dec 2017	203,157TB
April - June 2018	246,765 TB

246,765 terabytes is enough to download 61 million high-definition, feature-length movies.

How often did you go over your data limit in the last 12 months?*
I went over my data limit every month	4%	$88,913,858
I went over my data limit 6 times a year	3%	$33,342,697
I went over my data limit 3 to 4 times a year	8%	$44,456,929
I went over my data limit once a year	8%	$14,818,976
I didn’t exceed my data limit	41%	N/A
Total		$181,532,460

Approx. Data Limit	2017	2018
Up to 2GB	26%	24%
3GB - 5GB	31%	26%
6GB - 10GB	22%	17%
11GB - 15GB	5%	8%
16GB - 20GB	6%	7%
21GB+	9%	12%
Unlimited	N/A	5%

*September 2017 - October 2018
*Survey of 2,013 respondents
*According to ABS Internet Activity Survey
*Based on industry average of $10 per GB

Thank you for your feedback!

Written by

Anneka Diaz

Consumer advocate

Anneka Diaz is the PR specialist at Finder. She has a Bachelor of Arts (Communications) from The University of Technology Sydney. She has written about personal finance for the last three years and has her roots in the tech and telco space. More recently she has written about a broader range of topics including energy, credit cards and travel insurance. When Anneka isn't busy trying to help Aussies save money you'll find her scouring the Internet for cheap flights and daydreaming about her next holiday adventure. See full bio

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Finder Excess Data Charges Report

While Aussies are getting better at sticking to their mobile data limit to avoid those charges, finder.com.au research* reveals we’re still wasting millions of dollars.

Tips on how to save on your mobile

Plain Text Version: Excess Data Charges Report 2018

Anneka Diaz

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