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What is an MVNO and how can they save you money?
Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) are smaller providers that tap into Telstra, Optus, or Vodafone's networks to offer you the same mobile coverage, often at a lower cost.
MVNO stands for mobile virtual network operator. It's a drier term for small providers that use the Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone network.
Signing up with an MVNO can be cheaper than getting a mobile plan from one of the 3 big telcos.
Plans from MVNOs might have fewer features and perks, but many still cover the key things you care about.
What is an MVNO?
An MVNO, or mobile virtual network operator, is a provider that offers mobile services without owning its own network.
Instead, they buy access to mobile networks from companies that do and then resell it to you.
In Australia, only three telcos — Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone — actually own their networks.
So, all the smaller providers, called MVNOs in short, use one of those networks.
MVNOs are independent, but some are owned by the big 3 telcos themselves.
According to the ACCC's communications market report, 11% of mobile services in Australia come from MVNOs. The remaining 89% belong to Telstra, Optus and Vodafone.
Why are MVNOs cheaper?
The main reason MVNOs can offer cheaper phone plans than the big 3 telcos is that they don't have to cover the costs of building and maintaining the mobile networks.
Plus, since MVNOs are smaller companies, they don't spend as much on advertising either.
The ACCC Communications Market Report from December 2024 found that the median advertised plan price for the big 3 mobile network operators was $58. For MVNOs, the average was $30.
MVNO network coverage vs the big telcos
MVNOs that use the Optus and Vodafone mobile networks have the same coverage as Optus and Vodafone themselves. There's no difference.
Optus's 4G network covers 98.5% of the population. Vodafone sits at 96%.
Things are slightly different with Telstra MVNOs. The majority of them have access to Telstra's wholesale 4G network, which covers 98.8% of the Australian population.
Telstra's full network covers 99.5% of Australians. Boost Mobile is the only Telstra MVNO to have access to it.
Going with Telstra's wholesale network is still a solid bet. You just might notice a difference in some rural or remote areas.
Can I get access to 5G with an MVNO?
Yes, you can. Maybe not with every MVNO, but plenty of them offer 5G access, just like they do with 4G from Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone.
The only catch is that 5G might not be available on all their plans.
Here's the full list of MVNOs in our database offering 5G mobile plans:
Iffy about going with a small provider rather than a big name brand?
All we can say is, don't knock it till you try it.
With most mobile plans these days being contract-free, it's easy to test out different providers and networks to find a mobile plan that suits you best.
Here's a quick rundown of the pros and cons of signing up with an MVNO if you're not convinced:
Pros
Typically offer cheaper plans than the big 3 telcos, giving you access to the same networks at a lower price.
Most MVNOs provide flexible, month-to-month plans, so you're not tied down with long-term contracts.
Option to choose between prepaid and postpaid plans, although the difference between the two has massively decreased.
Plenty of small providers offer features that may be important to you, such as data banking, international call inclusions, and roaming packs.
Cons
MVNOs may skip on perks such as rewards points and entertainment extras.
Not all small providers are equal. If you're after more than just calls, texts, and data, you'll need to shop around for the best value.
Customer support options may be lacking depending on which MVNO you choose.
You can't get a phone on a plan from an MVNO.
So, you're saying it's worth switching to an MVNO?
Fortunately, there are enough MVNOs that are also well-established enough to give you a good value SIM-only plan.
These include the likes of amaysim, Belong, Boost Mobile, ALDImobile, and Woolworths Everyday Mobile.
Mariam Gabaji is an editor and tech and utilities expert at Finder with 12+ years of experience as a journalist. She's committed to helping households cut through the industry jargon and save money on their bills. Her expertise is often featured in media including the ABC, Yahoo Finance, 9News, 7News, A Current Affair, The Guardian, SBS and Money Magazine. See full bio
Mariam's expertise
Mariam has written 297 Finder guides across topics including:
There are just 3 mobile networks in Australia but over 50 phone companies to choose from. The choice can be overwhelming so we’ve made it easier by rounding up the 10 mobile service providers on Finder instead.
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