Use our interactive map if you want to find out more about Telstra coverage in your area. Otherwise, keep reading to discover more about the evolving 5G network and what it means for MVNOs.
The state of Telstra coverage in 2026
To find out if you have Telstra mobile coverage in your area, use the (+) and (-) icons in the top-left corner of the mobile coverage map to navigate to your area. For example, if you want to search for coverage in Sydney, zoom right in and drag the map with your cursor to zero in on your address.
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Telstra boasts Australia’s widest mobile coverage, helping it secure a market share as high as 41%, according to ACCC data. However, its 4G footprint may not be as far ahead of the competition as you think.
Smaller providers known as Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) - such as ALDI Mobile and Belong - buy wholesale access to Telstra’s network to offer cheaper, no-frills plans. But crucially, most MVNOs only use the smaller Telstra "Wholesale" footprint rather than the full network, with Boost Mobile being the sole exception. Deciding whether that extra coverage is worth the price comes down to your needs.
This guide compares Telstra’s coverage with its MVNOs and evaluates popular plans to help you find the right fit. First, here is a quick look at popular options on the Telstra network:
Telstra coverage explained
The Telstra 4G/5G network is separated into the full-sized retail network and the smaller Telstra Wholesale network. Only Telstra and Boost Mobile customers have access to the full Telstra coverage. All other Telstra MVNOs use the Telstra Wholesale network.
Telstra no longer provides population-based coverage data, instead opting for network size by square footage. The full Telstra network covers 2.14 million km², while the Telstra Wholesale network is covers 1.4 million km².
Check out the table below for an idea of mobile network coverage in Australia, including the 4G network and Telstra 5G coverage and how it compares against Optus and Vodafone.
Numbers shown are a percentage of the Australian population.
Telstra no longer provides population-based coverage figures. Boost Mobile is the only Telstra MVNO with access to the full Telstra network.
Telstra Wholesale network
Telstra's primary network (available to Telstra and Boost customers) might offer the most coverage by far, but Telstra Wholesale coverage is more comparable to Optus and Vodafone (though still slightly larger). Telstra doesn't offer population-based coverage figures these days, and the same goes for its Wholesale network but for sheer land coverage, the Telstra Wholesale network spans 1.4 million km², whereas Optus and Vodafone's networks span roughly 1.2 million km² each.
Check the graphic below for an illustrative comparison of the Telstra primary and Telstra Wholesale network footprints:
Providers with full Telstra coverage
As explained above, mobile providers on the Telstra network are split into two groups: those who operate on the the primary Telstra network and those who use the Telstra Wholesale network. The only two providers with access to the full Telstra network are Boost and Telstra itself. Boost offers 28-day and long-expiry prepaid recharge options, whereas Telstra offers a mix of postpaid and prepaid plans (and also offers handsets).
Here's a quick look at this week's most popular plans from Telstra and Boost:
MVNOs with Telstra Wholesale coverage
If you don't need full Telstra coverage, you can get by with a cheaper MVNO on the Wholesale network. Exetel, for example, doesn't offer good value on the Telstra network; it scores the highest out of any provider in our database for value. Here's a quick list of popular Telstra MVNOs on the Wholesale network and what they offer:
- ALDI Mobile (Prepaid)
- Belong (Postpaid)
- Exetel (Prepaid)
- Everyday Mobile (Prepaid or Postpaid)
- EZEE Mobile (Prepaid)
- The Good Guys Mobile (Postpaid and Prepaid)
- JB HI-FI Mobile (Postpaid and Prepaid)
- More (Postpaid)
- Superloop (Prepaid)
- Tangerine Telecom (Postpaid)
And here's a quick look at those MVNOs' most popular postpaid and prepaid SIM plans:
Which Telstra MVNOs have 5G coverage?
Nowadays, most Telstra MVNOs sell 5G plans, but with two caveats. The first is the difference in coverage between the full Telstra network and the Telstra Wholesale network, which we covered above.
The second caveat is speed. Most MVNOs cap 5G download speeds at 150Mbps or 250Mbps, with some exceptions. For the most part, this is more than fast enough for anything you'd do on a phone, but it's worth mentioning. Also worth mentioning is that Telstra itself places speed caps on most of its prepaid plans, though not its SIM-only (Upfront) plans.
In our database, there are nine Telstra MVNOs that offer 5G plans: ALDI Mobile, Belong, Boost, Everyday Mobile, Exetel, EZEE Mobile, More, Superloop and Tangerine.
Below is a list of the most popular 5G plans from Telstra MVNOs in our database:
FAQs
Yes, as of December 2024, Telstra owns Boost Mobile. Telstra also owns Belong.
Yes, Belong is wholly owned and operated by Telstra. However, despite this, Belong only has access to the Telstra Wholesale network and not the full Telstra network.
No, ALDI Mobile doesn’t have its own mobile towers. Instead, ALDI Mobile coverage is delivered via the Telstra Wholesale network.
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