Here's something big for regional Aussies—Vodafone just massively expanded its network coverage, bringing a real shake-up to mobile competition outside the big cities.
Thanks to a new partnership between Vodafone’s parent company, TPG Telecom, and Optus, Vodafone’s coverage has jumped from 95.4% to 98.4% of the population. That might not sound like a huge leap, but in practical terms, it means Vodafone’s coverage area is now 2.7 times bigger than before—and in Queensland, it’s a massive 4.1 times bigger!
So, how did they pull this off? Optus is giving Vodafone access to thousands of its mobile towers, while in return, Optus gets to use Vodafone’s mobile spectrum to boost its own network speeds and reliability. It’s a win-win for both networks, but the real winners are regional Australians, who now have more choice and better deals when it comes to mobile providers.
For people living outside metro areas, this could mean big savings. Vodafone is already rolling out discounts—like $10 off most plans—and low-cost providers that use Vodafone’s network (like Kogan Mobile) will also benefit.
To put it to the test, I drove 400km into regional NSW and saw firsthand how much things have improved. I was able to make a call in a spot that used to be a complete dead zone for Vodafone. That’s a real game-changer!
Even Optus customers will see improvements, with faster speeds on both 4G and 5G in regional areas.
Kieren Cooney from Vodafone summed it up best:
"With Vodafone expanding across Australia, the days of having limited mobile choice in regional Australia are over. This is the biggest boost to mobile competition in 30 years."
Of course, Telstra still leads the pack in total coverage, especially in super-remote areas. But for most regional towns and cities, this Vodafone-Optus deal is set to give Telstra some real competition.
Only time will tell if it’s enough to shake up long-time Telstra customers—but one thing’s for sure: regional Aussies finally have more options when it comes to staying connected!
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