What's the best mobile broadband for Australia?

8 replies

AlG

Member since 04 Nov 2010

Total posts 155

What's the best mobile broadband for Australia? I need something for Sydney, Melbourne and Perth, am tired of paying through the nose for hotel internet!

David

Member since 24 Oct 2010

Total posts 1,021

Hey Al, I'll kick this off with a suggestion of Telstra as your carrier. Their 3G 'dual channel' (Ultimate) USB dongle is great for speed, the Next G network has superb coverage as well as 'soak' into buildings (due to the use of a lower radio frequency, 850MHz) and Telstra's prices are nowhere near as outrageous as they once were.

Apart from that, your options are prepaid data or a fixed contract. Some of the prepaid bundles are great value for sporadic use but if you're very regularly travelling you might find a standard contract is better value.

am

Member since 15 Apr 2011

Total posts 216

Without a doubt Telstra. Their coverage and speeds in the major centres is usually far superior to the other carriers.

If you don't want to pay the additional cost that comes with Telstra, Optus and Vodafone are both very good as well. You will notice a larger drop in speeds from the hotel internet that you're using at the moment though.

AirportAddict

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

Member since 05 Jan 2012

Total posts 175

AlG

Member since 04 Nov 2010

Total posts 155

Thank you everyone, Telstra looks like the favourite at this stage. Airport Addict, do you find you get amazing 4G speeds on the Telstra 4G modem and is this just around the inner-city, like the CBD?

am

Member since 15 Apr 2011

Total posts 216

The speeds are excellent, but still don't come close to the speed of 4G in the US from my experience. Also bear in mind that 4G coverage is quite restricted outside of the major centres, so you'll probably be on a regular HSDPA network whenever you leave the CBD. The speeds Telstra offers outside the city are still generally faster than the other networks though...

AirportAddict

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

Member since 05 Jan 2012

Total posts 175

Yes, incredible speeds where there is currently 4G which is mostly CBDs. Everywhere else it relies on 3G or 2G. Telstra hopes to have 4G everywhere that there is 3G.

here2go

Qantas

Member since 10 Sep 2011

Total posts 45

For what AI is after in the big smoke, I agree with the consensus.  

However, once you head to regional centres, I've found that Optus has better speeds as fewer people use them because of Telstra's greater coverage in rural.  I found Vodafone to be good in Canberra and rural NSW too, but as soon as I moved to Darwin, I was excited about dialup speeds, and soon abandoned them.

johnaboxall

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

Member since 24 Aug 2011

Total posts 384

Telstra LTE works blindingly fast in the airports and CBD areas, for example ~700 Collins St Melbourne: http://www.speedtest.net/android/153504619.png

However it is also in many regional areas as well - with similar speeds.E.g. example Maitland NSW, Warrnambool VIC, Kalgoorlie WA etc. Check the coverage map at http://www.telstra.com.au/mobile-phones/coverage-networks/network-information/4g/

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