Optus joins Telstra in upping its mobile plan prices
Find out if you’ll be paying more from August 8
www.techradar.comHere’s the latest on price hikes among Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone.
-
What happened recently
- All three major Australian carriers have announced increases to mobile plan prices in 2026, with Optus' changes aligning with Telstra and Vodafone’s adjustments in the weeks prior. These hikes affect both post-paid and many pre-paid offerings, and often come with extra data in some plan tiers. Specifically, Optus announced a $5 per month rise on several post-paid plans, while Vodafone and Telstra increased various pre-paid and post-paid options by amounts in the $1–$5 range depending on the plan. These movements mark the continuation of a trend over the past year where multiple carriers adjusted prices to fund network investments and feature upgrades.[1][3][5]
-
Typical impacts by carrier
- Telstra: Broadly increased most post-paid plans by about $4 per month, with some higher-tier plans gaining more data.[3]
- Optus: Implemented a $5 monthly increase across several post-paid plans and refreshed plan data allowances in some tiers.[1][3]
- Vodafone: Increased many pre-paid and some post-paid options, including higher-cost 12-month and multi-month plans, with added data in several cases.[3][1]
-
How much you might pay now
- For typical mid-range plans, expect roughly a 5–14% increase in monthly fees, depending on the exact plan and data allowance. Some families or multi-line bundles may see higher relative increases due to the data boosts included with certain tiers.[1][3]
-
Why these changes are happening
- The carriers generally cite ongoing network investments, improvements in speed and reliability, and new features as drivers for price adjustments. They argue that price increases enable continued infrastructure upgrades and better customer experiences.[3][1]
-
How to potentially mitigate the impact
- Review your current usage: if you consistently underutilize data, smaller or differently structured plans might be more cost-efficient.
- Compare bundles and SIM-only options: some competitors or lighter plans could offer better value even after hikes.
- Consider using Wi‑Fi regularly, enabling data saver options, or switching to a prepaid plan that matches your usage pattern.
If you’d like, I can:
- Check the specific updated prices for your current plan or similar plans from Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone.
- Compare total annual costs based on your typical monthly usage (data, calls, texts) and suggest the most cost-efficient option.
- Create a quick side-by-side table of current vs. updated prices for the plans you care about.
Would you like me to pull the exact updated prices for plans you’re considering (or your current plan) and run a cost comparison? If so, tell me your current carrier(s) and roughly how much data/text you use each month.
Citations:
- Latest price hikes and plan changes for Optus, Telstra, and Vodafone in 2026[1][3]
- Specifics on Optus price increase and data adjustments[1]