Moose Mobile and Swoop ditch Optus for Vodafone network – what it means for you
Key takeaways
- Moose Mobile and Swoop's SIM-only plans are now running on the Vodafone network.
- 135,000 existing customers will be migrated to new plans and away from the Optus network over the coming weeks.
- Given TPG/Vodafone's network sharing agreement with Optus, coverage should be similar for Moose Mobile and Swoop customers.
Swoop owns Moose Mobile and runs both as separate brands.
After ending their wholesale partnership with Optus, both providers have moved to the Vodafone network.
New customers signing up will be on the Vodafone network, and existing customers will be switched over in the coming weeks.
I'm a Moose Mobile or Swoop customer. What do I need to do?
A Swoop spokesperson confirmed that existing customers will receive instructions on how to activate a new SIM in the coming weeks.
Part of that will be activating a new SIM, but the entire process is meant to be straightforward.
Their customer support teams will be on standby to help with the transition, or you can use the Swoop customer portal for help.
So no immediate action is needed right now, but keep an eye out for comms.
Will my coverage be affected?
For most people, not really.
Both Optus and Vodafone cover 98.5% of the Australian population thanks to a network-sharing agreement, so day-to-day you're unlikely to notice a difference.
Optus does have a slightly larger 5G footprint - 91.9% versus Vodafone's 91.3%. It's worth checking Vodafone's coverage map before your SIM is switched over.
According to TPG, which owns Vodafone, a recently commissioned research from Deloitte Access Economics shows its network expansion has led to faster speeds and fewer dropouts, particularly in regional areas.
Will my prices change?
Prices are mostly going down, though it'll depend on the plan you're on.
Plus, you'll also get eSIM support across the board.
Here's a look at the new ongoing prices for both providers.
New Moose Mobile prices
| Before | After |
|---|---|
| 30GB for $24.80 | No change |
| 40GB for $33.80 | 50GB for $32.80 |
| 100GB for $41.80 | 100GB for $39.80 |
| 220GB for $55.80 | 250GB for $49.80 |
New Swoop mobile plan pricing
| Before | After |
|---|---|
| 30GB for $29 | 30GB for $24.90 |
| 40GB for $35 | 50GB for $32.90 |
| 100GB for $39 | 100GB for $39.90 |
| 220GB for $55 | 250GB for $49.90 |
There's one other change worth flagging, though.
Top-tier plans from both providers previously had uncapped download speeds. All plans are now capped at 150Mbps.
That's still fast enough for streaming, video calls, and anything else you'd normally do on a phone, but worth knowing about either way.
What can customers expect in the future?
The bigger play here is bundling.
Swoop is positioning itself to compete more aggressively on price and value for households that want a single provider for both mobile and home internet.
CTO Tom Berryman says the network switch is part of a broader platform overhaul.
"Swoop has built a new billing platform and is simultaneously launching eSIM, improving the customer experience and deepening Swoop's ability to grow the relationship within the home, supporting profitable growth across residential, business and wholesale segments."
Should you stay or consider switching?
If you're already on Moose Mobile or Swoop, there's nothing urgent to do.
Prices are either staying the same or going down, there will be eSIM support and you'll get instructions on your new SIM when the time comes.
The main thing to watch out for is coverage. You can see how you go post-transition, as there's no lock-in contract. If you're unhappy with the coverage, just switch.
Alternatively, here's a look at some of the latest mobile plan deals across all 3 networks:
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