Telstra is named fastest mobile network in Australia again – but is it worth paying more?
Telstra once again takes the top spot for blazing-fast mobile network speeds in Ookla's latest Speedtest Awards.
Telstra has been named Australia's "fastest" mobile network for the first half of 2022 (from January to June). It received similar accolades in the second half of 2021.
Its speed score is a cool 107.25, followed by Optus at 102.76 and Vodafone at 67.91.
How was Telstra named fastest in Australia?
Ookla compared 1,338,193 tests on the Speedtest iOS and Android mobile apps of all the major network providers.
Telstra reported an 81.57Mbps median download speed and 11.38 median upload speed. Optus and Vodafone fell slightly short in comparison.
Optus. 75.27 median download speed and 9.08 median upload speed
Vodafone. 59.15 median download speed and 9.71 median upload speed
Even at a city level, Telstra outperformed its competitors. Here's a look at how the major providers stacked up in Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney.
City network speeds
Melbourne (Greater)
| Carrier | Download Mbps | Upload Mbps |
|---|---|---|
| Telstra | 97.81 | 12.49 |
| Optus | 94.18 | 10.68 |
| Lycamobile (MVNO) | 79.89 | 14.03 |
| Vodafone | 71.39 | 10.91 |
Brisbane (Greater)
| Carrier | Download Mbps | Upload Mbps |
|---|---|---|
| Telstra | 109.49 | 12.92 |
| Optus | 79.77 | 6.85 |
| Vodafone | 65.62 | 10.92 |
Sydney
| Carrier | Download Mbps | Upload Mbps |
|---|---|---|
| Telstra | 100.90 | 12.64 |
| Optus | 97.59 | 11.16 |
| Vodafone | 64.16 | 10.38 |
Are Telstra's premium prices worth paying for?
This depends on your budget and whether you want extra bells and whistles with your phone plan.
Its Upfront mobile plans start at $58 a month for 40GB and go up to $89 a month for 300GB.
Some perks and features of signing up to its Upfront mobile plans include:
- Access to the largest 4G and 5G network in Australia.
- No excess data charges. Your speeds will be capped at 1.5Mbps once you've used up your data allowance.
- Unlimited international texts to standard numbers and 30 minutes of free calls.
- Earn Telstra points and reward yourself later.
- Try Foxtel Now for a free month.
Its prepaid plans start from $10 a month for 2GB (weekly) and go up to $270 for 200GB (per 12 months).
On the flipside, you always have the option to sign up to a Telstra MVNO that uses Telstra's network and offers cheaper prices.
For example, Boost Mobile is the only Telstra MVNO to have access to Telstra's full 4G network. It offers cheaper prices than the big T itself.
Want more options? You can have a look at our curated list of top mobile plans on the Telstra network instead.
