How to make phone calls in Australia
Once settled in Australia, you will certainly want to keep in touch with your family and friends by phone, fixed or mobile, depending on your needs and budget. You will find various operators offering a wide range of packages at competitive rates. Choose the plan that best suits your needs, taking into account the charges for international calls.
Phone operators in Australia
With over 40 cell phone providers in Australia, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by the amount of choice you have at your fingertips. Telstra, Optus, Vodafone, TPG and Amaysim are the main service providers, but all of them offer a variety of landline and cell phone plans.
It is important to note that although there are many providers, all mobile plans in Australia operate on one of three networks: Telstra, Optus or Vodafone. The networks themselves sell their own mobile plans, but they also share their network with independent operators who often charge cheaper rates for their plans. Compare prices before making your choice, as the different options can sometimes be confusing.
Plan types and prices in Australia
Choose your operator and the type of connection you need: If you use your current phone you can choose a monthly subscription or prepaid cards without commitment. If you want a fixed line, the subscription will be for 12 to 24 months, but with mobiles being the most common in Australia, many consumers prefer to give up the good old fixed line phone.
Given the competition among operators in the country, it is worth comparing the different brands. If you opt for a prepaid SIM card, expect to pay around AUD 20 per month for unlimited texting and calling, including unlimited international calling to certain countries and 10GB of data.
If you want to sign up for a contract, the price will be higher, as it includes the phone rental. Plans can range from $40 to $100 AUD per month. The bill is monthly, payable by direct debit or via your provider's website.
Internet calling
Great ways to stay in touch with friends and family, if they have Internet access, are platforms like Skype, Facetime or Zoom that allow you to make video calls for free. These media also allow you to hold business meetings.
Cell phones
In Australia, you can buy a cell phone at a good price, if you are not looking for a high-tech jewel. If you already have a cell phone, consider having it unlocked before your expatriation, so you can buy a local SIM card upon arrival. Although all operators offer national coverage, you will find areas with no or very poor reception, especially in remote areas of the country.
To buy a cell phone locally, visit one of the branches of your chosen operator or an electronics store, such as JB Hi-fi. To top up your account, you can buy credit in any supermarket (Aldi, Woolworth or Coles) as well as in electronic stores and post offices. You will be able to choose between several plans, some of which include unlimited calls and SMS.
Important: Signing a contract with an operator commits you for one or two years. If you break it before the deadline, you will have to pay the remaining balance, which can be very expensive.
Good to know:
To make international calls from Australia, you must dial "00" followed by the country code before dialing the number.
To make local or national calls, you must dial the area code followed by the number:
- 02 for New South Wales (NSW) and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT)
- 03 for Victoria (VIC) and Tasmania (TAS)
- 07 for Queensland (QLD)
- 08 for the Northern Territory (NT), South Australia (SA) & Western Australia (WA)
- 04 for cell phones
