What the May 2026 test found
| Telstra | Optus | Vodafone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opensignal awards, May 2026 | 2 outright | 8 (6 outright, 2 shared with Vodafone) | 6 |
| Average download speed | About 171 Mbps | 199.9 Mbps (fastest) | — |
| 5G coverage experience (out of 10) | 8.0 (best) | 5.6 | 5.4 |
| Also won | Coverage | Shared reliability | Upload speed, consistency, shared reliability |
The report covers January to March 2026. Telstra's network reaches furthest, and Opensignal found that in the areas where all three have signal, Telstra gave the most consistent experience. Across the country, Optus was fastest on downloads and Vodafone on uploads.
Cheaper brands on the same networks
| Network | Cheaper brands that use it |
|---|---|
| Telstra | Boost Mobile, Belong |
| Optus | amaysim |
| Vodafone (TPG Telecom) | Felix |
A cheaper brand usually gets the same signal for less money; some cap speeds or give lower priority at busy times.
Which should you choose?
- If you live or travel outside the big cities: Telstra, or a cheaper brand on Telstra's network.
- If you stay in a city and want speed for less: Optus or Vodafone, after checking the signal where you live.
- Calling Bangladesh: calling apps work over data in Australia, so most people need data more than international minutes.
- Prices include GST, so the advertised monthly price is what you pay.
Questions people ask
Which mobile network has the best coverage in Australia?
Telstra. In Opensignal's May 2026 report it scored 8.0 out of 10 for 5G coverage experience, against 5.6 for Optus and 5.4 for Vodafone.
Which Australian network is fastest?
Optus, in Opensignal's May 2026 report, with an average download speed of 199.9 Mbps.
Does Boost Mobile use Telstra?
Yes. Boost Mobile and Belong use Telstra's network. amaysim uses Optus and Felix uses Vodafone.