So let’s start with the reality of Telstra network offering the best coverage in Australia. You’ll get coverage in places the other networks simply don’t work… But you’ll also pay a premium for that service. With the announcement of price increases due to CPI, for each of its mobile plans from the basic to the premium while eliminating the “extra-large” plan.
CPI, or Consumer Price Index, is the best-known indicator of inflation. Inflation is an increase in the prices of the goods and services that households buy.
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures the percentage change in the price of goods and services. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) release CPI changes each quarter.
The changes to plans are relatively simple:
- Basic (formerly small) goes up by $3 to $58 per month, includes 5G but no extra data
- Essential (formerly medium) goes up by $3 to $68 per month, includes 5G access with a data bump to 180GB (previously 80GB)
- Premium (Formerly large) goes up by $4 per month to $89 per month, includes a whopping 300GB (formerly 120GB) and 5G
If you’re already using Telstra as your provider, then you’re likely fine with this. But when we recently spoke with Peter Adderton from Boost Mobile he put forward a different viewpoint. In fact, he doesn’t think it’s worth the premium users are paying:
I’m actively telling my team don’t promote it, don’t sell 5G. I don’t agree that 5G as a service offers any huge incentive to mobile users and doesn’t deserve the premium price tag!
To compare data offerings with Boost: You’ll get the same data allowance as the Basic plan for $30 per month with the only difference being no 5G. With the data speeds Boost delivers on 4G — utilising the full Telstra retail network — very few users need the speed of 5G. That being said, a recent update to the Boost Mobile support page shows 5G trials are coming to all users.
The short story is that once you’re notified it’s on your account, you simply need to activate a recharge, have a 5G device and be in a 5G coverage area. Based on the feedback Peter gave us (above) I find it more likely that if Boost can’t deliver 5G without users needing to pay a premium, they simply won’t offering as an ongoing service at this time.
