Mobile Phones and Internet in Melbourne

Perhaps the very first step to take when you arrive in Melbourne is to arrange your mobile phone coverage so you can find your way around and have a local phone number to give to your employer, real estate agent, bank, and the tax office. Depending on your visa status, you may not be able to get a contract straight away, so visit a newsagent, convenience store or supermarket and get yourself a pre-paid SIM card (you can transfer to a longer-term solution when you’re ready).

Here’s your telecommunications guide to Melbourne:

Mobile phones in Melbourne

Most mobile phone providers won’t allow you to set up a post-paid contract unless you’re a permanent resident of Australia. If you can, ask if your employer will cover your phone as part of your benefits or relocation package. If that’s not an option, the following mobile phone companies offer pre-paid mobile phone plans:

·       Telstra

·       Optus

·       Vodafone

·       Virgin

·       Amaysim

Make sure you do your research before deciding on your mobile service provider as the cost and coverage vary between providers. If you get a contract, you might decide to get a new phone via your contract provider; if not, you’ll need to provide your own device. You can compare mobile phone plans and costs here.

If you’d like someone to talk you through your contract, you can usually find stores for the bigger mobile phone companies in shopping centres.

Landline phones and internet

Once you’ve found somewhere to live in Melbourne, you’ll also need a home internet plan. Australia has two major providers: Telstra and Optus. Both of these companies offer mobile and home internet services, and there may be an offer to bundle your mobile plan with your internet and home phone, streamlining your bills.

There are several other internet providers in Melbourne, some of which offer internet only, without the need for a landline. Your options include ADSL and ADSL2+, ‘naked’ DSL (internet without a telephone number), wireless internet, and the National Broadband Network (NBN). Other internet providers include:

·       iiNet

·       Internode

·       Belong

·       TPG

·       iPrimus

·       Foxtel

·       Dodo

·       Skymesh

·       Aussie Broadband

·       Spintel

Check out different broadband internet providers and the costs and services available in your area by visiting consumer ratings website Canstar.

It may take some time to set up your home internet connection, so it’s best to prioritise sorting it out as soon as you’ve moved into your permanent address. In the interim, you may want to get a USB dongle that provides pre-paid internet through a SIM card.