Mobile coverage: how to check it

In a country as large as Australia, mobile coverage varies enormously. In the centre of a city, you may have strong signal from several networks. On a country road, in a valley or inside a big concrete building, it can be a different story. Because a plan is only as good as the coverage behind it, checking coverage should be the first step in choosing a provider, not an afterthought.

Networks and providers

A small number of companies own and run Australia's mobile networks. Many other providers sell plans that use one of those networks. That means two providers might offer very different prices but use the same network.

It doesn't always mean the same coverage, though. Some providers using a network may not have access to every part of it, or to every technology on it. Always check the coverage information of the provider you're actually signing up with, not just the network it uses.

Where to find coverage information

The ACMA says telcos should make information about their mobile network coverage available on their websites. Most providers publish an interactive map where you can enter an address.

The ACMA has also introduced rules for how mobile coverage maps are presented, aimed at making them clearer and easier to compare between providers. When you look at a map, read the legend and any notes carefully, so you know what each colour or category means.

How to check properly

Make a list of places

Coverage at your home is important, but it's not the whole story. List the places you use your phone most:

• home, including inside the house;
• work or study;
• your commute;
• places you visit regularly, such as family, a holiday spot or a sports club;
• routes you drive often, especially in regional areas.

Check each one on the coverage maps of the providers you're considering.

Understand outdoor versus indoor

Coverage maps generally predict outdoor coverage. Inside buildings, signals can be much weaker, especially in basements, lifts, large concrete or metal buildings, and homes with certain building materials. If a map shows only basic coverage at your address, expect it to be weaker indoors.

Ask people nearby

Neighbours, colleagues and local community groups can tell you how a network performs in practice. Their experience inside similar buildings can be more useful than a map.

Try before you commit

If you're unsure, a month-to-month or prepaid plan lets you try a network without being locked in. If the coverage doesn't work for you, you can switch, and you can usually keep your number. See keeping your number.

Regional and remote areas

Outside cities and towns, coverage differences between networks can be large. If you live or travel in regional Australia, check coverage along the roads you actually use, not just at your destination. Some phones and plans support features that can help in fringe areas, but nothing replaces checking the map and asking locals.

For emergencies, remember that calls to Triple Zero (000) from a mobile can generally be carried by another network if your own provider has no coverage, provided your phone can make emergency calls on that network.

Your phone matters too

Coverage depends on your phone as well as the network. Phones support different network bands and technologies, and an older or imported phone may not work fully on every network. Since Australia's 3G networks were switched off, phones need to support 4G voice calling (often called VoLTE) to make calls, including emergency calls. See the 3G switch-off.

Ask a new provider whether your phone is compatible with its network before you switch.

Indoor coverage solutions

If you have good outdoor coverage but poor coverage inside your home:

• Wi-Fi calling lets your phone make calls over your home internet. Check that your phone and plan support it.
• Move around. Signal can vary a lot between rooms; near a window is often better.
• Talk to your provider about other options it may offer.

If coverage is worse than expected

If your coverage is much worse than the provider's information suggested, contact the provider. Explain where and when you have problems, and ask what they can do. If you're within a contract, ask about your options. If you can't resolve it with the provider, you can contact the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman. See complaints and the TIO.

Reading a coverage map

Coverage maps usually show different shades or colours for different levels of coverage and for different technologies, such as 4G and 5G. When you look at a map:

• Read the legend so you know what each colour or category means.
• Zoom in to your exact address and the streets around it.
• Check the technology. 5G coverage may be more limited than 4G, and your phone needs to support 5G to use it.
• Look at the notes for any warnings about indoor coverage, terrain or devices.
• Compare providers for the same location, using the same level of detail.

4G and 5G

5G is the newest generation of mobile technology. It can offer faster speeds in areas where it's available, but 4G remains the backbone of mobile coverage in much of Australia, especially outside cities. A 5G phone falls back to 4G where 5G isn't available. If you're choosing between plans, don't pay extra for 5G unless you'll actually spend time in 5G coverage and have a compatible phone.

Coverage on the road

If you drive long distances, particularly in regional and remote Australia, plan for gaps in coverage. Check coverage along your route before you leave, tell someone your plans, and download maps for offline use. In remote areas, many people carry additional safety equipment, such as a personal locator beacon or satellite communication device, because mobile coverage can't be relied on everywhere.

Coverage for visitors and new arrivals

If you've just arrived in Australia or are visiting, your phone from overseas may not work fully on Australian networks, especially for calls. Check with an Australian provider before buying a local SIM, and make sure your phone can make emergency calls here.

A coverage checklist

1. List the places you use your phone most, including routes you drive.
2. Check each provider's coverage information at each location.
3. Note whether coverage is shown as outdoor only.
4. Ask neighbours or colleagues about their experience indoors.
5. Confirm your phone supports the provider's network and 4G voice calling.
6. If you're unsure, start with a month-to-month or prepaid plan.

Keep a note of what the provider's coverage information showed when you signed up, in case you need to raise a problem later. A screenshot with the date is enough.

If you move house or change jobs, check coverage again at the new locations.

Coverage and your contract

If you sign a contract and later find coverage doesn't work where you need it, raise it with your provider promptly, with specific locations and times. Ask what options it can offer. Early action, backed by notes and screenshots, gives you the best chance of a good outcome.

Key points

• Check the coverage of the provider you're signing up with, not just its network.
• Check every place that matters to you, including routes you drive.
• Maps generally predict outdoor coverage; indoors can be weaker.
• Your phone must be compatible with the network, including 4G voice calling.
• If coverage is a worry, try a month-to-month or prepaid plan first.