Mobile networks in Australia

Which networks your eSIM uses in Australia

Your eSIM uses the Optus and Telstra networks in Australia. The choice is automatic: the phone joins the strongest partner network where it is, and the eSIM cannot be locked to one carrier. You do not pick a network or change a setting, so data should start soon after you land.

This is a data-only travel eSIM on a country plan. There is no local phone number. WhatsApp and app calls work over data, and your own SIM stays in for calls and bank texts, so you keep your usual number for anything that needs it.

Getting started takes a few steps:

1. Buy the plan before you travel. Prices are in US dollars and shown before payment, with nothing added at checkout. You can pay with Apple Pay, Google Pay or a card the bank confirms.
2. The QR code arrives by email in minutes.
3. Install the eSIM on Wi-Fi before the flight.
4. When you land, the eSIM connects and your days start counting from that first connection in the country.
5. If data does not start, turn on data roaming for the eSIM line. The APN is set automatically on most phones.

If you run low, data can be added to the same eSIM online without a new QR code.

Coverage and 5G in Australia

Australia has 5G on its main networks, and 96 percent of people use the internet. Coverage reaches most populated areas, and your eSIM moves between the Optus and Telstra networks automatically to keep you connected while you travel.

Mobile subscriptions run at 113 per 100 people, which is more than one connection per person. That tells you the networks are built for constant use, including in cities, along popular routes and in many regional towns.

Your experience depends on where you go. Towns and cities are well served. Very remote areas can be patchy on any network, so download maps and tickets before you set off. The eSIM picks the strongest partner network where it is, which helps when you move between regions.

This is data only. Calls to local numbers are not part of the plan. Use WhatsApp and app calls over data instead, and keep your own SIM in for calls and bank texts from home.

Will your phone work in Australia

Your phone works in Australia if it supports eSIM and is carrier unlocked. Most recent iPhone, Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel models do. Check both points before you buy, because a locked phone cannot use a travel eSIM even when the hardware supports it.

To check eSIM support, look in your phone settings for the option to add an eSIM or a mobile data plan. If the menu is there, the phone supports it. If it is missing, the phone does not.

To check the lock, look at your contract status or ask your home carrier whether the phone is unlocked. Phones bought on a plan are sometimes locked until the plan is paid off.

The eSIM is data only, and your own SIM stays in the phone. That means you can keep your home number active for calls and bank texts while data runs on the travel eSIM. Set the eSIM as your mobile data line so apps and maps use it.

Setting up before you fly

Install the eSIM on Wi-Fi before your flight. The QR code arrives by email in minutes after payment. Days start when the eSIM first connects in Australia, not when you buy it, so early installation costs you nothing.

Keep the QR code email somewhere you can reach offline, in case you need to install again. On arrival, switch the eSIM on and give it a moment to find a network. If data does not start, turn on data roaming for the eSIM line first.

The APN is set automatically on most phones. If you still have no data after roaming is on, restart the phone and check that the eSIM is selected as the mobile data line.

Plan sizes and lengths vary. Plans include 1 GB and 3 GB plans over 7, 15 or 30 days. Pick a size that matches your trip. If you need more later, add data to the same eSIM online without a new QR code. Details were checked on 2026-10-31. Numbers on this page come from ITU via the World Bank.