Set Up an Australian Mobile Number Safely
First confirm that your exact phone works safely on the chosen provider. Then compare the ongoing price and inclusions, activate the service and protect access to your existing accounts.
In this guide
Check your exact device before buying a plan
ACMA’s 3G closure guidance warns that some 4G phones, particularly overseas models, can handle ordinary calls or data yet fail to reach Triple Zero (000). Being unlocked, recent, or labelled 4G/5G is not enough.
- Find the exact model variant and IMEI in your phone settings. Give these to the intended provider through its official compatibility checker or support channel.
- Ask about supported bands, VoLTE voice calling, emergency calling after the 3G closures and any device blocking. Check eSIM support for that model and plan separately.
- Follow the provider’s instructions for software updates or replacement. Do not place a test call to 000.
- Check the provider’s own coverage map at home, work and on important travel routes. Indoor coverage and congestion can differ from the map.
Check the reseller’s actual coverage
ALDI Mobile uses the Telstra Wholesale network. Everyday Mobile from Woolworths also uses Telstra Wholesale. This does not establish identical coverage, features or speeds to every Telstra retail plan. Read the chosen provider’s coverage information and Critical Information Summary (CIS), including 5G access and speed caps.
A national population-coverage percentage does not tell you whether your home or a remote road is covered. Ask about your exact address and intended travel. Avoid treating any network as universally best.
Compare prepaid, postpaid and the actual expiry period
| Choice | What to inspect |
|---|---|
| Prepaid | Upfront recharge price, expiry, auto-recharge, rollover conditions and what happens when data runs out |
| Postpaid or SIM-only subscription | Billing date, credit/identity checks, included charges, excess usage and cancellation rules |
| Phone bundled with service | Separate device repayments, total minimum cost, early exit balance and whether the service can be changed |
| International contact | Exact destination, mobile versus landline inclusions, minutes and whether roaming is a separate paid service |
A 28-day recharge is not a calendar month. Illustrative $30 ongoing pricing gives $30 × 365 ÷ 28 = $391.07 annualised, or $32.59 per average month. Thirteen recharges cover 364 days. Starting with no credit, maintaining service throughout 365 days can require a fourteenth payment on day 364, leaving credit/service beyond the year. A $30 calendar-month plan is $360 for 12 months. Promotions and setup charges change the comparison.
Use the mobile cost worksheet to compare your own constant-price quotes. It is not a live offer catalogue.
Activate without losing your old number
- Buy through the provider’s official channel or authorised retailer. Confirm the ID accepted for prepaid activation and the actual activation/expiry starting point.
- Have Wi-Fi available for an eSIM download. Check whether a travel eSIM is data-only or provides an Australian voice/SMS number.
- For a new number, complete activation and test normal incoming/outgoing calls, SMS and data. For a port, use the new provider’s process; keep the old service active until the port succeeds.
- Check that your bank and other important accounts can receive verification messages before retiring an old SIM. Save recovery methods securely.
Keep overseas and Australian services separate
If your phone and providers support dual SIM, choose which SIM handles data, outgoing calls and messages. Check overseas-carrier roaming and incoming-SMS costs; receiving an authentication message is not guaranteed to be free. Disable data roaming on the overseas SIM if you do not want to use it, and check automatic data-switching settings.
Review actual usage after one renewal. When comparing a new offer, capture the CIS, normal renewal price, promotion length, activation deadline, cancellation method and network/device confirmation. Do not assume a sports bundle, unlimited-data speed or named plan is unchanged.
Frequently asked questions
Will any unlocked modern phone work?
No. Confirm the exact model with the chosen provider for VoLTE and Triple Zero compatibility after the 3G closures. Do not call 000 to test it.
Is a 28-day recharge a monthly plan?
No. Compare its price over 365 days and account for the actual renewal dates; 13 periods of 28 days cover 364 days.
Do all Telstra resellers have identical service?
No. ALDI Mobile and Everyday Mobile use Telstra Wholesale. Check the reseller’s own coverage, speed caps, inclusions and device support.
Sources and review scope
Source check: 1 October 2026. The linked provider and regulator pages support the stated scope. Illustrative calculations are not live quotes, product testing, individual approval or professional advice. Recheck provider terms before acting.