Our database contains cell coverage information for Optus, Telstra, and Vodafone.

Results show indoor and outdoor coverage for voice calls, 3G data, 4G (LTE) data, and 5G data for every postcode in Australia for each carrier.

What is mobile coverage and signal checking?

Before you sign up with a new carrier, you need to be sure that you can get good reception - both good coverage and a reliable signal - where you live and work. If you can't, you might not be able to make calls, send messages, or use apps when you need to.

Our Signal Checker shows the coverage and signal strength for your postcode and helps you see which carrier will give you the best service. We check all the main carriers at once, saving you the time and effort of having to visit them all individually.

Who provides mobile coverage in Australia?

There are three main carriers that provide mobile coverage across Australia. In order of size, they are:

These companies build and maintain their own mobile network infrastructure, including the phone towers that you can see all around your towns and cities. The more of these towers you have in your area, the better the signal will be from the carrier that owns them.

What other carriers are there?

As well as the main carriers, there are two other categories of carrier that you can choose from.

MVNOs will often offer prepaid deals. This means you don't have to sign a contract, but pay in advance for an allowance of data and calls instead. These often work out a little more expensive, but the convenience might be worth it, especially if you don't use your phone that much.

What types of mobile coverage are there?

Carriers provide several different cellular services. Coverage for each can differ from one region to the next, and the one that you use can also be dictated by what you're doing on your phone and what type of phone you've got.

Will my phone work with every carrier?

As a general rule, your phone will work with every carrier even if you buy it outright, separate from your contract. 

There can be some technical issues, though. Different carriers' networks run on different frequencies, and your phone needs to support these. Most modern phones do support them all. 

For voice calls, the situation also used to be complicated. Carriers used one of two types of cellular tech - GSM or CDMA - and you needed a phone that was compatible with whichever service your carrier used. However, this only applies to 2G and 3G connections. 

LTE (for 4G) is a different technology again, so unless you're still using a very old device you don't need to worry about it.

What affects my mobile signal?

The main thing that affects your mobile signal is your carrier's coverage. If you're literally stood next to one of their cell towers you'll have a perfect signal. But if you're a long way from a tower, that signal may come and go. This can affect your data download speeds, or result in dropped calls.

There are other factors, too:

How can I improve my mobile signal?

Sometimes you can't get a phone signal right when you need it most. Don't worry, there are some things you can try.

How do I check my mobile coverage?

So what's the best way to discover which carrier has the best mobile coverage where you live? Simply scroll back up to the top of the page, enter your postal code into the box, and we'll do the rest. 

We'll show you whether you can get voice, 3G, 4G, and 5G coverage from Australia's three biggest carriers.

About these results.

These results show the mobile signal for each network in your postcode area.