Traveling to OZ ' which company's SIM should I chose?

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Traveling to OZ ' which company's SIM should I chose?

radionut

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#100365 10-Apr-2012 20:08

I am about to travel to OZ for a couple of weeks. I use a Telecom HTC Sensation, and will be purchasing a local SIM for it to allow intercommunication and data without paying the horrendous roaming rates.

I am wondering whether I should focus on any specific provider? Is there one (Telstra, Optus, another?) that has a better match to the frequencies my Telecom Sensation can operate on?

Anyone got any thoughts?

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#607565 10-Apr-2012 20:09

I think you first need to specify where in Aussie you are headed to. Rural or city?

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#607567 10-Apr-2012 20:15

Telstra is the one with same band. Not the cheapest one though.

radionut

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#607581 10-Apr-2012 20:54

heavenlywild: I think you first need to specify where in Aussie you are headed to. Rural or city?

.. Thanks but I am not looking for comment on who is the best provider in any place - they all publish coverage maps - just which one uses Telecom NZ frequencies...

It would appear Telstra is the one that matches best...

heavenlywild

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#607583 10-Apr-2012 20:58

You won't go wrong with Telstra that's for sure. Best speed and coverage in Aussie hands-down. However, you do have to pay a higher price.

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blakamin

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#607587 10-Apr-2012 21:10

heavenlywild: You won't go wrong with Telstra that's for sure. Best speed and coverage in Aussie hands-down. However, you do have to pay a higher price.

+1

Telstra rocks.
Not too much more, and the coverage is everywhere!
I also have the Sensation

nitrotech

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#607591 10-Apr-2012 21:23

I know they've had their problems in OZ but Vodafone also now use 850mhz the same freq as telecom - since they lost 375,000 customers their network should have enough capacity for you and potentially may save some $ over telstra too.

Personally I have used telstra and virgin mobile in OZ and found them both fine where I was.

blakamin

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#607593 10-Apr-2012 21:25

Voda in Oz is known primarily for absolutely crappy coverage, even where they tell you it's good.

insane

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#607602 10-Apr-2012 21:54

blakamin: Voda in Oz is known primarily for absolutely crappy coverage, even where they tell you it's good.

This,

You can sometimes get a busy signal when calling someone else on Vodafone standing next to you, quite bizarre really.

I used Vodafone when I was there in June last year and Optus in October. Optus was very quick when in a good signal area, and they had a deal for unlimited data for $2 per day.

radionut

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#607607 10-Apr-2012 21:58

Thanks for the info guys.. but we better not turn this topic into a "this provider is better than that one.." session, I think I have the info I need now, and will go for Telstra, as the best option for radio frequencies matching with my Telecom handset.
Cheers all

ajobbins

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#607612 10-Apr-2012 22:14

I run Vodafone on my iPhone and Telstra on my iPad.

Honestly, I find them both similar in performance. Telstra has a very slight edge, but is a fair bit more expensive. Telstra is better once you get out of the metro areas tho.

If you are going to stay around CBDs, and want the best bang for you buck, go Vodafone.

Also, best place to buy a SIM card is a 7-Eleven. Other places are a bit more anal about needing ID to buy, and branded stores often have a wait time.

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AndrewMac

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#607664 11-Apr-2012 08:51

For what it's worth, when my girlfriend went to Australia last she got a Telstra sim for $30 with about half a gig of data and quite a bit of international calls/texts, covered her for the month she was there quite well

Zeon

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#607665 11-Apr-2012 08:55

My boss went to aussie last week. I told her to get an Optus sim and make sure it worked at the shop. She bought 3, none worked due to "activation" errors....

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sylon

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#609463 15-Apr-2012 01:46

I am not sure where you are going. But if you are going to a capital city then you will be fine with Optus or Vodafone as they run a 2100Mhz 3G network. I suggest you go to the Optus store at the airport (I think its at most airports) just when you exit the terminal at both Sydney and Mel. Ask for Optus Connect 4 Less SIM. For $10 you will get heaps of cheap calls to Oz and even overseas if you want to call NZ. Plus ask the shop for a $5 data rev-up and get 500MB data.

For more info:
https://www.optus.com.au/shop/prepaidmobile/connect4less
https://www.optus.com.au/shop/mobilephone/topup

I was in Oz for 2 weeks last year and this worked perfectly and i had enough credit to call/text/data and skype. I was on the phone checking emails and calling before I left the Optus kiosk at the airport. Whatever you do, DO NOT get any of the smaller providers or even telstra sim at some random shop. These require online/phone activations and it isn't as easy as NZ as they need to verify your IDs etc.

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#609491 15-Apr-2012 09:21

Optus Prepaid offers a $2 per day unlimited option - unlimited AU voice calls, unlimited SMS, unlimited mobile data... Those $10 go an even longer way.

sbiddle

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#609506 15-Apr-2012 10:26

My pick is amaysim. $2 to buy a SIM and you get dirt cheap calling and data.

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