Australia
Opensignal is the independent global standard for analyzing consumers' connectivity experiences. Our industry reports are the definitive guide to understanding what happens when people use their mobile and broadband connections in their daily life.
Australia
Opensignal is the independent global standard for analyzing consumers' connectivity experiences. Our industry reports are the definitive guide to understanding what happens when people use their mobile and broadband connections in their daily life.
Key Findings
Optus dominates 4G and 5G Experience awards
Optus continues to lead in Experience, winning all 4G and 5G Video Experience, 4G and 5G Games Experience, and 4G and 5G Download Speed awards outright. Optus successfully retains every award in these categories from the previous report.
Our Vodafone users enjoy the fastest upload speeds in Australia
Vodafone remains the sole winner of the 4G and 5G Upload Speed awards. Its 4G users experience the fastest upload speeds at 8.8 Mbps, while 5G users reach 15.6 Mbps. Vodafone’s 4G performance remains statistically unchanged compared to the previous report, while its 5G upload speeds have improved by 1 Mbps.
Telstra provides the most coverage in Australia
Telstra retains the Coverage and 5G Coverage Experience awards from the previous report. The Coverage Experience metric measures the extent of mobile networks in the places people live, work and travel.
Our Vodafone users experience the most consistent and reliable experience
Vodafone wins the Consistent Quality award outright and shares the Reliability Experience award with Optus. Since the previous report, Vodafone has improved its Consistent Quality score by 4 percentage points and increased its Reliability Experience score by 16 points.
Telstra leads a year-on-year improvement on Reliability Experience
Telstra achieved the strongest year-on-year gain in its Reliability Experience score, having improved by 61 points since our report published in April 2025. Meanwhile, Optus and Vodafone have improved their Reliability Experience scores by 37 and 35 points, respectively, measured on a 100–1000 point scale.
Optus becomes the sole winner of 5G Games Experience year-on-year
Optus retains its lead in the 5G Games Experience award and is now the sole winner, having moved ahead from a joint win with Vodafone in April 2025. Previously, Optus and Vodafone were statistically tied, scoring 84 and 83.5 points, respectively. One year later, Optus has increased its score to 88.6, while Vodafone follows second at 87.5.
Mobile Experience Awards
Market Overview
In Opensignal’s Mobile Network Experience May 2026 report, Optus leads with eight awards — including six outright wins and two shared with Vodafone. Vodafone follows with six awards (four outright and two joint wins), while Telstra retains two outright wins.
The Australian government has initiated a review into the Triple Zero regulations. The Triple Zero Custodian will deliver a final report with recommendations for a more modern and adaptable framework. Proposed measures include increasing the maximum penalties for telcos that fail to comply with Triple Zero rules to $30 million, introducing new requirements to ensure Triple Zero calls can fall back to other networks, and delivering public outage registers alongside standardized mobile coverage maps by mid-2026.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has introduced new rules requiring mobile network operators to publish clear and standardized maps of their 4G and 5G coverage by June 30, 2026. These maps must classify coverage into four categories: good, moderate, basic, or no coverage, making it easier for consumers to understand network performance. The initiative aims to help consumers make more informed decisions by enabling like-for-like comparisons of mobile service quality across locations nationwide.
Australia is preparing to renew key mobile spectrum licenses in the 850MHz and 1800MHz bands ahead of their June 2028 expiry, with the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) launching a consultation on the proposed technical framework. This marks the first stage of the renewal process, with applications expected to open in June 2026. The regulator has indicated that extending these licences for mobile and fixed wireless broadband services is likely to support the long-term public interest. It is also considering changes to how railway communications in the 1800MHz band are licensed, proposing a transition to an apparatus-based framework once existing licences expire.
The ACMA has released its ‘Draft five-year spectrum outlook 2026–31’ (FYSO), outlining priorities for managing spectrum amid evolving technology, market, and regulatory trends. The plan includes updates on the final phase of the expiring spectrum licence renewal process, ahead of application windows opening for the 850MHz and 1800MHz bands in June 2026. It also highlights initiatives to support satellite direct-to-device connectivity, seen as a key component of the government’s proposed universal outdoor mobile coverage goals. Additional priorities include progressing plans for 2GHz mobile satellite services, preparing for the 2027 World Radiocommunication Conference, and enhancing regulatory frameworks to improve outcomes for both licensees and the public.
In this report we examine the mobile network experience of the three main mobile network operators in Australia — Optus, Telstra and Vodafone — over a period of 90 days starting on January 1, 2026, and ending on March 31, 2026, to see how they fared. We have also published a companion piece analyzing user experience in Australia’s Common Coverage Areas (CCAs) — locations where all three national operators provide service, including via domestic roaming — to see how the competitive landscape changes when the playing field is levelled.
4G Experience
National Analysis
Optus wins the 4G Video Experience award outright with a score of 72.4 on a 100-point scale. All operators fall into the Very Good (68-78) category, meaning that our users are, on average, able to stream video at 1080p or better with satisfactory loading times and little stalling. Video Experience scores account for adaptive bitrate streaming (ABR), a technology that allows Opensignal to accurately represent users' real video experience including video streams up to 4K quality.
Definitions
4G Video Experience quantifies the quality of mobile video experienced by Opensignal users on real-world video streams when they were connected to 4G. The metric is based on an International Telecommunication Union (ITU) approach, built upon detailed studies which have derived a relationship between technical parameters, including picture quality, video loading time and stall rate, with the perceived video experience as reported by real people. To calculate 4G Video Experience, we are directly measuring video streams from end-user devices and using this ITU approach to quantify the video experience observed by our users on each operator’s 4G network on a scale from 0 to 100. The videos tested include a mixture of resolutions — including Full HD (FHD) and 4K / Ultra HD (UHD) — and are streamed directly from the world’s largest video content providers.
National Analysis
Optus retains the 4G Games Experience award outright with a score of 81.3 points on a 100-point scale. All operators place in the Good (75-85) category, meaning that most users deem the experience acceptable, gameplay is generally controllable with immediate feedback between actions and outcomes, and most users do not experience noticeable delay.
Definitions
4G Games Experience measures how mobile users experience real-time multiplayer mobile gaming on an operator's 4G network. It analyzes how our users’ multiplayer mobile gaming experience was affected by mobile network conditions including latency, packet loss and jitter. 4G Games Experience for each operator is calculated on a scale from 0 to 100.
4G Games Experience quantifies the experience when playing real-time multiplayer mobile games on mobile devices connected to servers located around the world. The approach is built on several years of research quantifying the relationship between technical network parameters and the gaming experience as reported by real mobile users. These parameters include latency (round trip time), jitter (variability of latency) and packet loss (the proportion of data packets that never reach their destination). Additionally, it considers multiple genres of multiplayer mobile games to measure the average sensitivity to network conditions. The games tested include some of the most popular real-time multiplayer mobile games (such as Fortnite, Pro Evolution Soccer and Arena of Valor) played around the world. Calculating 4G Games Experience starts with measuring the end-to-end experience from users’ devices to internet end-points that host real games.
National Analysis
Optus wins the 4G Download Speed Experience award outright again in this report with a score of 58.3Mbps. 4G Download Speed reflects the average download speed experienced by Opensignal users across an operator’s 4G network.
Definitions
4G Download Speed shows the average download speed experienced by Opensignal users across an operator’s 4G network. 4G Download Speed for each operator is calculated in Mbps (Megabits per second).
National Analysis
Vodafone retains the 4G Upload Speed Experience award outright with a score of 8.8Mbps. 4G Upload Speed measures the average upload speeds experienced by Opensignal users across an operator’s 4G network.
Definitions
4G Upload Speed measures the average upload speeds experienced by Opensignal users across an operator’s 4G network. 4G Upload Speed for each operator is calculated in Mbps (Megabits per second).
City Analysis
City Analysis Summary: Australia, Mobile Network Experience Report, May 2026
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A-I
- Adelaide
- Brisbane
- Canberra–Queanbeyan
- Gold Coast–Tweed Heads
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J-R
- Melbourne
- Perth
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S-Z
- Sydney
in Adelaide
in Adelaide
in Adelaide
in Adelaide
in Brisbane
in Brisbane
in Brisbane
in Brisbane
in Canberra–Queanbeyan
in Canberra–Queanbeyan
in Canberra–Queanbeyan
in Canberra–Queanbeyan
in Gold Coast–Tweed Heads
in Gold Coast–Tweed Heads
in Gold Coast–Tweed Heads
in Gold Coast–Tweed Heads
in Melbourne
in Melbourne
in Melbourne
in Melbourne
in Perth
in Perth
in Perth
in Perth
in Sydney
in Sydney
in Sydney
in Sydney
5G Experience
National Analysis
Optus retains the 5G Video Experience award outright with a score of 77.5 points on a 100-point scale, leading second-placed Telstra by less than one point (77.2), while Vodafone ranks third with 76.6 points. All operators place in the Very Good (68-78) category.
Definitions
5G Video Experience quantifies the quality of mobile video experienced by Opensignal users on real-world video streams when they were connected to 5G. The metric is based on an International Telecommunication Union (ITU) approach, built upon detailed studies which have derived a relationship between technical parameters, including picture quality, video loading time and stall rate, with the perceived video experience as reported by real people. To calculate 5G Video Experience, we are directly measuring video streams from end-user devices and using this ITU approach to quantify the video experience observed by our users on each operator’s 5G network on a scale from 0 to 100. The videos tested include a mixture of resolutions — including Full HD (FHD) and 4K / Ultra HD (UHD) — and are streamed directly from the world’s largest video content providers.
National Analysis
Optus retains the 5G Games Experience award outright with 88.6 points, leading second-placed Vodafone by one point, while Telstra ranks third. All operators place in the Excellent (85 or above) category.
Definitions
5G Games Experience measures how mobile users experience real-time multiplayer mobile gaming on an operator's 5G network. It analyzes how our users’ multiplayer mobile gaming experience was affected by mobile network conditions including latency, packet loss and jitter. 5G Games Experience for each operator is calculated on a scale from 0 to 100.
5G Games Experience quantifies the experience when playing real-time multiplayer mobile games on mobile devices connected to servers located around the world. The approach is built on several years of research quantifying the relationship between technical network parameters and the gaming experience as reported by real mobile users. These parameters include latency (round trip time), jitter (variability of latency) and packet loss (the proportion of data packets that never reach their destination). Additionally, it considers multiple genres of multiplayer mobile games to measure the average sensitivity to network conditions. The games tested include some of the most popular real-time multiplayer mobile games (such as Fortnite, Pro Evolution Soccer and Arena of Valor) played around the world. Calculating 5G Games Experience starts with measuring the end-to-end experience from users’ devices to internet end-points that host real games.
National Analysis
Optus retains the 5G Download Speed award outright with 199.9Mbps, leading Telstra by 28Mbps, while Vodafone ranks third.
Definitions
5G Download Speed shows the average download speed experienced by Opensignal users across an operator’s 5G network. 5G Download Speed for each operator is calculated in Mbps (Megabits per second).
National Analysis
Vodafone retains the 5G Upload Speed award outright with 15.6Mbps, leading Telstra and Optus by 2Mbps.
Definitions
5G Upload Speed measures the average upload speeds experienced by Opensignal users across an operator’s 5G network. 5G Upload Speed for each operator is calculated in Mbps (Megabits per second).
City Analysis
City Analysis Summary: Australia, Mobile Network Experience Report, May 2026
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A-I
- Adelaide
- Brisbane
- Canberra–Queanbeyan
- Gold Coast–Tweed Heads
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J-R
- Melbourne
- Perth
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S-Z
- Sydney
in Adelaide
in Adelaide
in Adelaide
in Adelaide
in Brisbane
in Brisbane
in Brisbane
in Brisbane
in Canberra–Queanbeyan
in Canberra–Queanbeyan
in Canberra–Queanbeyan
in Canberra–Queanbeyan
in Gold Coast–Tweed Heads
in Gold Coast–Tweed Heads
in Gold Coast–Tweed Heads
in Gold Coast–Tweed Heads
in Melbourne
in Melbourne
in Melbourne
in Melbourne
in Perth
in Perth
in Perth
in Perth
in Sydney
in Sydney
in Sydney
in Sydney
Coverage
National Analysis
Telstra retains the Coverage Experience award outright, leading Optus and Vodafone.
Definitions
The Opensignal Coverage Experience metric measures the extent of mobile networks in the places people live, work and travel. The metric represents the experience users receive as they travel around areas where they would reasonably expect to find coverage.
Traditional coverage metrics typically estimate either a percentage of land area covered, or a percentage of population covered; often neither will be an accurate measurement of the true user expectation and experience. In many markets there are areas where neither population density nor geographic area reflect the importance of coverage to users. For example, in a large mountain range most users will not expect coverage in the wilderness, but poor coverage in the relatively small area of a ski resort is critical for the enjoyment of a holiday. Estimates based purely on population give undue significance to coverage in the most densely populated areas.
Coverage Experience measures geographic coverage of populated areas and therefore more accurately reflects the coverage expectations and experience of typical users. It can give a result that is somewhat different to traditional estimates based on either geographic or population measures. The metric uses a scale from 0 to 10.
National Analysis
Telstra retains the 5G Coverage Experience award outright, maintaining a clear lead over Optus and Vodafone.
Definitions
The Opensignal Coverage Experience metric measures the extent of mobile networks in the places people live, work and travel. The metric represents the experience users receive as they travel around areas where they would reasonably expect to find coverage.
Traditional coverage metrics typically estimate either a percentage of land area covered, or a percentage of population covered; often neither will be an accurate measurement of the true user expectation and experience. In many markets there are areas where neither population density nor geographic area reflect the importance of coverage to users. For example, in a large mountain range most users will not expect coverage in the wilderness, but poor coverage in the relatively small area of a ski resort is critical for the enjoyment of a holiday. Estimates based purely on population give undue significance to coverage in the most densely populated areas.
Coverage Experience measures geographic coverage of populated areas and therefore more accurately reflects the coverage expectations and experience of typical users. It can give a result that is somewhat different to traditional estimates based on either geographic or population measures. The metric uses a scale from 0 to 10.
5G Coverage Experience shows the proportion of places Opensignal users with a 5G device and a 5G subscription had an active 5G connection.
National Analysis
Optus and Vodafone jointly win the Time on Network award with identical scores of 99.4%, ahead of Telstra.
Definitions
Our time on network and availability metrics are not measures of a network’s geographical extent. They won’t tell you whether you are likely to get a signal if you plan to visit a remote rural or nearly uninhabited region. Instead, they measure what proportion of time people have a network connection, in the places they most commonly frequent — something often missed by traditional coverage metrics. Looking at when users have a connection rather than where, provides us with a more precise reflection of the true user experience.
We also keep track of the instances that leave mobile users most frustrated: when there is no signal to connect to at all. The most common dead zones users struggle with occur indoors. As most of our time on network data is collected indoors (as that’s where users spend most of their time), we’re particularly astute at detecting areas of zero signal.
Our time on network and availability metrics take a user-centric, time-based approach that complements the user-centric and geographical-based methodology used by our reach metrics.
Time on Network shows the proportion of time all Opensignal users on an operator’s network had either a 3G, 4G or 5G connection.
National Analysis
Vodafone wins the 5G Availability award outright with 85.7%, ahead of Telstra and Optus.
Definitions
Our time on network and availability metrics are not measures of a network’s geographical extent. They won’t tell you whether you are likely to get a signal if you plan to visit a remote rural or nearly uninhabited region. Instead, they measure what proportion of time people have a network connection, in the places they most commonly frequent — something often missed by traditional coverage metrics. Looking at when users have a connection rather than where, provides us with a more precise reflection of the true user experience.
We also keep track of the instances that leave mobile users most frustrated: when there is no signal to connect to at all. The most common dead zones users struggle with occur indoors. As most of our time on network data is collected indoors (as that’s where users spend most of their time), we’re particularly astute at detecting areas of zero signal.
Our time on network and availability metrics take a user-centric, time-based approach that complements the user-centric and geographical-based methodology used by our reach metrics.
5G Availability shows the proportion of time Opensignal users with a 5G device and a 5G subscription had a 5G connection, whether or not it was used.
City Analysis
City Analysis Summary: Australia, Mobile Network Experience Report, May 2026
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A-I
- Adelaide
- Brisbane
- Canberra–Queanbeyan
- Gold Coast–Tweed Heads
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J-R
- Melbourne
- Perth
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S-Z
- Sydney
in Adelaide
in Adelaide
in Brisbane
in Brisbane
in Canberra–Queanbeyan
in Canberra–Queanbeyan
in Gold Coast–Tweed Heads
in Gold Coast–Tweed Heads
in Melbourne
in Melbourne
in Perth
in Perth
in Sydney
in Sydney
Consistency
National Analysis
Vodafone wins the Consistent Quality award outright with a score of 85%, ahead of Optus and Telstra.
Definitions
Consistent Quality measures if the network is sufficient to support common mobile application requirements at a level that is ‘good enough’ for users to maintain (or complete) various typical tasks on their devices.
We combine different experience indicators such as download throughput, upload throughput, latency, jitter, packet discard, and time to first byte to calculate Consistent Quality. These components are evaluated against thresholds recommended by various more demanding common applications used for a range of common tasks.
To calculate the metric value, the proportion of tests that pass the requirements of Consistent Quality is multiplied by the test success ratio, which is the proportion of completed tests to all tests conducted. Tests that pass indicate that activities such as video calling, uploading an image to social media, or using smart home applications will be possible without noticeable lag or slowdown.
National Analysis
Optus and Vodafone jointly win the Reliability Experience award, ahead of Telstra, with both operators showing strong improvements since the previous report.
Definitions
Opensignal’s Reliability Experience measures the ability of Opensignal users to connect to and successfully complete (basic) tasks on communication service providers’ (CSP) networks. It analyzes how much Opensignal users’ experience is affected by the radio access and core network, along with issues that prevent them from connecting to the internet even if they have a connection to their CSP’s network. It also factors in users’ ability to successfully use lower performance applications including SD video, over-the-top voice calls and web browsing.
City Analysis
City Analysis Summary: Australia, Mobile Network Experience Report, May 2026
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A-I
- Adelaide
- Brisbane
- Canberra–Queanbeyan
- Gold Coast–Tweed Heads
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J-R
- Melbourne
- Perth
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S-Z
- Sydney
in Adelaide
in Adelaide
in Brisbane
in Brisbane
in Canberra–Queanbeyan
in Canberra–Queanbeyan
in Gold Coast–Tweed Heads
in Gold Coast–Tweed Heads
in Melbourne
in Melbourne
in Perth
in Perth
in Sydney
in Sydney
Related Analysis
Our Methodology
Collecting billions of individual measurements daily from over 100 million devices globally, Opensignal independently analyzes mobile and broadband user experience on every major network operator around the globe.
About Opensignal
Opensignal is the leading global provider of independent insights into consumers' connectivity experiences and choice of carrier. Our proprietary insights into mobile and broadband networks give operators the solutions they need to profitably compete and win, from executive level scorecards and public validation to pin-point level engineering analytics and consumer decision dynamics.
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Confidence Intervals
For every metric we calculate statistical confidence intervals indicated on our graphs. When confidence intervals overlap, our measured results are too close to declare a winner. In those cases, we show a statistical draw. For this reason, some metrics have multiple operator winners.
In our bar graphs we represent confidence intervals as boundaries on either sides of graph bars.
In our supporting-metric charts we show confidence intervals as +/- numerical values.
Why confidence intervals are vital in analyzing mobile network experience