Boost Mobile

Boost Mobile, prepaid mobile on the Telstra network

Boost Mobile is a Telstra brand operating in Australia with a prepaid mobile model. Its catalogue is built around SIM and eSIM cards with upfront recharges, so customers know their spend before signing up and are not tied to a lock-in contract. The company presents itself as a provider of SIM-only plans with unlimited standard national calls and texts, unlimited standard international calls and a monthly data allowance.

Plans, expiry periods and recharges

The local offering is organised into three expiry periods: 28 days, 6 months and 12 months. The 28-day and long-expiry plans include unlimited standard national calls and texts. Some plans let you roll over unused data to the next recharge, provided the recharge is made before expiry and is for $28, $39, $49, $59 or $74. The site listed occasional promotions on new activations and for online purchases only, such as a $39 SIM for $13 with 28-day expiry, and a $300 SIM for $265 with 12-month expiry; the first recharge is included in the SIM and the discount does not apply to subsequent recharges.

Included international calls

The $39 to $74 recharge and SIM packs include unlimited standard international calls to twenty destinations, including Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Japan, Malaysia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States and Vietnam. That list is supplemented by 300 minutes of standard calls to another thirty destinations, including Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Chile, Colombia, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Kuwait, Mexico, Nepal, Norway, Pakistan, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden and the UAE, plus 300 standard texts to international destinations. The $180 to $365 packs increase those minutes and texts to 3,600.

eSIM, number portability and roaming

eSIM connection is managed exclusively through the My Boost Mobile app: users check device compatibility and buy the plan from the app, without waiting for a physical SIM to arrive. The company lets you keep your number from another provider through the activation process. For overseas travel it offers a $40 roaming pack with 14-day expiry covering 42 countries, presented on the site as an option for less than $3 a day. International roaming plans are structured in 3, 7 and 14-day expiry periods.

Refurbished devices

Alongside the plans, the store sells refurbished devices with a twelve-month warranty, free express delivery and an included $39 SIM with 28-day expiry, all for use in Australia.

Coverage, speed and terms of use

The network used is Telstra's prepaid network, which the company describes as having the widest coverage in Australia. 5G is rolled out in selected areas and requires a compatible device; outside those areas the service automatically switches to available 4G. Some plans apply download speed limits on 4G and 5G. Unlimited national calls and texts cover standard national numbers and exclude international numbers, premium numbers, operator-assisted calls, call forwarding and use overseas, and are governed by the company's FairPlay policy.

Customer service and support

As a Telstra brand, Boost Mobile customers have access to Telstra Limited's support resources and specialist teams. These include flexible payment assistance options to help stay connected in times of financial hardship and a support programme for people affected by domestic and family violence.