<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Australia's three largest phone providers will soon hit </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmbzMVO1bys" rel="" target="_blank" title="mobile customers with monthly price hikes."><span>mobile customers with monthly price hikes.</span></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Telco giants Optus, </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/telstra-profit-financial-year-2000-jobs-cut/d0e5e833-887b-4829-ad7f-6ad8c9ac9b10" rel="" target="_blank" title="Telstra"><span>Telstra</span></a><span> and Vodafone have simultaneously informed customers of fresh price increases on certain mobile plans by up to $5 per month.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The price changes have caught the attention of the consumer watchdog as Australians battle an </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/cost-of-living" rel="" target="_blank" title="ongoing cost of living crisis."><span>ongoing cost of living crisis.</span></a></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>LIVE UPDATES:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-iran-war-live-updates-april-7-donald-trump-latest-world-news-headlines-australian-fuel-price-and-supply/0d1a8d3f-5731-407e-8e1e-443d7ebbc556" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Donald Trump says Iran wants him to 'keep bombing'</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/ben-roberts-smith-full-timeline-from-war-crime-allegations-to-arrest/95ab7cfb-0bb4-4dc0-ae79-25e2a5552ac0" rel="" target="" title="How a five-year investigation led to Ben Roberts-Smith's arrest at Sydney Airport"><strong><span>How a five-year investigation led to Ben Roberts-Smith's arrest at Sydney Airport</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Telstra was the first cab off the rank to announce a new pricing structure, with increases scheduled for most post-paid and pre-paid mobile plans.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Impacted Telstra post-paid customers will fork out an extra $4 per month, with a basic 50GB plan jumping from $70 to $74.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/mobile-phone-plan-price-increases-telstra-optus-vodafone/d2a5fd9e-a1d9-423a-808d-4b268e3fc550" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The price of premium post-paid plans will not change.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Meanwhile, pre-paid mobile customers will pay another $5 per month – but with the offer of extra data allowances.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>This will increase the cost of a basic 25GB plan from $49 to $54 per month.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Telstra's price increases will be in effect from May 5, marking the telco's second price rise in less than a year.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"In addition, eligible concession card holders will receive a 10% discount on any in-market Upfront postpaid mobile plan (excluding the Access plan) from 1 July 2026," a Telstra spokesperson said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This is a significant improvement as previously concession discounts have been limited to one specific plan. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span> "We know our customers are doing more on our network than ever, and we're investing so we can deliver the best experience available. That includes launching new technologies like satellite-to-mobile, upgrading to the most advanced version of 5G in more locations, improving resiliency, and growing coverage where we can." </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Optus has followed suit with similar markups for three different mobile plans.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>All three of the plans will be an exta $5 per month.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The telco company's Small Choice Plus Plan will now be $60 per month, up from $55, with the addition of 10GB of data.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Medium Choice Plus Plan will be $70 per month with an extra 40GB of data, while the Large Choice Plus Plan will now cost $90 per month, with 80GB more data.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Optus' price hikes will kick in from May 18.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We are making significant, ongoing investments in our network to improve coverage, speed and resilience, while also strengthening the service and support we provide to customers," a spokesperson for Optus said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Changes to pricing on some plans supports this work."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It is second time Optus has increased prices in the past 12 months.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>On average, impacted Optus customers are paying an extra 12 per cent for their monthly phone plans.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/australian-army-reservist-charged-after-allegedly-fighting-in-ukraine/382b6d47-cd3e-4327-a591-020b5aada8dc" target="_blank"><strong><span>Army reservist charged after allegedly travelling to Ukraine to fight</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The majority of Vodafone's pre-paid mobile plans will be hit with price hikes too.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Vodafone will charge customers on a handful different SIM plans between $1 and $4 more per month.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The network's $45 28-day SIM will now cost $50 per month, with an extra 5GB of data.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Meanwhile, Vodafone's 220GB SIM will be $30 more for a 12-month plan, along with 30GB more data.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The price hikes impact seven different pre-paid SIM plans.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>These changes will be effective from April 5.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Vodafone was contacted for comment.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A spokesperson for the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said it was watching mobile plan price increases closely.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The ACCC has observed price increases of mobile plans in recent years and is concerned about the impact that has on consumers, especially those relying on lower-cost plans who are disproportionately affected," a spokesperson told </span><a href="https://www.nine.com.au/" rel="" target="_blank" title="Nine.com.au"><span>Nine.com.au</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It is understood that some price increases have been accompanied by expanded data inclusions.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"However, ACCC reporting shows that consumers do not generally use all their data inclusions and may not value additional data.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We encourage consumers to actively compare mobile plans and reassess their needs, including data usage, as there are a range of plans and offers available."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>