• MVNO using the Optus 3G network
• Network covers 97% of Australians
• Simple month-to-month and pre-paid mobile plans
TPG Mobile offers a range of postpaid and pre-paid mobile plans. As of the end of 2011, TPG does not offer handsets but this may change in the future.
Although best known for its ADSL2+ plans, TPG has been offering mobile phone plans for just over three years and was recently voted Best Value Mobile Phone Service in 2011 by CHOICE members.
Pros
• Cheap cap plans with plenty of data and calls included
• Uses Optus network, which covers 97% of Australians
• Some plans include international calls
Cons
• Do not offer subsidised handsets
• Coverage not as wide as Telstra
History
Total Peripherals Group was established in 1992 as an IT company, which later offered internet services. TPG listed on the stock exchange in 2001 and merged with telecommunications provider SP Telemedia in 2008, joining the brand with Soul Mobile. Following the merger, the company became TPG Telecom.
In late 2008, the new company launched TPG Mobile and Soul mobile subscribers have since been migrated to the new service.
TPG was the first to offer SIM-only, no-contract mobile plans, removing the handset subsidy that came with most other plans.
In 2011, TPG further improved its cap plans with the inclusion of 13/18 numbers and some international calls.
Marketplace
In 2011, TPG recorded revenues of $49.2 million from its 201,000 mobile subscribers. This is actually a fall from 2009, when 219,000 mobile customers were subscribed to the Soul Mobile brand.
Future plans and development
TPG does not reveal much about its future plans, other than the fact that it will continue to deliver the best possible value for its customers.