Vodafone’s regional expansion dials up $341m in customer value, can save regional customers up to $182 a year

26 May 2026: Australians say Vodafone’s expanded regional mobile network is delivering stronger signal, safer travel and real savings with new economic analysis finding its expansion is worth more than $340 million a year to customers.

The Connectivity is Calling report, released today by Vodafone and Deloitte Access Economics, finds last year’s doubling of Vodafone’s mobile coverage has delivered benefits that go well beyond the price of a monthly phone plan, from lower mobile bills and greater competition to improved safety and access to essential services.

The Deloitte Access Economics analysis found Vodafone customers say the expanded mobile network is valued at about $90 a year on top of what they already pay, reflecting the everyday benefit people place on a reliable network, whether they’re on the road, accessing services online or staying connected when it matters most.

The report also shows the expansion is reshaping competition, with an estimated 29 per cent increase in the monthly volume of connections switching from a competitor to Vodafone.

Customers who switched from another provider report an even higher benefit gained from price savings, additional service quality, and plan inclusions.

“For too long, regional Australians have had fewer choices when it comes to mobile,” said Vodafone Acting Group Executive, Consumer, James Gully.

“This report shows Vodafone’s expanded network is delivering better value, more choice and real savings, while helping communities stay productive and connected.

“Australians no longer need to feel like they’re paying a connectivity tax just to stay connected. Vodafone’s expanded regional network is helping close the urban–regional connectivity gap, giving customers a reliable mobile service where they live, work and travel.”

More choice is delivering real savings for regional families:

When it comes to phone bills, increased competition is also putting real dollars back into people’s hip pockets. Some regional Australians are cashing in after making the switch to Vodafone, pocketing savings of up to $182 a year or roughly $15 extra every month compared to their previous telco. For households with multiple mobile plans, that’s just the starting point with Vodafone’s bundled discounts helping those savings add up even faster.

Importantly, Vodafone’s network expansion is not just about the immediate savings. Switching is delivering more for customers, with 40 per cent upgrading their data allowances and 23 per cent moving for greater flexibility and features.

What’s changed in the regional network:

One year after Vodafone more than doubled its mobile footprint, expanding coverage from around 400,000 square kilometres to more than one million square kilometres, the expansion is now delivering measurable improvements in network performance for regional Australians.

Mobile download speeds for regional Vodafone customers have increased by an average of 350 per cent since the network expansion, supporting faster everyday tasks such as streaming, video calls and remote work, and helping people rely on their mobile connection across a wider range of regional locations.

Vodafone’s regional expansion isn’t just boosting speed and coverage, it is helping bring Optus’ 5G rollout forward by up to two years and accelerating vital connectivity upgrades across the bush.

Vodafone’s continued investment in the regional mobile network is driving a rapid expansion to 1,500 regional 5G sites by 2028, with that figure expected to hit more than 2,400 by 2031.

Better connectivity supporting travel and everyday safety:

Beyond bill savings, Deloitte Access Economics’ research links improved regional connectivity to greater confidence when travelling and more reliable access to help when it’s needed.

Around 42 per cent of surveyed Vodafone customers say improved coverage has encouraged them to get out and explore more.

Around 60 per cent of Vodafone customers say they feel more confident navigating regional areas, while 55 per cent feel safer staying connected with friends and family.

Reliable signal is also acting as a lifeline, with 71 per cent of Vodafone customers saying the expanded mobile connectivity improves safety in emergencies.

Benefits of better connection:

Vodafone’s expanded network coverage has helped regional communities stay more connected and feel safer. Vodafone’s regional customers now spend 25 per cent less time without signal and experience 20 per cent less dropouts, making it easier to stay connected at home and on the move.

That stronger connection is bringing people closer together, with calls increasing by 24 per cent and 47 per cent of Vodafone customers speaking with friends and family more often.

More reliable access to support networks is also improving perceptions of safety, with around a third (35 per cent) of regional Vodafone customers saying they feel safer thanks to better connection to family and friends.

The Connectivity is Calling Report revealed the top regions which have benefitted from the increased connectivity:

Greater regional access to essential services:

Digital service access is particularly important for people in regional areas who face additional barriers to access in-person services, including distance, time, travel costs and lack of public transport.

Since Vodafone’s network expansion, more than a third of users in newly covered areas say they are engaging more online, with increased use of banking (24 per cent), work tools (21 per cent) and streaming services (23 per cent) highlighting a shift toward more connected, digital lifestyles.

That shift is backed by growth in data use, with downloads among regional Vodafone customers surging 90 per cent nationwide. In the Northern Territory, data usage jumped 188 per cent in a year, demonstrating how the network expansion has helped improve areas where digital access has historically lagged.

For additional network coverage details across Australia, please use Vodafone’s coverage
checking tool via https://www.vodafone.com.au/network/coverage-checker.

To read the full Connectivity is Calling: The economic and social benefits of expanded regional network coverage report,
visit: www.vodafone.com.au/documents/media/vodafone-multimedia.pdf