Telephone

Will Your Phone Work In Australia?

Check with your phone company before bringing your phone to Australia.

Australian mobile phones (cell phones) rely on 2nd Generation (2G) technology and 3rd Generation (3G) technology, also referred to as CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) and WCDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access).

Australian mobile phones are dual band phones, and operate at both the 900MHz and 1800 MHz spectrum. They use the GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) European standard, and take a SIM card (Subscriber Identity Module).See Picture. Australia does not use analogue or AMPS (Advanced Mobile Phone Service) technology.

You may use your phone with your service provider in your home country if you set up international roaming. This can be very expensive, and you might be better buying a new SIM card or phone when you arrive.

A new mobile phone and SIM card can be bought from many places quite cheaply. Some phones are pre-paid, which means you purchase credit to put on the phone before use, and some phones are locked on a contract, usually for up to 2 years. Ask about different options and decide which one is best for you.

Phoning Home

You can call internationally quite cheaply by using a calling card. Many different companies make these calling cards. You can often buy one from a supermarket, service station (petrol station) or airport. You must call the phone number and key in the code on the calling card before dialling the number. Ask which card is best for you when you buy it.