Keeping you connected
Here's some frequently asked questions about your iiNet SIM Only mobile plan.
Sometimes when you’re at home or work, walls or nearby buildings can interfere with your mobile coverage. Wi-Fi Calling could help keep you connected.
When you bring you own device to use with iiNet, you'll need to check it's an approved device and compatible with our network.
Frequently asked questions
Our coverage map uses advanced prediction tools to provide results that are accurate as possible based on the information we have available. We have not individually tested every location for coverage. This means there may be differences between predicted and actual coverage available. These differences are unavoidable due to the nature of radio-based mobile networks and the unlimited variations in environment at a specific location. For example, things like geographic features such as hills and mountains, local building density, new development sites, building materials and physical structures can block mobile signals and impact mobile reception.
The type of coverage you can expect can depend on whether you use your device indoors or outdoors.
Indoor coverage
Indoor coverage is highly variable, and the coverage checker aims to provide an indication of indoor coverage availability. Coverage levels can be reduced indoors due to higher mobile signal loss inside, compared with outside. Predicted indoor coverage factors in a building penetration loss model, however there may be instances where indoor coverage is predicted, but your device will not work. Things like urban density, building materials, physical structures, and window finishings can impact the level of coverage you might get indoors. Building basements, inside lifts, underground car parks and upper levels of very tall buildings are common places where you may experience less coverage.
Outdoor coverage
The coverage checker aims to provide an indication of outdoor coverage availability. Predicted outdoor coverage factors in the local environment of the area. However, because we have not individually tested every location, there may be instances where outdoor coverage is predicted but your device will not work. Things like natural landscapes, trees, topography and how the device is held can impact the level of coverage you might get outdoors.
Whether you will connect to the 5G or 4G network will depend on your device, location and type of use (calls, SMS or data). Your device will use the 4G network (if available) when you are not in a 5G coverage area or when 5G coverage is unavailable, and/or you don't have a 5G approved device and a plan with 5G access.
Additionally, how you use your device (calls, SMS or data) may also impact which network you use. For example, depending on your device, you may make calls using the 4G network, and use data on the 5G network, even in areas with 5G coverage and with a plan with 5G access.
To access our 5G network, you'll need a 5G-approved device, to be in a 5G coverage area and on an eligible mobile plan. At iiNet, our eligible plans are our Medium and Large SIM Only plans.
If your device doesn’t support 5G, you can still connect to our 4G network (if available). You can also consider upgrading to a 5G-compatible device to access the 5G network in 5G coverage areas and you will also need a plan with 5G access.
iiNet’s SIM Only plans run on the Vodafone network. Vodafone is working to roll-out 5G coverage in selected areas across the most populated parts of Australia. While we continue to expand our 5G network, you can still connect to our 4G network (where available).
You can find information on scheduled maintenance upgrades and outages in your local area by using our network status checker.
We closed our 3G network in early 2024. If you’re a customer reliant on the 3G network, you’ll need to upgrade to a device compatible with our 4G or 5G networks.
The predicted coverage results from the coverage checker should be taken as a guide only. While we try to ensure accuracy, we have not individually tested every location for coverage. This means there may be some differences between the predicted and actual coverage available. Factors such as building materials and physical structures (including but not limited to basements, lifts, underground car parks and window finishings), environmental and local conditions (including but not limited to natural landscapes, trees, and topography), new development sites, urban density, device and software, download source and network traffic may impact your experience. Your intended use (calls, SMS or data) and your specific device may determine whether you can access our 5G or 4G network (when available).
5G/4G network: iiNet uses the Vodafone 5G/4G network. Vodafone's 5G network is progressively being rolled out to selected areas of the most populated parts of Australia. To access the 5G network, you will need a 5G-approved device and to be in a 5G coverage area with an eligible phone plan with 5G access. When not in a 5G coverage area, or when 5G is unavailable, your 5G-approved device will use our 4G network (if available). If you do not have a 5G-approved device, you can access our 4G network (if available) with your eligible phone plan, when in a 4G coverage area. If your phone plan provides 4G access only, you will only have access to the 4G network (if available), and you will not have access to the 5G network, even in 5G coverage areas. iiNet SIM Only mobile plans are speed capped, which means there may be maximum potential speeds that are available to you when using both the 5G and 4G networks. Please check the details specific to your plan for more information about the specific caps which may apply. The actual network speed you experience may be slower and will vary depending on various factors including your device, location, available bandwidth and source of download.
If you’re using a VPN, this could prevent the network coverage checker from getting an accurate reading on your location, which may impact the accuracy of your results. We recommend turning off your VPN while using the network coverage checker.
Predicted network coverage is generally applicable for consumers.