ALDIMobile https://www.aldimobile.com.au is a mobile virtual network operator or MVNO running on the Telstra Next G network, as is Boost and MeU, as opposed to Amaysim or Yatango and others whose MVNOs are on the Optus network.

As a Telstra customer, ALDIMobile has virtually all the benefits of Telstra’s Next G network, which has the best 3.5G speeds and coverage across Australia.

Of course, Telstra still holds onto its 4G and 4GX networks, and won’t wholesale 4G until mid-2016, likely then still keeping 4GX to itself.

However, with Telstra’s 3.5G network still going strong, it’s still a powerful reason to use any MVNO on Telstra over one on the other networks, especially if you’re looking for the kind of prepaid flexibility that most MVNOs offer.

So, in amongst all the existing competition in the MVNO space comes ALDIMobile to shake things up even further by delivering even better value.

The company itself says it is ‘launching exciting upgrades to its suite of mobile offerings, including some of the lowest rates in the market,’ and it’s right.

The plans are ‘designed for heavy SMS and data users,’ and will clearly deliver on the promise that ‘the new value packs will offer customers added freedom to roam online, message and call friends and family at any time.’

The new plans launch on 23 September, with all plans upgraded.

The current line-up of plans includes the S value pack at $10, M at $20, L at $30, XL at $35, XXL at $45, along with a $16.50 data pack and a $30 data pack.

The new plans move the S pack to $15, leave the M pack as is, and lower the L value pack to $25. The cost of the $16.50 data pack is lowered to $15, the $30 Data pack goes from 3GB to 4GB data and a new $50 data pack with 6GB data and 90 days expiry.

All plans come with 30 day expiry - except the new $50 data pack listed just above.

The old S $10 pack delivered $10 credit good for 100 minutes or calls or 100 SMS messages, no data and free Aldi-to-Aldi calls and SMS.

This is replaced with the new S $15 value pack with up to 125 minutes of calls, a whopping 50,000 SMS and 250MB of data and free calls and SMS Aldi-to-Aldi.

The old L $30 pack had $65 credit for 650 min of calls or 650 SMS, the free Aldi to Aldi calls and SMS and 1.5GB data.

The new L $25 pack has up to 500 mins of calls, free weekend calls, a massive 50,000 SMS, has the same 1.5GB of data and free Aldi to Aldi calls and SMS.

The XL $35 plan goes from 1250 minutes of calls to a whopping 43,200 minutes of talk - enough for every minute of every hour of every day for 30 days, thus effectively unlimited, the same 50,000 SMS, the addition of 20,000 MMS, free Aldi-to-Aldi calls and SMS and the same 2.5GB of data but with the new inclusion of ‘bonus 500MB weekend data’.

The XXL $45 plan has the same 43,200 minute talk time, then same 50,000 SMS and 20,000 MMS and free Aldi-to-Aldi, but jumps from 4GB to 4.5GB and also adds bonus 500MB weekend data.

The $16.50 data pack for 1.5GB data has been reduced to $15. The $30 data pack goes from 3GB to 4GB, while the new $50 data pack delivers 6GB data over a very nifty 90 days.

ALDIMobile says its SIM cards cost $5 each, and are pre-loaded with $5 credit so its new customers have some pay as you go credit to use as soon as they activate the SIM.

There’s also an ALDIMobile app that ‘makes it easy to check the balance, history and expiration date of the Value Pack’ and through which customers ’can set their Value Pack to automatically recharge when it has expired, for added convenience.’

You can also add credit to the plans to make international calls, none of which are included in the plans, although most have more than enough data to get you going on Skype or a similar VoIP service.

ALDImobile also picked up Canstar Blue’s 2015 Most Satisfied Customers - Prepaid Mobile award, with these new prices and higher inclusions on all but the M plan set to make customers even happier.

Currently, the ALDIMobile site www.aldimobile.com.au shows its current, pre-12 September lineup of plans, but in just under a couple of weeks the new plans will go into action.

So… with the upgraded AldiMobile $35 and $45 plans throwing down the gauntlet at Boost, which offers 3GB of data and 1GB of data each Sunday that can only be used on a Sunday (and not rolled over), and Amaysim’s $44.90 plan that delivers 5GB of data, market competition and fantastic value value just keeps on heating up!