Southern Phone vs Exetel - Which is the best NBN internet provider?
Exetel is generally seen as a no-frills, performance-focused NBN provider, often appealing to those who prioritise raw speed and don't mind a more hands-off customer service experience. On the other hand, Southern Phone, being government-owned and focused on regional Australia, tends to be more about accessible, budget-friendly plans and a more personal touch, with reviews often highlighting their local support. Exetel suits power users, while Southern Phone is often the choice for value and regional connectivity.
NBN plans from $80.00/mth · Partner
Southern Phone and Exetel are both reputable broadband internet providers in Australia.
Deciding which NBN or wireless internet company to sign up to is not an easy task. To make this process easier we have provided a side by side comparison of Southern Phone and Exetel internet providers in the table below.
Disclaimer: All the data in the table is based on the opinions of people who have submitted reviews to this site over the last 24 months. We screen the reviews very thoroughly to ensure only accurate reviews get through. Please do your own research.
| Criteria | Southern Phone | Exetel |
|---|---|---|
| About |
 |
 Partner |
| Southern Phone Company is owned by AGL and is one of the largest providers of fixed line, mobile and Internet communications services in regional Australia. | Exetel launched its first broadband service in 2004 and built a name as a low-cost, no-frills ISP. Since 2021 it has been owned by ASX-listed Superloop, which runs the network behind it, while Exetel continues as its own value-focused brand. | |
| Go to Southern Phone | Go to Exetel | |
| Overall Rating | [Not enough reviews] | [Not enough reviews] |
| Recommended | [Not enough reviews] | [Not enough reviews] |
| Reliability | [Not enough reviews] | [Not enough reviews] |
| Customer Service | [Not enough reviews] | [Not enough reviews] |
| Value for Money | [Not enough reviews] | [Not enough reviews] |
| Technical Support | [Not enough reviews] | [Not enough reviews] |
| Australian based technical support | [Not enough reviews] | [Not enough reviews] |
| Call Centre Location | [Not enough reviews] | [Not enough reviews] |
| Services Offered | [Not enough reviews] | [Not enough reviews] |
| Cost of 25Mbps NBN Plan with unlimited data |
Southern Phone - Satellite Small: 25Mbps, unlimited data for $55 per month. Southern Phone - Basic: 25Mbps, unlimited data for $59 per month. |
|
| Cost of 50Mbps NBN Plan with unlimited data |
Southern Phone - Satellite Medium: 50Mbps, unlimited data for $70 per month. Southern Phone - Standard: 50Mbps, unlimited data for $79 per month. |
|
| Cost of wireless broadband plan |
Southern Phone - Home Wireless (4G): 20Mbps, unlimited data for $60 per month. |
|
| Contact Details |
Southern Phone's phone number is: 13 14 64 and website is: southernphone.com.au |
Exetel's phone number is: 13 39 38 and website is: exetel.com.au |
| Read Reviews | Read reviews of Southern Phone. | Read reviews of Exetel. |
| Go to Southern Phone | Go to Exetel |
Southern Phone and Exetel NBN25 plans (25Mbps download speed)
|
Satellite Small
NBN - Sky Muster
25 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$55/mth | Go to site |
|
|
Basic
NBN - Fixed Line
25 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$59/mth | Go to site |
|
|
Basic
NBN - Fixed Line
25 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$59/mth
$45 for first 12 months |
Go to site |
Southern Phone and Exetel NBN50 plans (50Mbps download speed)
|
|
Satellite Medium
NBN - Sky Muster
50 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$70/mth | Go to site |
|
|
Standard
NBN - Fixed Line
50 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$79/mth | Go to site |
|
|
Standard
NBN - Fixed Line
50 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$79/mth
$59 for first 12 months |
Go to site |
Southern Phone and Exetel Ultrafast plans (>100Mbps download speed)
|
One Plan
NBN - Fixed Line
500 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$80/mth | Go to site |
|
|
Fast X
NBN - Fixed Line
500 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$89/mth | Go to site |
|
|
Fast X
NBN - Fixed Line
500 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$89/mth | Go to site |
|
|
Ultrafast
NBN - Fixed Line
860 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$95/mth | Go to site |
|
|
Satellite Large
NBN - Sky Muster
100 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$95/mth | Go to site |
|
|
Ultrafast
NBN - Fixed Line
860 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$95/mth
$85 for first 12 months |
Go to site |
Summary of Southern Phone and Exetel comparison
Please note that summary below is based on reviews submitted to this website and represents the views of the people who wrote the reviews.
- Overall: Exetel rates higher overall than Southern Phone does.
- Recommended: Exetel is more highly recommended than Southern Phone.
- Reliability: Southern Phone rates higher for reliability than Exetel does.
- Customer Service: Exetel rates higher for customer service than Southern Phone does.
- Value for Money: Exetel rates higher for value for money than Southern Phone does.
- Technical Support: Exetel rates higher for technical support than Southern Phone does.
How to decide between Southern Phone and Exetel? - next steps
- Read reviews of Southern Phone and Exetel to see what people think of these companies
- Visit the website of each company and do some of your own research - Southern Phone and Exetel
- Decide how fast your connection need to be and how much data you need then use our broadband plan finder to narrow down the list of plans and find the best plan that suits your budget
- Choose the plan that best suits your needs and budget. Remember, that you can easily change plans but changing broadband internet providers is more difficult so it is really important that you choose a solid internet provider.
Frequently asked questions about Southern Phone vs Exetel
Is Southern Phone better than Exetel?
Both Southern Phone and Exetel have fewer than 5 verified reviews on Oz Broadband Reviews, so we don't yet show aggregate ratings. Compare plans and prices in the tables above, or read the individual reviews on each company's page.
Which has better customer service, Southern Phone or Exetel?
Exetel scores 4.8 out of 5 on customer service vs Southern Phone's 3.7, based on verified reviews on Oz Broadband Reviews. If onshore support matters, Southern Phone's call centre is based in Australia and Exetel's is based in Australia and Sri Lanka.
What plans do Southern Phone and Exetel offer?
Southern Phone offers 12 NBN plans and 1 wireless plan. Exetel offers 1 NBN plan. See the full plan tables above for prices, speeds and data limits.
Where are Southern Phone and Exetel's call centres?
Southern Phone's customer support is based in Australia. Exetel's customer support is based in Australia and Sri Lanka. Call centre location can affect support hours and accent comprehension if onshore support is important to you.
How do I switch from Southern Phone to Exetel (or Exetel to Southern Phone)?
Switching NBN providers in Australia is straightforward. The new provider handles the transfer once you sign up and provide your address. There's usually no contract overlap if your current plan is month-to-month, but check for early termination fees on contracted plans. Phone numbers can usually be ported, and the service typically continues uninterrupted on the same NBN line.
What customers say
About Southern Phone
Cost of NBN has increased. Not happy.
You get what you pay for. Customer service is ok once you get onto somebody. However, the whole online account platform is difficult to navigate. Had a…
About Exetel
I switched from Optus to Exetel’s One Plan 500/50 and it has been one of the best decisions I’ve made. The entire setup process took less than two hours…
Problem on fibre to premise installation, nbn had to drill blockage or something. Internet speed is slower than previous connection.
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