Bundling Broadband and Phone Plans: Is It Worth It in Australia?
In 2026, the “home phone” has undergone a digital makeover. Gone are the days of copper wires and wall sockets; today, a landline is simply a feature of your NBN connection.While many Australians have gone “mobile-only,” bundling a home phone with your broadband can still be a smart financial move for certain households. Here is the 2026 breakdown.
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1. The Pros and Cons of Bundling in 2026
Bundling isn’t just about nostalgia; it’s about “stacking” value. Here is the current trade-off:
- The Pros:
- The “Penny Pincher” Special: Many 2026 providers like Superloop or TPG offer the phone line for $0 to $10 extra, which often includes unlimited national and mobile calls. This is significantly cheaper than a second mobile plan.
- The Backup Plan: If your mobile has poor reception inside your house, an NBN-based phone (VoIP) uses your Wi-Fi to provide crystal-clear calls.
- International Savings: If you call family overseas, home phone “International Packs” (around $10–$20) usually offer much better rates than standard mobile roaming or pay-as-you-go.
- The Cons:
- The Power Problem: Unlike old landlines, your NBN phone will not work during a power outage because your modem needs electricity to function.
- Hardware Hassles: You may need a specific modem with a “Phone” (VoIP) port, or an adapter like the Grandstream HT812.
2. Best Bundle Deals in 2026
In 2026, the best deals come from providers that integrate the phone service seamlessly into their apps.
Provider | NBN Speed | Phone Bundle Cost | Best Feature |
Aussie Broadband | Any Tier | $0 / month (PAYG) | Top-rated Australian support; great international rates. |
Telstra | Any Tier | Included | Unlimited calls to standard AU mobiles/landlines are baked into the plan. |
Superloop | Any Tier | $5 – $10 / month | “Bundle & Save” – get $5/mth off the total when you add a phone. |
AGL / Origin | Any Tier | $10 / month | Huge savings if you also bundle your Electricity and Gas. |
3. Are Home Phones Still Relevant?
By 2026, only about 10–12% of Australians still use a landline daily, but they remain relevant for three specific groups:
- The “Intergenerational” Home: For families with young children or seniors, a home phone provides a “communal” number that doesn’t rely on anyone’s personal mobile device being charged or nearby.
- The Regional Professional: In areas where 4G/5G mobile signals are weak, a fixed NBN phone is the only way to ensure 100% call reliability for business.
- The Emergency Backup: While mobiles are great, having a registered home phone helps emergency services (000) pinpoint your exact address instantly if you can’t speak.
2026 Pro Tip: If you want the number but not the hardware, ask your provider for a “Softphone” option. This allows you to receive your “home phone” calls on your laptop or smartphone app via the internet!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep my old home phone number from the 90s?
Yes! You can “port” your existing number to the NBN. Just make sure you don’t cancel your old service until the port is complete, or you might lose the number forever.
Does the home phone use up my NBN data?
Technically yes, but the amount is tiny. A one-hour phone call uses about 60MB to 100MB of data. On an “Unlimited” NBN plan, you could talk for 24 hours a day and never notice the difference.
