Tara Donnelly

Tara Donnelly is Canstar Blue’s Utilities Editor, leading the team that focuses on energy, telecommunications and consumer technology, across news, reviews and how-tos. Tara has spent more than a decade covering these topics in Australia, the US and Canada, which means she’s written about countless product launches and industry changes, including the rise of 5G, Australia’s ongoing NBN rollout, the recent years of energy price volatility and the rise of renewable energy sources. Tara also has long experience in writing within the comparison industry, giving her great insights into the information consumers want when determining which plan or device will best meet their needs, while time spent in the financial sector before turning her talent to content lets her crunch the numbers on price with ease. Tara leads the coverage of Canstar Blue’s ratings and awards for the internet and phone sectors and is an expert at advising consumers on how to use comparison tools to find the best power, internet or phone deal. Her expertise has seen her appear in national media including 9 News, 7 News, Sunrise, the ABC and The Sydney Morning Herald. Tara has a Bachelor of Communications from the University of Canberra and is passionate about simplifying complex subjects so consumers aren’t just informed, they’re connected and confident.


Woman with no internet connection

Why you have no internet connection and how to fix it

Posted by February 13th 2025

Getting a WiFi signal, but no internet connection? It’s a frustrating problem, but one that’s potentially easy to fix.  In this article, Canstar Blue explains why you have no internet connection and how to fix it. What …


SIM card types

SIM card sizes and types explained

Posted by February 11th 2025

The details of phone plans can be confusing, particularly finding the right SIM card to fit into your phone. We explain the different types of SIM cards.



Happy young woman using mobile phone

Expert Picks: Best Prepaid Mobile Plans (February 2025)

Posted by February 5th 2025

If you're looking to ward off bill shock and keep things flexible with a prepaid mobile plan, there's hundreds of options on the Aussie market to suit every user and budget. But sorting through what's …


Blue iPhone 16 Plus. Best value iPhone plans in Australia

Expert Picks: Best iPhone Plans (February 2025)

Posted by February 5th 2025

iPhones don't come cheap, but if you're absolutely set on a new Apple smartphone, you can still find a great phone plan deal. The newest iPhones are available on plans from Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone, …


Happy young woman using phone with pink background

Expert Picks: Best SIM-Only Mobile Plans (February 2025)

Posted by February 12th 2025

Choosing the best mobile plan is made possible by our expert Value Rank methodology, which places each product under the microscope, examining its price, plan inclusions, customer service and billing. Then we give each plan …




Young woman holding tablet and coffee

Home wireless broadband vs mobile broadband

Posted by February 4th 2025

Mobile broadband vs home wireless: the key points Home wireless and mobile broadband both use mobile networks to connect you to the internet.  Home wireless requires a modem that needs to be plugged into a …