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.


OPPO A53 phones in mint and black

OPPO A53 review: a pretty phone with a great battery

Posted by October 17th 2022

A multi-time winner of Canstar Blue's Most Satisfied Customers award for smartphones, OPPO has risen from being a little-known challenger brand to an increasingly popular choice for Aussie phone users. OPPO offers a range of …


Young man using laptop against white background

NBN provider Superloop to acquire Exetel

Posted by June 8th 2021

Another Aussie telco sale is in the cards, with NBN provider Superloop announcing plans to acquire internet and mobile reseller Exetel. Superloop has officially confirmed its intent to nab the Australian-owned Exetel in what is set …


TPG NBN Plans & Prices

Posted by January 19th 2024

TPG has fast become one of the most popular home internet service providers in Australia. Behind Telstra, it’s become one of Australia’s largest telcos, thanks to its acquisition of iiNet and its subsidiaries (including Internode), …


Young man using phone against yellow wall

Optus hits one million 5G devices, turns on fast mmWave 5G

Posted by February 22nd 2023

Optus has hit a major 5G milestone, confirming today that it now has one million 5G-ready devices operating on its network. If that's not enough, the telco has also announced that its first-ever mmWave 5G …




Young woman in yellow jacket using smartphone outdoors

Optus raises mobile plan prices, but adds more data

Posted by February 22nd 2023

Optus has made sweeping changes to its Choice postpaid mobile plans, increasing the monthly cost but adding substantially more data. The key changes include bumping up all plan prices by $6 per month, but offering up …


LG Velvet 5G phones in various colours

LG to leave smartphone business by mid-2021

Posted by February 22nd 2023

Pour one out for LG Mobile: the electronics company has announced it's now calling time on its worldwide smartphone business. In a statement released over the Easter break, LG confirmed plans to close its mobile unit, …


Several mesh wifi units

What is the best mesh Wifi in Australia?

Posted by May 10th 2024

Reliable WiFi is a non-negotiable need for most Aussie households But if you're struggling to get a strong signal in every room of your home, simply switching broadband plans may not be enough to improve …


Happy young couple watching laptop on sofa

ACCC report: TPG beats Optus for fastest NBN speeds

Posted by May 27th 2022

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has released its new report on NBN speeds and performance, the first for 2021 and 12th quarterly report to date. Analysing the average download, upload and streaming-specific speeds …