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.



Girl with disappointed expression using laptop

Belong adds speed caps to all NBN plans

Posted by September 23rd 2022

For Australians looking for an affordable alternative to the big-name telcos, Belong has become a standout provider in the NBN space. But if you're currently on a Belong NBN plan - or considering switching to …



Young woman using laptop to video chat

Optus tops ACCC’s fastest ever NBN speed report

Posted by October 14th 2022

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has released its 11th report into real-world NBN performance, tallying data on the biggest providers to see which telco offers the fastest speeds. This quarter's report covers the …


Moto G 5G Plus in blue

Moto G 5G Plus review: a budget-friendly 5G smartphone

Posted by February 22nd 2023

Australia's 5G rollout is well underway, and with thousands of Aussies now experiencing faster mobile speeds in serviced areas, it's no surprise that 5G connectivity has come to the mid-range phone market. The latest manufacturer …



Vodafone Prepaid Phone Plans

Posted by October 9th 2024

In a world of big iPhone plans and 24-month phone contracts, it's easy to assume that the major telcos have forgotten about prepaid mobile. However, big-name provider Vodafone has put effort into revamping its prepaid options, recognising that there's …


Young woman with phone wearing green dress and red beret

TPG-owned Felix Mobile goes live, offers ‘endless’ SIM-only plans

Posted by September 5th 2023

Sustainable and online-only telco Felix Mobile is officially live in Australia, marking TPG and Vodafone's first combined move into the competitive low-cost SIM-only market. With a focus on green-friendly values and a single, simple plan, Felix …


IInet and TPG compared

TPG vs iiNet: Product comparison

Posted by January 19th 2024

TPG now owns iiNet, but both offer competitive ADSL and NBN plans starting from just $30. Find out which one reigns supreme in Canstar Blue’s review.