Tara Donnelly

Tara Donnelly is Canstar Blue’s Utilities Editor, leading the team that focuses on energy, telecommunications and consumer technology. She has spent more than a decade covering these topics in Australia, the US and Canada, and has authored over 500 Canstar Blue articles. Her expertise has seen her appear in national media including 9 News, 7 News, Sunrise, the ABC , The Australian Financial Review, 4BC Radio and The Sydney Morning Herald. Tara has been nominated for multiple awards for her technology reporting, including Canstar Blue’s highly commended recognition for Best Consumer Technology Coverage in 2024. She 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. You can read more of Tara's published articles and follow Tara on LinkedIn.


Phone plans with Netflix. Phone showing Netflix logo

Phone plans with Netflix

Posted by February 28th 2025

Key points Telcos occasionally offer free or discounted streaming services, including Netflix as a mobile plan perk for new customers.  Customers can also get discounted Netflix streaming through Optus’ SubHub subscription platform. Some of the …



Elec meters

Electricity Meter Types Explained

Posted by March 27th 2025

Accumulation meters, interval meters, smart meters and more. Canstar Blue looks at types of electricity meters and how to read them.


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.




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 …