X

Kogan Mobile customers should find a new telco immediately

If you're a Kogan Mobile customer, you have no time to waste if you want to make a clean transition to a new network provider before your current account shuts down.

Seamus Byrne Editor, Australia & Asia
Seamus Byrne is CNET's Editor for Australia and Asia. At other times he'll be found messing with apps, watching TV, building LEGO, and rolling dice. Preferably all at the same time.
Seamus Byrne
2 min read

If you're a Kogan Mobile customer, you have no time to waste if you want to make a clean transition to a new network provider before your current account shuts down.

(Credit: Kogan)

With the news of Kogan Mobile being shuttered after wholesaler ISPOne entered administration, customers are left wondering exactly what they need to do to stay connected. The short answer: find a new plan today.

It doesn't matter how long remains on your prepaid plan. At some unspecified time in the next 60 days (it's a rolling process depending on where you sit in the customer database, and customers with no balance or a low balance will be the first to go), you will find yourself with little more than an emergency device. Friends will be able to reach you, but you'll have no data and just a few calls and a few texts (20 minutes and 20 SMSes, respectively).

There will also be a slower-than-usual process for actually shifting providers right now. Over 100,000 customers will be trying to find a new home, too, and the process of porting numbers happens like you're all standing in a queue. Get in the queue early to avoid being stuck in line for days or weeks.

As a prepaid customer, it is very easy to switch to a new telco provider. So the only question is: where do you want to go? You can always find something basic to move to first to just get out and get somewhere stable until you have time to make another, more detailed, decision on where to settle down next.

A quick dash across to Virgin Mobile, Amaysim, Boost Mobile, Vaya or even Aldi Mobile will get you started somewhere that offers a super-cheap option in their mix. Optus is providing sweeteners for migrating customers right now to also take advantage of the fallout. You can always dive in for its special deal and move along once the special rates dry up.

But whatever you do, decide quickly to stay connected as smoothly as possible.

It's a shame Kogan wasn't given the same lifeline that Aldi Mobile customers have received, and we can only speculate on why. Kogan has always worn the underdog badge with pride. Often that means the big dogs aren't interested in helping you stay in the game.