Telstra makes it quite easy to unlock your 4G modem. You need to contact Telstra for an unlock code – but make sure you have this information first.
- The IMEI number, which can typically be found in the battery compartment when you remove it, or by navigating to your modem’s homepage by entering the IP address (usually 192.168.0.1, but may differ for your specific device) and navigating to Advanced Settings then Device Information.
- Your 4G modem’s model number (for example, MF-90).
- You will also need a credit/debit card to pay the unlock fee (fees below).
Once you have all the information you need, follow these steps:
- Contact Telstra via phone at +61 2 9242 0570, or chat with them here.
- If you contact them via phone, respond to the voice prompt by saying, “Unlock device.” You will likely have to answer some questions to identify yourself, but your goal is to get transferred to Telstra’s Unlock team, so be sure to make that clear.
- Ask to unlock your 4G modem, and you’ll be told the fees, internal account number and bill number to pay it.
- Head over to Telstra’s Bill Pay web page and make the required unlock fee payment, and be sure to take note of your receipt number.
- Give the Telstra Unlock team representative the receipt number, and take note of the unlock code they give you.
- Disconnect your modem from the Internet and navigate to your modem’s homepage using the IP address. (In our experience, this works best if you remove your Telstra SIM card from your 4G modem and insert an invalid SIM card before navigating to the modem’s homepage.)
- Navigate to Advanced Settings > SIM Settings > Unlock Device,then enter the unlock code you got from Telstra.
That’s it. It’s a little fiddly, but you can call the Telstra team if you have any trouble.
Telstra 4G modem unlock fees
Fees depend on how long you’ve had your modem:
- If you’ve had your prepaid Telstra 4G modem for over 6 months, your unlock fee will be $27.50.
- If you’ve used your modem for less than 6 months or it hasn’t been activated in over 6 months, then you’ll likely be charged anywhere from $50 to $150. Telstra’s Unlock team will tell you exactly how much you have to pay to get your modem unlocked.
- And of course, if you have any outstanding payments on your modem, you will have to pay them off to unlock the device.
Why are Telstra 4G modems locked?
Telcos lock devices to their network so you keep buying their plans (and in fairness, customers often get a decent discount for getting a device with an active plan, which is where the telco recoups its costs).
But, since there are literally hundreds of great plans out there, it severely limits your options to stick with one provider. Especially when it’s one of the pricier providers.
If you’re looking for better deals, you can compare SIM only plans from a huge range of telcos. Plenty of them have big discounts, bonus data and data rollover or banking, which is really helpful for a modem.
Now that you’re unlocked, check out these great SIM plans
Benefits to unlocking your WiFi modem
Unlocking your WiFi modem means you can save money on your data plan. The telco environment is highly competitive, so service providers are constantly churning out irresistible deals and offers to attract new customers.
If you unlock your device, you can switch telcos whenever a better deal comes up. As a bonus, when you speak to a Telstra representative about unlocking your device, they’ll probably offer you a discount or extra data stay.
Another benefit of unlocking your WiFi modem is that you can take it overseas. If you plan on leaving Australia, your unlocked modem will likely work with another country’s telcos.
Locking is becoming a lost concept, thank goodness
Your car isn’t locked to a petrol company. Your TV isn’t locked to a TV network. So why would your 4G modem be locked to a specific service provider?
It’s an old concept that still lingering, but is luckily becoming less common today. Fewer and fewer devices are tied to the Telstra network, particularly with mobile phones. Telstra is leading the way to improve customer service in this regard.