Recent price increases by the three biggest telco companies mean millions of Australians will be paying more for their mobile phone plans. New analysis by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has found that since July 2020, Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone has pushed up the prices of many post-paid plans. These three telco companies collectively hold 87 percent of the total retail mobile phone market and 95 percent of the post-paid market. “Our analysis shows that consumers will now be left paying significantly more for a range of mobile phone plans at Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone,” ACCC Chair Rod Sims said. “The behaviour of the three big telcos would suggest they are not concerned about losing customers to rivals.” The companies have also effectively increased pre-paid plans by shortening expiry periods, meaning customers need to recharge more often. The consumer watchdog is encouraging consumers to compare the prices and …