Tara Donnelly

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.


NBN technology types

NBN connection types: What type of NBN do I have?

Posted by October 11th 2023

There are three major NBN connection types that account for most connections: Fibre to the Premises (FTTP), Fibre to the Curb (FTTC) and Fibre to the Node (FTTN), in order of the (generally) fastest to …


read your power bill

How to read your power bill

Posted by October 12th 2023

Let’s talk about power bills… It might not be your favourite topic, but knowing how to read and extract information from your bill is crucial to understanding how you can save on electricity. After receiving an …


Google Pixel 8 phone, Pixel Watch 2, Pixel Buds Pro

Google unveils Pixel Watch 2 and new Pixel Buds Pro

Posted by October 5th 2023

Google’s latest announcement was all about the brand’s 2023 smartphones — but the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro aren’t the only new products in the Pixel portfolio. Accompanying the phones are an all-new Pixel Watch …


Blue Pixel 8 Pro phone and grey Pixel 8

Meet the Google Pixel 8 and Google Pixel 8 Pro smartphones

Posted by October 5th 2023

It's the tail end of 2023, but the big-time tech announcements keep on coming. The Google Pixel 8 series is now official, with the brand unveiling two new phones featuring updated specs and software, improved …


NBN speeds Explained

What NBN speed tier do I need?

Posted by November 13th 2023

If your home is lucky enough to receive NBN, there are a few things to know about speed tiers. Find out which speed best suits you with Canstar Blue.


Woman using laptop at home

Telstra NBN prices are changing: Will you pay more?

Posted by October 3rd 2023

Telstra has confirmed plans to increase pricing across its home NBN range, with its most popular unlimited plan set to rise to $100 per month from November. Australia's biggest telco has quietly announced the changes via …


Manicured hands using phone

Felix Mobile launches new, data-packed SIM plans

Posted by September 26th 2023

Planet-first provider Felix Mobile is the latest Aussie telco to tweak plans and pricing — launching all-new SIM plans packed with data. The prepaid telco has unveiled two new SIM-only plans; however, it's also raised the …


Vodafone SIM Only Plans

Vodafone SIM-only phone plans

Posted by January 23rd 2024

Vodafone covers all different types of mobile phone plans, including the latest Samsung or iPhone deals. And when it comes to SIM only plans, Vodafone has a competitive suite of products on offer, providing big chunks …


Vodafone $5 Overseas Roaming

Vodafone $5 Roaming explained

Posted by January 23rd 2024

Between airfares, hotels, and splurging on a new holiday wardrobe, travel is already expensive. So if you're heading overseas, the last thing you need is to come home to surprise global roaming charges on your …