MATE Internet and Mobile
MATE Internet and Mobile (formerly MATE Communicate) is an Australian telecommunications provider offering NBN internet and 5G mobile services on the Telstra Wholesale Network. The company is headquartered in Wetherill Park, Sydney, Privately owned, and is positioned as a customer-focused alternative to major Australian telcos.
History
MATE was founded in 2015 by identical twin brothers David and Mark Fazio alongside business partner and cousin Jonathan Dundovic. The company began operations in April 2016, literally starting in the backyard of the founders' aunt's home in Smithfield, Western Sydney. According to co-CEO Mark Fazio, the business was initially created to provide financial opportunities for family and friends, with David Fazio leaving corporate telecommunications work to pursue the venture. The company's launch coincided with the NBN rollout, which David Fazio identified as creating significant market opportunity. He noted that for the first time in decades, customers who had been with traditional providers for years were being forced to change services, creating openness to new providers.[1]
Growth
MATE experienced rapid growth in its early years. In 2018, MATE ranked second in the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Australia Awards with revenue growth of 3,703% over three years. By 2019, the company had grown from $500,000 to $30 million in revenue within just three years.[2] [3]
By 2022, MATE had reached $100 million in revenue and employed 83 staff, including 19 family members. The company experienced further growth during the COVID-19 pandemic, showing 100% sales growth from March 2020 onwards.[4]
Services
NBN Internet
MATE offers NBN plans[5] across multiple speed tiers including NBN 25, NBN 50, NBN 100, NBN 500, NBN 750, NBN 1000, and NBN 2000. All plans feature:
- Unlimited data
- No lock-in contracts
- No MATE setup fees
- Option to bring your own modem or add one to the plan
- Optional home phone add-on
The company also provides Fixed Wireless NBN services to eligible homes.
Mobile Services
MATE Mobile operates mobile services on the Telstra wholesale network[6] [7], offering SIM-only mobile plans with:
- Unlimited calls and SMS to Australian numbers
- 4G and 5G access Cite error: Closing </ref> missing for <ref> tag This commitment to local support has been a consistent element of the company's brand positioning.
Awards and Recognition
Customer Satisfaction
Canstar Blue Awards:
2021: Best NBN Provider for "Overall NBN Satisfaction", achieving five stars in speed and reliability, customer service, ease of setup, and bill and cost clarity[8]
Australian Service Excellence Awards:[9]
2019: Service Champion – Customer Service Team of the Year (Large) 2020: Service Champion – Customer Service Team of the Year (Large)
International Service Excellence Awards:
2020: Customer Service Team of the Year (awarded by the Customer Service Institute of America)[10]
Industry Recognition:
2019: WhistleOut Best Fixed Wireless NBN Provider Product Review ISP of the Year: 2017 and 2018[11]
Industry Awards
2018: Second place, Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Australia Awards (3,703% revenue growth)[12]
Brand Ambassadors and Partnerships
In 2019, MATE partnered with Australian national soccer team goalkeeper Mathew "Mat" Ryan as its official brand ambassador. The partnership aligned with MATE's brand positioning around "saving Aussies" from poor telecommunications service, mirroring Ryan's role as goalkeeper for the Socceroos. The company subsequently partnered with Sam Kerr, captain of the Australian women's national soccer team, to represent "kicking goals" for customers. MATE has also formed partnerships with A-League teams including the Central Coast Mariners and Western Sydney Wanderers FC as well as the Perth Wildcats in the NBL and Perth Lynx in the WNBL.
Ownership and Operations
MATE is 100% Australian-owned and operated. The company maintains its headquarters in Wetherill Park, Western Sydney, having relocated from its original location in the founder's aunt's backyard in Smithfield.[13]
Market Position
MATE positions itself as a value-oriented provider focused on simplicity and customer service. According to Reviews.org[14], the company achieved a 4.5 out of 5 customer satisfaction rating, matching Aussie Broadband as one of Australia's highest-rated NBN providers. On ProductReview.com.au, MATE maintains strong customer ratings with particular praise for customer service responsiveness.[15]
The company's competitive strategy has focused on:
- Operating on lower margins than major telcos
- Simple, transparent pricing
- Australian-based customer support
- No lock-in contracts
- Bundle incentives for customers combining multiple services
References
- ↑ Nash, Brad (2019). "The Founders Of Mate Have A Radical New Approach To Telco: Friendliness". GQ Australia.
- ↑ SmartCompany (2019). "From an 'oily rag' to $30 million in three years: Meet the new telco keeping things simple".
- ↑ Deloitte (2018). Technology Fast 50 Australia Awards Winners Report.
- ↑ Startup Daily (2022). "How MATE built a $100 million telco empire from their aunty's backyard".
- ↑ https://www.nbnco.com.au/residential/service-providers
- ↑ Telstra Wholesale (2020). "MATE: kicking goals for Aussie telco customers". Wholesale Connect.
- ↑ https://www.churna.com.au/blog/telstra-vs-optus-vs-vodafone-mvno-providers-compared-2025-guide
- ↑ https://www.letsbemates.com.au/mate/mate-rated-best-for-overall-nbn-satisfaction
- ↑ MATE Communications (2019). "MATE wins 2019 Service Champion award". Australian Service Excellence Awards.
- ↑ MATE Communications (2020). "MATE wins International Service Excellence Award".
- ↑ WhistleOut (2019). "MATE: Everything you need to know".
- ↑ https://www.first5000.com.au/blog/2018-deloitte-technology-fast-50-australia-awards/
- ↑ Nash, Brad (2019). "The Founders Of Mate Have A Radical New Approach To Telco: Friendliness". GQ Australia.
- ↑ Reviews.org (2025). "MATE NBN Review: Friend with Speed, Friend Indeed".
- ↑ https://www.productreview.com.au/listings/mate
External links
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