Unlimited Internet Plans: Broadband & NBN Deals in Australia
Australian internet and broadband has seen its share of controversy in recent years, with the NBN rollout changed and delayed. Australia has taken a little longer to organise and roll out a modern broadband network than many other developed countries. But the NBN is now available across most of Australia – and with its high speeds, it’s a significant upgrade for most of us.
With the arrival of Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Kayo, Stan, BINGE and all the other streaming services however, our needs have changed. No longer is our internet connection only required to be fast enough to allow us to check our emails. Now, it needs to be fast enough to stream our favourite shows or live sport, while also allowing for all of our usual internet activities.
Types of home internet in Australia
With the amount of different internet providers and different types of internet connection, it can get a little overwhelming. It’s important to understand the types of broadband and home internet before you compare internet plans. Different technologies are capable of more specific tasks and things like download speeds can vary heavily depending on your connection type. We strongly recommend you check your address online early in the process so you can narrow you search for home internet.
What’s in this Guide?
National Broadband Network
You’ve probably heard a little bit about the National Broadband Network. The long and sometimes painful process of rolling out the NBN across our enormous country has been the topic of a lot of conversation, but we’re now at the stage where millions of homes and businesses are connected to it.
There are various types of NBN connections in use, and depending on where you live, one will be chosen for you – the local infrastructure determines the NBN connection type, so if you’re moving house, it pays to ask about the NBN connection. It’s important to note that no matter your NBN connection, you’re usually always looking at the same NBN plans.
Fibre to the Premises (FTTP)
The way the NBN was originally designed and is still the best internet service. Fast fibre optic cable that runs right into your home or apartment. Due to the fibre NBN connection travelling directly to your outlets, this connection almost guarantees you will be exceeding your typical evening speed. This is the way home internet should be enjoyed with the NBN network. While the rollout of FTTP was cancelled by the current government, a substantial number of buildings had already gotten NBN connected with it by then.
Fibre to the Node (FTTN)
Fast fibre runs to an NBN box in your street (or near it) and you connect to the box using your old copper fixed line. This is the less desired NBN connection as the old lines lack the bandwidth to avoid congestion. A node can hold up to 16 users so evening speed can vary but the download speeds are boosted by NBN co between 7pm-11pm to cater to this. Users can enjoy a fast speed with fibre to the node, but it’s not always guaranteed.
Fibre to the Curb (FTTC)
This is the best option that is actively being connected – fast fibre cable running right up to your front yard, guaranteeing fast evening speed, through your fixed landline. Check to see if NBN FTTC is available at your address to maximise its very reliable high speeds.
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How to choose your internet plan
Internet plans today exist to cater for internet users of all types. The needs of different people can vary enormously, and it’s important to know what your priorities are before you sign up with a service provider. The number of people in your home, for example, is an important thing to take into consideration when looking for a plan. If you’re living by yourself, you probably won’t need unlimited data – though it certainly doesn’t hurt, especially if you’re streaming Netflix nightly.
When searching for the right broadband plan, check your address and see what technology is offered by NBN co. Depending on the connection type, your provider may be able to offer a 4G backup modem.
If you’re out of the house for much of the day, it’s possible you could make do with a cheaper internet plan offering a lower data allowance. If you binge watch shows (via streaming) for hours on end it’s worth doing a rough tally of the data consumption per hour to work out how much you’d churn through in a month. Families, meanwhile, may have a couple of Netflix accounts streaming at once and another kid studying or gaming online. That’ll quickly use up a lot of data, so make sure you account for that.
Alternatively, maybe you need an internet connection for a business you run yourself. In that case, seek out the business plans that are available with some providers. These can often provide a few added perks like priority support and a fixed IP address to give you more value for your dollar, and just need a valid current ABN to sign up.
To find the best internet NBN plan that suits your needs and budget, visit Compare Broadband to narrow your search or speak to their friendly Australian call centre.
| Unlimited Data | Now, it’s basically the opposite. Virtually every internet provider offers unlimited data in most of their plans – which makes sense, in a world where much of our TV and movie entertainment is done via video streaming in high definition, or even in 4K. |
| No Contract | With the NBN, however, this is a thing of the past. As a result, some providers want you to sign longer term contracts to keep you from leaving, but the vast majority will also offer no-contract home internet plans to allow you to leave whenever you like – making it perfect for renters and those looking to move. |
| High Speed Broadband | Ideally, you should go for an internet plan on at least the NBN 25 speed tier, but if you have a large family or particularly need or want very fast internet, the NBN 50 tier might be more suitable – especially with its much higher upload speed, which is essential for multiple high-data-use things to run smoothly. If you want to read more about NBN internet plans, we’ve compared them all. |
Home phone and landline connections
While the demand for fixed home phone and landline phones are dwindling rapidly, it can still be important to some. In certain instances, back to base home alarm systems require a landline to send constant security pings. In other cases, medical alarms are dependent on landline services and the safety of a loved one can rely on a landline as well as potentially a broadband service. As most connections utilise the fixed line, thankfully bundles can be quite easy to find.
Most internet plans come with a landline bundled in, sometimes on the higher per month plan. This is depending on your internet provider and connection type. Often the plans come with an unlimited call package, meaning you don’t pay line rentals, connection fee, or a call fee. If this is important, it may be best to check online if a home phone is available at your address when connecting to the NBN.
The best NBN internet plans
When researching Aussie broadband providers, the amount of different internet plans can be overwhelming. There are factors that play into the decision quite heavily. Speed is a big one, with typical evening speed being a massive metric in any NBN plan. Evening speed is important as during performance during peak times can be greatly impacted, but if your provider can guarantee solid NBN speed during busy times of the day then that’s a winner for sure. We’ve listed some of the best deals below to help you get started.
NBN Broadband Plans
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Satisfaction Guarantee: Return modem within 21 days for a full refund- Everyday NBN
- No Lock-in Contract
- Unlimited Data
- NBN 50™ Fixed Line
- Typical evening speed of 47Mbps
- Optional modem for $99 w/ free delivery
- $79.80/mth
Satisfaction Guarantee: Return modem within 21 days for a full refund
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$15/mth off for 6 mths. Ends 25/06/24- NBN50 Unlimited - Month to Month
- No Lock-in Contract
- Unlimited Data
- NBN 50™ Fixed Line
- Get $20 off Dodo modem
- Up to $10/mth off when bundled with energy
- $65/mth
Min Cost - $65 for the 6 mths (incl. $79 modem cost)
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Ultra WiFi 6 modem incl.- Optus Plus Everyday nbn®
- No Lock-in Contract
- Unlimited Data
- NBN 50™ Fixed Line
- $0 Startup Fee
- 50/18Mbps typical busy period speeds (7pm-11pm)
- $85/mth
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Free Wi-Fi 6 modem if you stay connected for 12 mths. T&Cs apply- Standard Plus
- No Lock-in Contract
- Unlimited Data
- NBN 50™ Fixed Line
- Typical evening speed of 50Mbps downstream and 17mbps upstream
- No set up fees
- $80/mth
What speed internet plan do I need?
NBN plans are split into speed tiers, marketed on the evening speed you will have between 7pm-11pm. The speeds on an NBN plan range from 12 mbps to 1000 mbps from some selected internet providers. Any NBN plan is good depending on your personal needs. The NBN network is designed to cater to all which they have executed well with their speed tier system. Knowing the appropriate speed for you can very much help compare internet plans.
Broadband plans on older technology will be limited to a single speed, such as ADSL internet which has a range of 9-24 mbps typical download speed. This can be compared to the basic NBN tier and is suitable for a single person’s standard use such as emails and web browsing.
Mobile broadband plans however can reach up to 1GBps depending on the connection type. The 5G mobile network can run laps around the 4G mobile network for example. Speeds for mobile broadband plans or a fixed wireless connection are a little harder to pinpoint as they vary second to second but often have a minimum speed of 12-24 mbps or 50-100 mbps in the case of 5G.
Test your internet provider speed using the Compare TV speed test tool.
| NBN Speed | Description |
|---|---|
| NBN 12 | Ideal for single household use, streaming to web browsing on devices like tablet. HD streaming possible but not guaranteed. |
| NBN 25 | Single user, streaming to high-quality devices like smart TVs and streaming boxes. Smooth HD and 4K streaming experience. |
| NBN 50 | Good for multiple users – a family or share house with several people streaming content at one time. HD and 4K streaming to multiple devices simultaneously. |
| NBN 100 | Can handle anything streaming services throw at you, to multiple users while others are downloading or uploading files or doing work. Very fast, but expensive (providers like Telstra and Dodo offer discounts) and not available on all connections. |
| NBN 250 | Recommended for larger households, really useful if everyone is working online, streaming, and gaming all at once. For streaming videos in 4K at once, though it’s only available to FTTP and most HFC customers. |
| NBN 1000 | For super busy large households that need much, much more from their connection. Excellent for streaming videos in 8K and downloading and uploading large files on several devices. Also, only available to FTTP and some HFC customers and can be expensive. |
How much data will I need on an internet plan?
Data usage on internet plans is a very popular question. Majority of broadband plans offer unlimited data usage for downloads and uploads. While some broadband plans still have a data limit, it is usually only the low tier NBN plans that include this. Often mobile broadband plans are limited and come with a cap, but it is less common for internet plans on a fixed line.
- 100gb and below: Internet plans limited to 100gb per month, and below, are suited for generally only one person to connect to the internet. With such a little amount of data, usage would be limited to basic web browsing, emailing and the very occasional video streaming.
- 250gb – 500gb: With 250-500gb internet plans, we are in the territory of multiple using the internet connection. You’re looking more at video streaming, online gaming, downloading files, quite moderate browsing and digital communication.
- 500gb+: In the range of 500gb, internet plans are for medium size households depending on the usage. These can be used to work from home, online meetings and conferences, heavy video streaming and online gaming.
- Unlimited: These days, especially in the distanced world we are living in, unlimited internet plans are almost a necessity for most households. Businesses and large households required unlimited data internet plans without a doubt and it can provide a simple peace of mind that would make any browsing at home enjoyable.
Streaming TV on the internet
A few short years ago, streaming TV didn’t even exist, and most people were perfectly happy with the free-to-air channels, occasionally supplemented by some pay TV. Nowadays, it’s tough to imagine life without streaming, and even having an internet connection which occasionally buffers is enough to throw us into a fit. Add to that the fact that we now use our phones and tablets for internet, and need faster connections for things like online gaming and voice calling and all of a sudden broadband internet is a huge part of our lives.
That’s where the NBN came in, but with it came an increasingly complicated range of technology. On first look, the array of different internet plans available can be daunting, but if you can learn how to weed out the fluff and focus purely on the critical information, things become a whole lot easier. While the large number of internet service providers in the marketplace can make things seem complicated, the competition also means there’s plenty of choice and a whole lot of value to be had. Finding the best plan for you isn’t always entirely straightforward, but if you know what you’re looking for you should end up with a deal that meets your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions about NBN
For many years, Australia depended on a network of phone lines owned by Telstra, and broadband equipment owned by a handful of companies, for both home phone and internet services. Not only was it slow, it limited consumers’ choice of providers. The NBN – National Broadband Network – replaces that with a high-speed national network for all communications, which all providers can offer services on. That keeps prices down – and thanks to newer technology, speeds are faster than ever possible before.
The rollout of the NBN, started in 2010, is now officially complete (though improvements and upgrades are ongoing). Most areas and households have either been switched over to it, or have access to it. You can check your NBN access and the type of connection you have using our interactive NBN rollout map.
Once the NBN is available in your area, you should get a letter in the mail letting you know you can switch over. At that point you can either contact your current provider to make the switch, or choose a new one – it’s good to compare NBN providers and plans before making a decision, as there are many great-value deals available.
Yes, usually they do. With the old copper phone network shutting down, your home phone will now work on the same connection as your NBN broadband and will need to be provided by the company that delivers your broadband. That’s not a bad thing – usually, you’ll find the home phone line is included at no extra charge. If you’re on Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) or Fixed Wireless NBN, you can have home phone and broadband with different providers, but the cost of doing so makes it better to stick with the one provider.
As a vast national network, the NBN itself is designed to never be “down” completely (though occasional technical problems can crop up). However, if you’re unable to access your NBN internet service it’s entirely possible that the NBN connection point you’re on may be having an outage, or your internet provider may be having technical issues. Your first port of call is your internet provider’s support line – they have access to all the info about the NBN and can tell you if there’s an outage and how long it may last, or get things fixed if there’s a fault in your service.
When the NBN is installed at your home or business, the NBN technicians will install all the things needed to get the connection into your home. Depending on your connection type, they will also possibly install a device known as a NTD where the connection enters the building, which is what you connect your modem or router to. With Fibre to the Curb connections, the NTD will usually be supplied by your internet provider, but sometimes may be installed when you have the NBN connected. In either case, it’s provided free of charge.
A vast broadband network that stretch across the entire country, the NBN works as a central hub that all internet providers can connect to via any of 121 connection points around the continent. It provides the pipelines and computing power needed to move data to and from each of those connection points, sending it to and receiving it from your chosen broadband provider. It’s an incredibly complex network that’s designed to be, for the end user, as simple as plugging a modem or router into a socket on the wall.
The NBN replaces the old copper phone network, and with it, your traditional phone line is also replaced. However, with some NBN technologies – Fibre to the Node, Fibre to the Curb and Fibre to the Building – existing phone lines are used to carry the NBN data from the street into your home. Because this is a far shorter length of traditional phone line, much faster speeds can be reached. When the NBN is installed at your place, the NBN technicians will make the needed changes to your phone line so it’ll work with the NBN.
While so far, most NBN connections have been limited to the NBN 100 tier as the top speed – that’s 100 Mbps downloads and 40 Mbps uploads – in 2020, new speed tiers were released, offering download speeds of 250 Mbps and 1000 Mbps (also known as “gigabit”). However, these speeds aren’t available for everyone just yet – in most cases, upgrades need to be made to the network to enable them for customers, and internet providers need to choose to offer them (at the moment, only a few do).
While you’re not required to have a NBN broadband connection or home phone if you don’t want one, the old copper phone network is being decommissioned and you will lose access to it once that happens in your area, making the NBN the only choice for wired broadband and phone. That’s not a bad thing, since it gives all consumers much more choice and cheaper prices, and the ability to switch providers easily without a lengthy waiting period.
There are several types of NBN in use around Australia, and which one you get depends on your location – you can’t choose which type you get. All connect to the same NBN in different ways and have different advantages and capabilities. To find out which type you have, search for your address on any NBN internet provider’s web site – it will instantly show you which connection type you have.
The NBN was a project started by the Rudd government a decade ago, and then modified and finished by the current government, as a publicly owned asset. At the moment, the NBN is still 100% government owned and run, but the longer-term plan has always been to sell it to recoup the huge cost of building it. While that will eventually happen, for the immediate future the NBN remains in public hands.
Telstra owns a huge infrastructure but the company doesn’t equate NBN Co, as the latter is a government body created to manage the whole NBN network. Telstra was so big back in the day that other NBN providers e. g. Aussie Broadband used their backhaul to provide their services. No wonder people confuse Telstra and NBN.
If you’re experiencing slow or unreliable broadband on the NBN, the actual NBN network is unlikely to be the problem. It’s possible your internet provider may be having technical issues or suffering from congestion, so call them first. It’s also possible that you’re suffering from a local fault, either with the cable out in your street or the cabling in your home; you ISP can help you diagnose that. If you’re using wi-fi, make sure you test your connection using a computer plugged into your modem/router via Ethernet first – wi-fi is notoriously prone to interference causing slowdowns.
TV and the internet are closely connected these days, and there are plenty of options if you’re looking to get some entertainment with your internet connection. Fetch TV can be added to unlimited plans from several providers (like iPrimus, mentioned above) or if you’re more of a streaming user, Telstra’s internet and TV bundle pulling together a Telstra TV box, free months of Binge and Foxtel Now, a home phone and unlimited broadband is TV value that’s hard to beat from $89/month. Telstra also offers well-priced bundles with Foxtel included. You can check out all the latest TV and internet bundles on our comparison page.
If money’s tight and you’re looking to get connected to the internet without breaking the bank, don’t worry – there are affordable plans available, and while they won’t break speed records, they’ll keep you connected just as well. Belong Broadband – which uses the Telstra network – has its Starter plan available for only $60/month, which gives you slightly more than NBN25 speed. It doesn’t get much cheaper than that – and they include a wi-fi modem too.
What’s best overall is going to depend on your specific needs, but the plan which gives the most bang for your buck is Telstra’s NBN50 Unlimited Data plan. It bundles a fast, reliable connection, a modem with 4G backup, a home phone with unlimited calls, free connection and one month of free Foxtel Now and three months of free BINGE (more if you join Telstra Plus!)
NBN plans and deals are divided into speed tiers so that Internet users can tell their speed right away. For example, the NBN speed tier “NBN50” means that the connection is capable of providing you with a 50 Mbps download speed and 20 Mbps upload speed. Here you have a list of speed tiers:
– NBN 25 – 25 Mbps download, 5 Mbps upload; TES – 18-24 Mbps,
– NBN 50 – 50 Mbps download, 20 Mbps upload; TES – 40 Mbps,
– NBN 100 – 100 Mbps download, 40 Mbps upload; TES – 80 Mbps
– NBN 250 – 250 Mbps download, 25 Mbps upload; TES – 200 Mbps,
– NBN 1000 – 1000 Mbps download, 50 Mbps upload; TES – 350 – 700 Mbps.
