The Best Internet Provider: Perth and WA

As the NBN rollout was declared officially complete in 2020, there’s now more choice than ever before regarding which broadband provider you connect with. The areas of Perth and Western Australia (WA) have benefitted from the new broadband technology, and residents now have a wide range of internet options available.

If you’ve just moved to the area or are considering upgrading, it’s best to compare broadband plans before committing to a purchase. After all, you want to ensure you get the best deal possible.

This guide will take you through which NBN plans are available in Perth and across WA to find you the best fit for your broadband needs. Compare the top five internet providers in Perth and discover how to improve your internet speeds in the area.

The NBN Rollout in Perth and WA

Designed to provide fast broadband to all Australians no matter where they live, the NBN began its mainland journey in 2011. Since then, Perth and the general area of Western Australia have benefitted from the faster speeds and cheaper prices that the NBN brings. 

But the initial NBN rollout in WA came with its own set of unique challenges. The distance of Perth from other population hubs and major cities was problematic, as was rolling out the technology across the sheer size of Western Australia.

The good news is that many residents of WA have easy access to the new and improved NBN broadband technology. Some of Australia’s biggest internet providers now offer fast plans to Perth and WA residents. However, the NBN isn’t available everywhere, so rural residents may have to find other internet plans. Don’t worry if this is you, as we’ll cover some NBN alternatives for residents of Perth and Western Australia.

What is the Best Internet Plan for Perth and WA?

The best internet provider Perth offers will depend on your individual requirements. In other words, there is no single broadband plan that stands out as the best for everyone.

However, we can recommend one internet provider above others as it covers a range of internet options while remaining affordable. Southern Phone provides accessible broadband plans to residents of Perth and WA without overcharging them. Their speeds are reliable, and their customer service is exceptional.

This means that you can get high-quality broadband wherever you are. If you live outside of the NBN zone, Southern Phone offers satellite broadband via their Sky Muster service. You’ll get near-NBN speeds without connecting to the NBN.

A huge benefit of choosing Southern Phone for your home internet is that you’ll get wonderful support. Their customer service is fully Australia-based, making it easy to connect with someone friendly if you ever have any problems. If you need to contact Southern Phone, you know you’ll find adequate support.

Check out what Southern Phone plans are available below:

Top 5 Internet Providers in Perth and WA

If you’re looking for a high-speed yet affordable internet plan and want to take advantage of the vast range of options, you’ve come to the right place! Here, you can compare the best broadband providers in Perth and Western Australia to find a plan and speed that suits your needs.

Whether you have just moved into a WA property, are looking for a new provider, or just browsing, here are our top five NBN plans for the Perth and Western Australia area:

Southern Phone Broadband

We’ve already highlighted Southern Phone as a leader in its field. While it may not be for everyone, the provider sure gives it a good go! Southern Phone has a strong community focus owing to its foundations as a humble regional network looking to provide better internet to remote residents. 

The provider is a great NBN choice for Perth and right across WA because they’re experienced with all types of connections. Whether standard NBN, satellite internet, or fixed wireless, they’ve got you covered. Southern Phone plans are both affordable and reliable.

Optus Broadband

An original Australian internet provider, Optus has established itself as a household name throughout the country. The company is dominant in the world of telecommunications, offering NBN plans to suit all budgets, styles, and locations.

For residents of Perth and Western Australia, Optus provides a wide selection of affordable broadband plans. While not the cheapest on the market, they more than make up for it by including extra services and deals. Optus bundles are great value for money, with services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Optus Subhub all potential add-ons.

Sports fans will love Optus even more, as you can get Optus Sport included in your broadband package. If you already have Optus Sport but aren’t using Optus for your home internet, consider switching to the provider to save a bit of money on your monthly bills.

iPrimus Broadband

iPrimus was another founding member of the Australian broadband scene. The company has a long history of providing fast and reliable broadband to its customers nationwide, including in the Perth and WA region. Their services aren’t the cheapest, but their quality and reputation justify the prices.

iPrimus plans range from slower NBN speeds to ultra-fast plans with up to 350 Mbps download speeds. There are no set-up fees, no lock-in contracts, and you won’t even have to pay for the modem if you stay at least six months.

As a result, there’s something for everyone at iPrimus. Pick a cheaper plan if that suits your needs, or go for faster speeds if your budget allows it. You can even include extra services in your packages, like Fetch TV.

Dodo Broadband

If you’re after the cheapest internet you can find, Dodo Broadband might be just what you’re looking for. Their broadband plans are great value for money, with some of the most competitive NBN prices on the market. 

Dodo’s NBN plans all come with unlimited data and no lock-in contracts, as well as the occasional discount or special offer you can take advantage of. What’s more, Dodo offers bundles where you can add a home phone and other services to your package for extra savings!

MATE Broadband

MATE Broadband is a reliable, moderately-sized telecommunications company in Australia. They provide great connections at affordable prices, perfect if you value a simple and reliable broadband service with as little hassle as possible.

If customer service is a priority for you, MATE really lives up to its name. Their customer support team is completely Aussie-based, meaning that you’re assured of friendly and supportive help should you need it. Contact MATE today to speak to their award-winning customer service team about switching providers.

Local Perth Broadband Companies

Perth has long been an innovator regarding the internet. In fact, one of Australia’s biggest internet providers, iiNet, was founded in Perth in 1993 in response to the fast-growing demand for reliable internet access in Australia’s most remote city.

That innovation continues today with local Perth companies that offer fast wireless broadband in direct competition with the NBN. Because they’re serving smaller areas, they’re often able to substantially increase the speeds of the wireless connections and keep their prices affordable. If you want to keep your Perth loyalty going strong, it may be worth choosing one of these companies:

Pentanet

Fairly new to the Perth telecommunications scene, Pentanet offers fixed-line wireless services at speeds of up to 120 Mbps and wireless connections to apartment buildings at up to 200 Mbps. Pentanet also sells standard NBN services and connections on private fibre-to-the-home network LBNco.

Node1

Node1 is a Perth-based provider that sells fixed-line wireless services to specific areas. These currently include the regions around Geraldton, Bunbury and Perth, with more to come. Node1 also offers “Hyperfast” services at up to 1 Gbps (download and upload) in very specific areas of Perth city and suburbs.

NBN Speeds in Perth and Western Australia

The NBN uses various technologies in its rollout, some of which aren’t available everywhere, so your top connection speeds will depend on your location. While greater Perth is well serviced by the various fixed-line connection types in use, the vast breadth of WA was more difficult to connect to the NBN.

Where fixed-line NBN connections were impractical, purpose-built Sky Muster satellite connections were installed instead. Their top speeds are more limited, but they allow people in remote areas to access reliable internet.

Those with NBN connections can benefit from a variety of different speed tiers. Each tier’s name contains a number, such as NBN 50, which indicates the theoretical maximum speed you can expect in Mbps. Below, you can read more about the different NBN speed tiers:

NBN Speed	Description
NBN 25	The Standard Evening Speed is ideal for smaller households with basic internet requirements, such as internet browsing, moderate online streaming in SD, and online gaming. Average speeds (7-11pm) for NBN 25 are 25 Mbps download and 4 Mbps upload.
NBN 50	The Standard Plus Evening Speed is for busier households as it can accommodate more browsing, video streaming in HD on 2 devices at once, and responsive gaming. Typical speeds (7-11pm) are 50 Mbps download and 17 Mbps upload.
NBN 100	Prior to the arrival of the latest speed add-ons (Superfast and Ultrafast), NBN 100 was the fastest speed tier in Australia. Typical speeds (7-11pm) are 100 Mbps download and also 17 Mbps upload. It’s fit for big households and can even accommodate 4K streaming.
NBN 250	Only available to FTTP and most HFC customers, the Superfast NBN has typical download speeds of 250 Mbps, which means it’s great for larger households who need to use the internet to browse, video-call, play online games, stream in HD and Ultra HD, download, and upload files, all at the same time.
NBN 1000	Aptly called the Ultrafast, it’s currently the fastest speed tier offered in Australia. While this speed plan might be too much for those who have no need for something this lightning fast, the advent of streaming, gaming, and the arrival of 8K technology, however, make the NBN 1000 add-on plan an appealing option for many. Telstra is one of the providers in Australia that offers the Ultrafast plan, alongside Aussie Broadband and MyRepublic.

How to Improve Your Internet Speeds in Perth and WA

If your internet isn’t shaping up to what you expect, there are several things you can do to improve your internet speeds. First, ensure your device is placed as close to the modem as possible to avoid interference with walls and other objects in your house.

You could also try turning your router off and then on again. Sometimes, all it takes is a forced reboot to get your WiFi up and running again. Alternatively, link your device to the internet using an ethernet cable or buy a WiFi booster from a retail service provider if you need to extend your network over a large area.

If you’re unhappy with your internet speeds, contact your service provider. Before you do this, however, make sure you test your internet connection to ensure you get the hard data to back up your experiences.

Compare Internet Plans to Find the Best Deals for You

Thanks to the NBN and some clever local companies, getting access to high-speed broadband anywhere from central Perth to far up the coast has never been easier. Residents of WA now have a huge choice of internet providers, from giants like iPrimus to more humble companies like Southern Phone.

Make sure to weigh up your options before choosing a plan. Here are some great NBN plans side-by-side to help you pick the one that suits you best:

Bundling TV with NBN Internet Plans

TV and the internet are closely connected these days, so there are plenty of options if you want to get some entertainment with a fast internet connection. Broadband bundles frequently include TV services like Fetch TV, Netflix subscriptions, and sports streaming packages.

Head over to our broadband bundles page to find the best deals. Whether you’re after a home phone service and internet package or you want to make the most of the streaming age and access free Amazon Prime Video or BINGE, there’s a great deal for everyone.

Best Internet Provider Perth FAQs

If you’re new to the area or just looking to switch broadband providers, you’ll likely have a lot of questions about which company to pick. These frequently asked questions should help you make an informed decision.