Top Australian Broadband Plans for Video Gamers


Broadband for video gaming
Love to play? You might be interested in one of these gamer-friendly broadband plans. Photo: Shutterstock

Any modern gamer will need a decent internet connection. This is true even if you are not engaged in multi-player events – as most modern gaming platforms now demand large game downloads. At this point, you’re going to need a truly reliable broadband connection that’s up for the task.

What are the best Broadband Plans for Modern Gaming?

Gaming has evolved possibly as drastically as streaming TV has changed over the years. It’s gotten big, like really big — from the family “consoles” of the ’70s to becoming the global entertainment behemoth that it is these days. Today, the bulk of modern gaming platforms depend greatly on having a solid and reliable internet connection. This is exactly why you need to wisely choose the right ISP and a plan that gives you seamless gaming for as long as you want. Here are more reasons why you need a dependable broadband connection for your gaming.

What do you need to play games online?

There are a number of requirements for any intensive online activity, especially when it comes to online gaming. When choosing any internet plan you need to take into speed, latency, reliability and of course cost. Below we break down some of the major factors that can affect your online gaming experience.

  • Speed
  • Latency
  • Reliability
  • Data Limits
  • Price

Speed

Speed can be the difference between a win or a loss when it comes to online gaming. A high-speed connection can ensure a disruption-free gaming experience as well as allowing for multiple users if co-op play is your jam. Games also take less time to download over a faster connection speed, and log-in times are also improved. A good balance of price and speed is usually the 50/20 tier (50 Mbps down, 20 Mbps up) which almost all providers offer. Depending on your NBN connection, though, you can go even faster, up to 100/40 and beyond.

Latency

You can avoid some big downloads by having physical copies of your games. But if you want to play online, you’ll need not just a reliable connection – you need great latency (a tech term for responsiveness). This is the time it takes for what you do on your PC or game console to get communicated to the others you’re playing with, and vice-versa. Not all ISPs are equal when it comes to tweaking latency for gaming, while some actively work to make it the best it can be.

Reliability

Judging a providers reliability is easier said than done, as reporting on outages can differ depending on where you look. Fortunately, the easiest way to check is on the ACCC website. Every quarter they publish reports on ISP reliability, detailing information on the real-world performance of broadband plans. Ideally, your broadband provider of choice will also have the most direct possible connections to the data centres where many gaming servers are hosted.

Data Limits

It’s really convenient to download games directly. You don’t even have to leave the house. Just press the button and the download begins. For this, you need a plan with decent data. Modern games can be massive! Depending on the games you play and the platforms you play on, game downloads can use gigabytes, while playing online can add as much as 100MB per hour. If you play for five hours, that’s 0.5GB right there. So you also want to check out the terms and conditions around bandwidth shaping or excess data charges.

For example, the Mass Effect Andromeda install files are 55GB on Windows PC, 42.9GB on PS4, and 42.19GB on Xbox One – and that’s not including update patches. If you have 200GB a month, that’s around 1/4 of your quota gone for just one game. You will also want decent download speed – no one wants to wait for ages for their game to arrive. You may as well line up and wait outside the store!

Price

At the end of the day, cash rules everything, and if you are on a budget, it will certainly affect what you can afford. Luckily, internet prices have come down significantly with the competition introduced by the NBN as well as 4G mobile data and the rollout of 5G. That means affordable broadband plans don’t skimp on speed or data limits. Unlimited plans are everywhere – the choice really comes down to a speed-to-cost ratio.

Top Broadband Deals For Gamers

We’re working on the assumption that you are already happy with your phone and TV options, and are only including bundles if they make sense for gaming purposes. With that being said, we’ve created a top list of the best broadband deals for gamers including Southern Phone, Dodo, and the perennial Telstra. Check out all the plans in the list below for your online gaming needs.

  • Southern Phone
  • Dodo
  • iPrimus
  • Telstra

Southern Phone NBN Max

Those living in regional areas can rely on Southern Phone to deliver a high-speed and quality connection. With their NBN Max plan, you get unlimited data on the NBN100 speed tier for only $95/month and with no lock-in contracts involved. Use it when you want for unlimited gaming and streaming, and always have the option to drop down to the NBN 50 unlimited plan when you don’t need the extra speed.

Dodo Unlimited nbn100

There’s no second-guessing when it comes to the quality of speed that Dodo delivers. Delivering simplified unlimited data plans with or without lock-in contracts, the telco’s top-speed plan is excellent for avid gamers to do gaming marathons without encountering buffering or any other connection issues. Dodo’s 100/40 speed tier plans are also among Australia’s cheapest. While most providers offer it at almost 100 bucks, Dodo has it for only $85 per month, substantially lower than others. And with their current promos, you’ll save even more with monthly discounts on select plans and all plans with your first month free! For entertainment, you can easily bundle your internet with Fetch TV from $25/month.

dodo

Save on Modems With Dodo

Save $20 on your Dodo modem with a limited-time offer to get lightning-fast internet coverage – original price $99.

iPrimus Premium Plan

For maximised gaming experience, an internet connection of unparalleled speed is crucial. That’s why now is the best time to score iPrimus’ unlimited NBN plan configured on the 95/17Mbps for only $90/month. It’s available on a month-to-month term so you can cancel anytime. There are added perks to connecting via iPrimus, such as a free landline connection with pay as you go calls. If that speed isn’t enough, iPrimus now offers NBN350 plans for $145/month for those whose connection supports it.

iPrimus logo

Free 6mth upgrade on selected plans!

iPrimus offers fast, unlimited data with free speed upgrade on selected plans. $0 setup fees with free modem, plus the option to add Fetch for streaming apps in one place.

Telstra Gaming Bundle + Free BINGE

Telstra has been a mainstay of Australia’s Internet services since the days of dial-up. They make the list because of their extensive coverage, and the ability to upgrade from an ADSL connection to an NBN plan with no difference in the monthly rate. For gamers, this particular bundle is hard to resist. For starters, you get Unlimited Data on NBN25 and the Xbox One S console with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription for $107/month.

This gives you access to over 100 high-quality games. The Smart Modem is thrown in as part of the monthly plan fee if you stay connected for 24 months. Of course, the Xbox One console comes in handy for those times between gaming sessions when you want to chill out with Netflix, which also named Telstra one of the #1 NBN providers for streaming the platform in the last six months. There’s even a waived $99 connection free when you buy online and total access to BINGE with three months of free subscription and one month of free Foxtel Now!

How to Check Your Current Broadband Speed

If you’re like many people, you may not even realise how slow your current internet connection is – especially at peak times. That can have a huge impact on gaming, streaming and everything else. To get a good idea of how well your current provider is doing, make use of our instant broadband speed test and see for yourself – or learn more about how Australia’s competition watchdog the ACCC is rating broadband speeds in its quarterly reports.

What is the Best Broadband Plan for Online Gaming?

It’s a close call. But in the end, Telstra comes out on top because of their no-nonsense attitude towards serious internet with the inclusion of the perfect gaming console. While their focus isn’t solely on delivering a great gaming experience, their fuss-free, month-to-month offer make them a clear choice over other internet bundles. Note: you can always use the NBN rollout checker to see if the NBN is available in your location.

Please keep in mind that depending on the ISP, these deals may also include specific fees and charges for service set-up, installation and early cancellation. Not to mention the cost of modems and routers – if you choose to add them.