It’s full steam ahead for 5G in Australia, with the next-gen mobile technology able to reach speeds of well over one gigabit (that’s 1000Mbps!). In comparison, the NBN continues to be met with controversy — despite also now offering top speeds of up to one gigabit. With 5G home internet plans now available from a variety of the major telco providers, could this new mobile network really be better, faster, and more reliable than the NBN?
Read on to find out more about what 5G can offer, and if it’s truly the ‘NBN killer’ Australia deserves.
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5G vs. NBN: key points
- 5G is a next-generation mobile technology that offers faster-than-ever speeds for mobile phones, tablets, and more.
- Telstra, Vodafone and Optus have switched on 5G in most metro areas, and are currently expanding their 5G networks regionally across Australia.
- 5G home broadband plans are available now in selected areas.
- 5G offers faster maximum speeds than the NBN, but coverage is currently extremely limited in comparison.
- 5G could be a NBN alternative for some users, but is unlikely to replace other broadband plans and options.
What is 5G internet?
5G technology uses mobile networks to connect your home to the internet — these are the same networks that deliver data to your smartphone when you’re away from WiFi. There are two types of 5G internet available in Australia: 5G mobile broadband, which is portable and tends to come with data caps, and 5G home wireless broadband, which is designed to replace your home’s wired internet connection.
If you’re looking for an NBN alternative, 5G home wireless is the best fit — these plans usually include unlimited data, and are good for connecting multiple devices in your household. You can connect to 5G home wireless through a plug-in modem, so set-up is generally fast and simple if you’re in an area with 5G coverage.
For the purposes of this article, we’ll focus on 5G home wireless broadband plans, as these are a much more direct comparison to NBN in Australia. So when you see the term ‘5G home internet‘, we mean ‘5G home wireless broadband’.
Is 5G faster than NBN?
Data speed is measured in megabits per second (Mbps), and gigabits per second (Gbps). One gigabit is comprised of 1,000Mbps; in Australia, gigabit-speed internet is essentially the gold standard of broadband, although not available to everyone.
5G can potentially hit speeds of up to 20 Gbps, although real-world performance in Australia isn’t quite that fast. In controlled conditions, we’ve seen speeds of over 4Gbps in Sydney; however, if you’re using 5G at home, you can expect maximum speeds to sit between 300-500 Mbps. Aside from speed, 5G may also reduce ‘ping’ times, which could lead to a significantly improved experience for online gamers.
While 5G is faster than 4G, it’s still not as widely available as the 4G services operated by Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone. Around 99% of Australians can access some form of 4G coverage, but 5G isn’t yet as expansive.
In comparison, NBN Co now sells NBN 250 and NBN 1000 speed tiers, which offer maximum download speeds of up to 250Mbps and 1,000Mbps. Again, your real-world performance won’t be quite this fast, especially for NBN 1000; during the busy 7pm-11pm evening period, you can expect speed of around 600-700Mbps on this plan.
NBN 250 and NBN 1000 speeds also aren’t available to all NBN-ready homes. You’ll only be able to access these plans if your home is connected to the NBN through Fibre to the Premises or selected Hybrid Fibre Coaxial technology types. Otherwise, you may be limited to NBN 100 or even NBN 50, unless you’re eligible to upgrade to a FTTP connection.
Your ability to access both high-speed 5G and high-speed NBN will depend on your location. But currently, the download speeds offered on NBN 1000 outstrip what most people will experience with 5G home internet.
Fast NBN plans
The following table shows a selection of published unlimited Fast plans (NBN 100) plans on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of monthly cost, from the lowest to highest, and then by alphabetical order of provider. Use our comparison tool to see plans from a range of other providers. This is a selection of products with links to a referral partner.
Superfast and Ultrafast NBN plans: NBN 250 and NBN 1000
If you’re on a Fibre to the Premises or selected HFC NBN connection, you may be eligible for super-fast NBN 250 or ultrafast NBN 1000. These are fast options for NBN customers looking for a better speed than NBN 100, but wanting a reliable fixed fibre connection with unlimited data.
The following tables show a selection of unlimited Home Superfast (NBN 250) plans on Canstar Blue’s database listed in order of standard monthly cost, from lowest to highest. Use our comparison tool to see plans from a range of other providers. This is a selection of products with links to a referral partner.
The following tables show a selection of unlimited Home Ultrafast (NBN 1000) plans on Canstar Blue’s database listed in order of standard monthly cost, from lowest to highest. Use our comparison tool to see plans from a range of other providers. This is a selection of products with links to a referral partner.
5G home internet plans
Below, you’ll find a range of 5G home internet plans from providers including Telstra, Optus and Vodafone.
The following table shows selected published 5G home internet plans on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of cost, from the lowest to highest and then by data allowance, largest to smallest.
| Brand | Features | Max Data**/billing period | Advertised Cost^^/billing period | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
5G Home Internet
min. cost $85 over one month |
1TB | $85 | Link to provider unavailable |
 |
Optus Plus Entertainer Superfast 5G
min. cost $675 over first month |
Unlimited | $99 | Link to provider unavailable |
 View all NBN plans listed on Canstar Blue |
**^^View important information | |||
The following table shows selected published 5G home internet plans on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of cost, from the lowest to highest and then by data allowance, largest to smallest.
| Brand | Features | Max Data**/billing period | Advertised Cost^^/billing period | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
5G Home Broadband Plus
min. cost $44.99 over one month |
Unlimited | $44.99 | Link to provider unavailable |
 |
5G Home Broadband Plus plan
min. cost $44.99 over one month |
Unlimited | $44.99 | Link to provider unavailable |
 |
5G Home Internet Plus
min. cost $65 over one month |
Unlimited | $65 | Link to provider unavailable |
|
5G Home Broadband Premium
min. cost $49.99 over one month |
Unlimited | $49.99 | Link to provider unavailable |
|
5G Home Broadband Premium plan
min. cost $54.99 over one month |
Unlimited | $54.99 | Link to provider unavailable |
|
5G Home Internet Premium
min. cost $70 over one month |
Unlimited | $70 | Link to provider unavailable |
|
Optus Plus Everyday Fast 5G
min. cost $655 over first month |
Unlimited | $79 | Link to provider unavailable |
 |
SpinTel 5G Unlimited
min. cost $89 over one month |
Unlimited | $89 | Link to provider unavailable |
| View all NBN plans listed on Canstar Blue |
**^^View important information | |||
Is 5G cheaper than NBN?
If you’re considering 5G home internet, the good news is that it’s relatively affordable. As with NBN, many providers now price and sell 5G internet based on the maximum achievable download speeds, with telcos including Vodafone and Optus offering speed-capped plans at a cheaper price.
Plans with a maximum speed of 50Mbps tend to being at around $60 per month, while speeds up to 100Mbps will set you back around $65 monthly. For unrestricted speeds, plans begin at about $85 monthly.
In comparison, NBN 50 plans begin at around $65-$70 per month at standard pricing, although new-customer discounts are often available. NBN 100 plans are available from about $85 per month, and if you’re after something faster, NBN 250 is priced from $95 monthly.
Keep in mind that these prices are a guide only, and costs will vary between providers.
Pros and cons of 5G
There’s plenty of advantages 5G has over NBN – namely its portability, ease of setup and competitive pricing. However, there’s still a few factors that the technology lacks, most notably coverage. Here’s a quick pros and cons list to help you compare.
| 5G internet pros | 5G internet cons |
|---|---|
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Is 5G better than NBN?
Aside from speed comparisons, what ends up being better for home internet could entirely depend on which provider you’re with, and what technology they’re backing. However, there is no good reason why 5G and NBN cannot complement each other — like how 4G is used for mobile applications, and NBN services home internet needs today.
While Telstra and Optus have not been coy about their support for 5G, the third big carrier in Australia, Vodafone, is a bit more reserved in its approach to 5G. Nevertheless, Vodafone is currently rolling out its own 5G network, playing catchup to the big two.
Vodafone is the newest of the ‘Big Three’ telcos to offer NBN plans, while Optus and Telstra have had their offers available for some time, offering broadband along with entertainment bundles, discounts, and deals. While it may seem Vodafone is backing down on the NBN hype, its CEO did push the ‘co-existence’ model, rather than 5G taking over NBN or vice versa. Although some think that 5G might be the death of the NBN, the broadband network is certainly not going away.
While 5G may not totally replace the NBN, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get a little excited about it. With up to 20Gbps download speeds a theoretical possibility, Australia could experience a whole new world when it comes to the internet. And with 5G now live in major metro areas (and a growing number of 5G-capable devices now on the market), lucky Australians finally have the opportunity to test out this next-generation technology for themselves.
With its fast speeds, low latency, and high bandwidth capacity, 5G has the potential to revolutionise internet in Australia — but don’t count out NBN just yet.
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