iiNet NBN Review and Internet Plans
iiNet has cemented itself as one of Australia’s leading home broadband service providers, with a solid reputation built on clever marketing and generally good customer support. But are its home internet plans still up to scratch in this increasingly competitive telco world? Following its takeover by TPG in 2015, iiNet has become part of the second-largest telco in Australia – behind Telstra of course. However, iiNet is still its own company, offering its own broadband plans.
iiNet offers a range of internet plans, including a suite of NBN plans, that have many Australians hooked. So, you might be wondering just how iiNet compares to other internet providers. In this iiNet internet plans review, we’ll take a look at what iiNet has to offer when it comes to internet plans, prices and any extras on offer.
iiNet NBN Coverage
iiNet’s fibre NBN coverage is largely subject to the rollout as a whole. The NBN network covers 93% of the population with the remaining 7% of households able to sign up on either fixed wireless NBN, satellite NBN, or an NBN alternative. If your house is not currently serviced by the NBN, it’s worth checking the nbnco website to see when you can expect the technology to be installed.
iiNet Features & Bonuses
iiNet is a full service internet provider, meaning it offers more than just broadband.
- Entertainment: Fetch TV is included at no extra charge on selected plans for your first 24 months, excluding a setup fee. After 24 months, you’ll have to pay for a standard Fetch subscription to continue using the service.
- Call Packs: Many unlimited plans have calls to local and national lines at no extra charge.
- Modems: Modems are included free if you stay connected for 24 months (a delivery fee may apply), or you can bring your own. If you cancel your service within 24 months, you’ll need to pay a sliding modem fee, depending on how long you’ve been connected.
While there’s a fairly concise array of plans at face-value, you can customise these to suit your needs, through modems, entertainment, call packs and more.
iiNet Internet Plans
iiNet has a large range of internet plans, including NBN, 5G home broadband and home wireless broadband options, along with other fibre connections.
iiNet NBN plans
iiNet’s main products are its NBN plans, complemented by its other internet technology types. The below table features all published iiNet internet plans from Canstar Blue’s database. Use our internet comparison tool to see plans from a wider range of providers.
iiNet Fixed Wireless NBN
Fixed wireless is basically a connection to a wireless internet exchange, which then connects to satellite services. The benefit with iiNet’s fixed wireless plans is that they are generally not any more expensive than prices for fixed line NBN. Speed tier jumps are also generally the same price. So really, the method of your NBN delivery is different, but prices and the end result mostly are not. However, speeds are usually slower and iiNet only offers NBN 12 and NBN 25 options.
iiNet home wireless plans
If you’re looking for an alternative to the NBN, iiNet offers a range of home wireless broadband plans, whether you’re after a plan with 4G or 5G connection using the Vodafone network. You’ll get speeds up to 20Mbps on the 4G home wireless plan, while the cheaper 5G plan is capped at 50Mbps and the more expensive plan is capped at 100Mbps.
iiNet Support & Customer Service
iiNet has a comprehensive online portal where you can monitor usage, check network status, change your account details and more. Technical support is open 24/7, with sales open from 8am to 11pm on weekdays and 8.30am to 8pm on weekends.
- iiNet Technical Support Number: 13 22 58
Customers can also contact iiNet via most social media platforms. Hearing impaired customers can also call special hotlines.
Read more: What to do when your internet is down
How does iiNet internet compare to other providers?
iiNet’s plans strike a balance between low-cost, limited plans and more expensive unlimited plans. The company faces stiff competition at both ends of the market. In terms of entry level plans, there are several small providers offering similar or greater amounts of data for comparable prices, however iiNet stands out for offering not just broadband but entertainment as well. Below is a list of providers with some form of entertainment bundles ripe for the taking:
Telstra and Foxtel get access to Foxtel Now and traditional Foxtel, while the others rely on Fetch TV to deliver access to streaming. All offer some form of unlimited data, with varying contract lengths. As always it pays to look at more than just the monthly price; setup fees, modem charges and other upfront costs can all add up.
Are iiNet internet plans a good deal?
Hopefully this iiNet NBN review has helped shed some light on what you can expect from iiNet internet plans. iiNet remains an excellent choice for home broadband. Its large range of plans and supported internet technologies means that wherever you are and whatever your budget, iiNet likely has a plan for you at a competitive price – often beating out the big guys like Telstra and Optus.
However, there is a range of smaller providers offering unlimited internet plans at cheap prices, whereas iiNet is somewhere in the middle. These smaller providers frequently beat out iiNet in terms of price, but iiNet’s generally reliable service and wide-ranging network with satisfied customers still makes it a safe bet.
If you are after the most ‘bargain basement’ plans on any type of connection, iiNet may not be the provider for you. While iiNet plans are generally not expensive by any means, there are other providers out there undercutting the big guys by quite a margin. However, you may also find that you get what you pay for and you may find value in paying more. In any case and no matter your budget, iiNet is worth keeping an eye out for.
Related articles
- The Cheapest NBN Plans
- Australia’s Top NBN Plans
- NBN Speed Tiers Explained
- Checking If Your Router is NBN-Ready
About the author of this page
This page was written and is regularly updated by Canstar Blue’s Senior Telco Specialist, Emma Bradstock. An expert in all things phone, internet, gaming and streaming, Emma helps to make complicated subjects easier for readers to understand, as well as covering the latest news and reviews across the telco industry. She’s passionate about helping consumers make better-informed telco choices and highlighting the next best deals.
iiNet Facts
Much has changed since iiNet was founded in a garage in 1993, where now is one of Australia’s most well-known internet service providers. The question is, outside of its regular-joe brand ambassador, what more could you know about iiNet?
About iiNet
Founded in Perth, Western Australia in 1993, iiNet had modest beginnings that eventually brought it to be one of the biggest broadband providers in Australia in 2011, with more than 2,500 staff members to date. Its parent company is telco giant TPG, which acquired iiNet in 2015.
iiNet Services
iiNet has a strong focus on its internet products, but sells a few other plans as well. Here’s what you can expect to see from iiNet:
- Broadband internet
- NBN plans
- ADSL2+ plans
- Naked DSL
- Home phone service
- Netphone
- 4G mobile plans
- Entertainment packages
More iiNet Services
| Service | Does iiNet offer it? |
|---|---|
| Online chat functionality | |
| Modem included | |
| Extra data available for purchase | |
| Multiple billing options | |
| Alert for payment reminders | |
| App for online account management |
iiNet: Recent Key Dates
2000 | iiNet launches its broadband services.
2005 | iiNet starts providing ADSL2+ speeds of up to 24,000 kbps, making it the first provider to offer it on a national level.
2010 | Australia’s first terabyte plan on the NBN is launched by iiNet.
2011 | iiNet becomes the second biggest DSL broadband service provider in the country.
2015 | Fixed line broadband customers with iiNet gain access to free Netflix.
2015 | TPG Telecom acquires iiNet.