NBN Co is kicking off 2024 with a ‘new year, new internet’ reminder for Aussie households — urging broadband customers to review their current plan and shop around for a better deal.
New research from NBN Co reveals that, despite data usage on the network tripling in the past seven years, two-thirds of NBN users have been on the same speed plan since 2020. With more than eight million homes and businesses now connected to the NBN, that’s potentially millions of Aussies who could be missing out a better-suited plan.
Robert Joyce, Head of Customer Strategy and Innovation at NBN, said that the new year was an ideal time for customers to review their internet plan and speed.
“We’ve found that more than a third of NBN customers don’t know what internet speed tier they’re currently on, and one in seven aren’t aware that NBN offers internet retailers different speed plans.
“If your 2024 resolutions include things like be more productive, upskill in your career, open a new online business, make the family more tech-savvy, or if you’re moving into a new place and want to make your home future-ready, a high-speed internet connection is what you need and NBN is here to help make that happen.”
Mr Joyce recommends that customers monitor their usage, see if their current internet provider can offer a better deal, and compare their plan with other options on the market at least once every 12 months.
NBN prices have changed, so now’s the time to compare offers
It’s timely advice for customers, as many internet providers have adjusted their plan prices to reflect the newly locked-in pricing agreement between NBN Co and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. Wholesale prices for several speed tiers, including NBN 25 (Home Basic II), NBN 100 (Home Fast), NBN 250 (Home Superfast) and NBN 1000 (Home Ultrafast), have decreased thanks to the changes, which took affect on December 1.
However, wholesale costs for NBN 50 (Home Standard) — by far the most popular speed tier in Australia — have risen, and some providers have already increased their own prices by $5-$10 per month to compensate. If you’re an NBN 50 user, or simply unsure about your current speed, it’s a good time to assess your plan and see if you could move to a better-priced deal.
Standard NBN 50 prices start at around $65-$70 per month, but can be as high as $100 monthly from some providers. However, many telcos are offering limited-time discounts for new customers, which can shave an additional $5, $10, or even $20 off your monthly bill for your first six or 12 months.
To give you an idea of what’s on offer, the below tables feature some of the cheapest NBN 50 and NBN 100 plans in our database — switch between the tabs to compare each speed.
The following table shows a selection of sponsored unlimited data Standard Plus Evening Speed (NBN 50), and Premium Evening Speed (NBN 100) plans on Canstar Blue’s database with links to referral partners..
 |
1 Month Contract (1 month min. cost $65.90) Typical evening speed of 100Mbps
|
Unlimited Data/month |
$65.90 Cost/month |
Go to Site |
 |
1 Month Contract (1 month min. cost $69) Typical evening speed of 100Mbps
|
Unlimited Data/month |
$69 Cost/month |
Go to Site |
 |
1 Month Contract (1 month min. cost $63.90) Typical evening speed of 50Mbps
|
Unlimited Data/month |
$63.90 Cost/month |
Go to Site |
Unlimited Home Standard (NBN 50) Plans
The following table shows a selection of published unlimited NBN 50 plans on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of standard monthly cost (excluding discounts), from the lowest to highest, and then by alphabetical order of provider. Use our comparison tool above to see plans from a range of other providers. This is a selection of products with links to referral partners.
Unlimited Home Fast (NBN 100) Plans
The table below shows a selection of published unlimited 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 referral partners.
Aussies demand faster speeds as usage spikes
If you’re happy with your current speed and performance, you may be able to find a lower price for same speed tier by shopping around. But if your internet use has outgrown your current plan, and you feel like your connection is struggling to keep up, it’s also possible to upgrade your speed without breaking the bank.
According to NBN Co, the average Australian NBN user downloaded 423GB of data each month in 2023 — that’s an increase of over 50% compared to 2020. Many homes are struggling to balance the need for a fast plan with rising living costs, but NBN Co’s new pricing structure now means that super-fast plans are comparatively more affordable.
Since late 2023, several providers have dropped prices on NBN 100, NBN 250 and NBN 1000 speeds by anywhere from $10-$25 per month, effectively narrowing the gap between NBN 50 and NBN 100 pricing. We know from ACCC data that customers are keen to switch to fast speeds when discounts are offered, but often drop down to slower and cheaper tiers once introductory offers end, so a permanent price change could encourage more homes to stick to a faster plan.
The NBN multi-technology mix has also been a barrier for homes looking for faster internet, but NBN Co’s full fibre upgrade program now offers more customers access to super-fast plans. Speeds faster than 100 megabits per second (Mbps) are limited to homes with full Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) or selected Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC) NBN types, but as of December more than three million addresses are eligible to move to FTTP at no extra cost.
The program is open in selected suburbs, and available to homes and businesses with a Fibre to the Node (FTTN) or Fibre to the Curb (FTTC) connection. You can check your address at NBN Co’s website; if you’re eligible, you can begin the upgrade process by contacting a participating NBN provider to order a faster plan.
If you’d like to compare prices for super-fast NBN 250 and NBN 1000, you can see some of the cheapest offers available below. Multiple providers, including TPG, Vodafone, Southern Phone, Tangerine and Flip are offering new customer discounts across their fastest plans, with TPG also waiving your first month’s plan fees if you switch before February 14.
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.
Share this article