The most common nbn speeds offered by providers
NBN Co sells 5 wholesale speed levels to phone and internet providers for residential use. However, speed levels on offer will differ by the technology available at a building and the provider used.
The most commonly-used nbn speeds in households are:
- NBN 25 (Basic II) speed: 25Mbps download/5Mbps upload
- NBN 50 (Standard) speed: 50Mbps download/20Mbps upload
- NBN 100 (Fast) speed: 100Mbps download/20Mbps to 40Mbps upload
Other nbn speeds that may be available are:
- NBN 250 (Superfast) speed: 250Mbps download/25Mbps upload
- NBN 1000 (Ultrafast) speed: 1,000Mbps download/50Mbps upload
- NBN 12 (Basic I) speed: 12Mbps download/1Mbps upload
Which nbn speed is right for me?
Here is a summary of what each speed level has been designed for.
NBN 25 (Basic II) speed:
With only 25Mbps download and 5Mbps upload, NBN 25 speeds are suitable for basic internet usage. During peak times, download speeds might reach around 15Mbps.
It’s been designed for:
- One or two people on the internet at the same time
- Browsing the web and social
- Sending emails
- Streaming music
- Streaming standard definition (SD) video
NBN 50 (Standard) speed:
With double the download speed and four times the upload speed than NBN 25, NBN 50 offers a significant increase in speed and capacity. For these plans, evening speeds are usually quoted at around 30Mbps.
It’s been designed for:
- Three or more people online at the same time
- Streaming high definition (HD) video
- Downloading files
- Playing online games
- Working from home
- Videoconferencing (e.g. Zoom calls)
NBN 100 (Fast) speed:
NBN 100 offers double the download speeds and up to double the upload speeds of NBN 50, depending on which plan you choose. Some providers might offer upload speed options of 20 and 40 Mbps. With NBN 100 plans, evening speeds are quoted as 60Mbps.
It’s been designed for:
- Five or more people online at the same time
- Streaming high definition video (4K)
- Downloading large files
- Working from home
- Videoconferencing (e.g. Zoom calls)
NBN 250 (Superfast) speed
To get an NBN 250 plan, you’ll need to have either an FTTP or HFC connection at your home. However, only 70% of HFC premises are currently eligible for an NBN 250 plan. With NBN 250, evening speeds are quoted as 150Mbps.
It’s been designed for:
- Households with a number of users and devices
- Concurrent 4K and 8K streaming
- Faster downloading of game updates
- Faster downloading and uploading of large files
NBN 1000 (Ultrafast) speed
There is currently limited availability of NBN 1000. At the moment, all FTTP premises are eligible. While out of the remaining types of connections, only 7% of HFC premises are able to connect to an NBN 1000 plan. Evening speeds for NBN 1000 plans are usually quoted as 250Mbps.
NBN 1000 has been designed for:
- Five or more people online at the same time
- Concurrent 4K and 8K streaming
- Faster downloading of game updates
- Faster downloading and uploading of large files
- Accommodating new technologies
NBN 12 (Basic I) speed
We’ve placed NBN 12 at the bottom of this list, as it offers very limited internet speeds. And during busy/evening times the maximum speeds available may be reduced to 7Mbps.
NBN 12 is only really suitable for:
- Sending emails
- Making phone calls
It offers around the same speeds as you might experience through an ASDL2+ connection. You might still be able stream videos on Netflix and Stan with an NBN 12 plan, but it’s not generally recommended for this type of usage.