Got the NBN blues? Is your fixed line connection getting you down?
It's an unfortunate reality that some unlucky Australian homes and businesses aren't having such a great time online. Plenty of NBN connections work just fine. But some can be slow, congested or maybe haven't even been installed yet.
Fortunately, there are alternatives. In this guide, we'll cover the best NBN alternatives:
Home wireless vs mobile broadband
If you're after an NBN alternative, there are two options worth considering: home wireless broadband and mobile broadband. Both are powered by the same mobile networks that connect our smartphones to the internet.
However, there are some differences between the two. Here are the top level facts you should know:
- Both options are powered by mobile networks
- Mobile broadband tends to be faster than home wireless
- Home wireless plans tend to come with more data
- Home wireless modems require mains power
- Mobile broadband modems are battery-powered
- Neither option requires a technician to set up
See our guide on home wireless vs mobile broadband for more information.
Best 4G home wireless plans
These 4G home wireless plans come with uncapped speeds on the Optus 4G mobile network.
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Yomojo 
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SpinTel 
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Optus 
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Optus
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Southern Phone 
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Optus
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Many home wireless plans come with speed limits. But with these plans, the only limit on speed is the real-world conditions at your home. These may include network congestion and the strength of your signal at home.
In our testing of the Optus 4G home wireless service, we've typically seen speeds between 20Mbps and 50Mbps, which should be fast enough to support a family of up to four medium to heavy internet users. If these speeds aren't fast enough for you, they can be further improved with an external antenna.
With any of these plans, you'll also get a robust home wireless modem capable of connecting dozens of devices around your home.
On the other hand, if you're not a heavy internet user and want to save a little cash, you might want to consider this plan from SpinTel.
SpinTel Basic Wireless Broadband
| Provider | SpinTel |
|---|---|
| Data | 200GB |
| Connection | Home Wireless |
| Type | No Contract Term |
| Total Price |
$49.95 per month
+ $160 Upfront
Min. total cost $209.95 for first month
|
| View Details |
Speeds are limited to 12Mbps, which is equivalent to the Basic (NBN 12) speed tier on the NBN. This plan should be fast enough to browse the internet and even watch Netflix, but be aware that you won't be able to do much else on the connection at the same time.
For this reason, plans of this speed are best for single-person households, if at all.
Best 4G mobile broadband plans
If you can't find a home wireless plan that's right for you, you might want to consider a mobile broadband plan instead.
In the table below we've chosen to look at mobile broadband plans with at least 50GB, so you can see those plans most suited to the task of home internet replacement.
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Vodafone 
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Optus
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Telstra 
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Telstra
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amaysim 
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Telstra
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It's important to note that these plans have been designed to connect your devices to the internet on the go. But while they're not intended to be used to replace your home internet connection, they could do it at a pinch. They don't come with speed caps like some cheaper home wireless plans, but they are limited in terms of how much data they can offer.
Some of these plans come with portable modems, which can be handy if you want to take your internet with you on the train to work or on a road-trip up the coast. The modems have rechargeable batteries, can connect several devices at once, and are usually about the size of a deck of cards, so you can slip one in your pocket or bag.
Best 5G mobile broadband plans
Telstra is currently the only provider offering 5G mobile broadband plans. Here's a look at the range:
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Telstra
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Telstra
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Telstra
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Telstra
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5G mobile broadband may still be a dream for many Australians, but for some its about to become a reality.
Telstra has become the first Australian telco to offer 5G mobile brodband on a plan with the HTC 5G Hub. The Hub can connect up to 20 devices simultaneously, can connect to mains power and also operate on battery power, with a 24-hour battery life. As well as serving as a modem it can also work as an entertainment device. It has a touch-screen and support for Android apps like Netflix, and a USB Type-C port for connecting it to external displays.
While Telstra does not intend its 5G mobile broadband plans to replace your home fixed wireless connection, with up to 100GB of data available, they could do it, just about. But be aware before you buy that Telstra 5G coverage is still very limited. Telstra is rolling out its 5G mobile network across the country with pockets of coverage available in 25 towns and cities including Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Hobart, Launceston, Toowoomba, and the Gold Coast. See our Telstra 5G coverage map for details.
Best 5G home wireless plans
While Telstra is focusing on mobile broadband for 5G, Optus is now selling 5G mobile broadband plans designed to replace an NBN connection. The Optus plans come with unlimited data and cost just $70 per month. On top of that, they come with a 50Mbps speed guarantee. If you sign up for a plan and find you're getting slower than that, Optus will let you cancel your contract with no penalty.
Optus 5G coverage is pretty limited at the moment, which means that you'll need to check your address on the Optus website to see if you're eligible to take up one of these plans.
You can do so by visiting www.optus.com.au/shop/broadband/5g.
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