Just when you thought you had the NBN all figured out, in comes a new acronym to learn - LBN. Just what is it, exactly?
In this guide:
- What is LBN?
- LBN vs NBN
- Speed
- Technology Types
- Price
- LBN Providers
- Do I have a choice between the NBN and LBN?
- LBN alternatives
What is LBN?
LBN stands for Local Broadband Network and is a competitor to the NBN. LBN Co has been around for longer than the NBN and has been connecting Aussie households to its private fibre network since 2007.
Unlike the national network which is a Government Business Enterprise, the LBN is a fully independent and privately owned telecommunications company. There are a number of LBN providers.
LBN vs NBN
Both LBN Co and NBN Co use a fibre network, but where LBN is a private telco the NBN is run in conjunction with the Australian Government. There are pros and cons to opting for a private network as opposed to one in which the government has a vested interest. It's kind of like private hospitals vs public hospitals - they will both take care of you but the experiences are entirely different.
The LBN offers a bespoke fibre network which achieves less congestion and higher speeds than the NBN but mostly services new apartment buildings, while the NBN is much wider reaching.
LBN: At a glance
What we love
- Faster speeds
- Less congestion
What could be improved
- More expensive
- Fewer ISPs available
NBN: At a glance
What we love
- Widely available
- Overall cheaper prices
What could be improved
- Slower typical evening speeds
- Different connection types yield vastly different results
Speed
NBN
Until recently the NBN’s max speeds capped out at 100Mbps but now connections of up to 1Gbps are available for select customers . NBN speeds are still limited depending on the price you’re willing to pay and what your technology type can handle.
Plans range from max download speeds of 12Mbps all the way up to 1000Mbps. Despite some big numbers, the majority of customers will be maxed out on an NBN 50 plan simply due to their connection type .
Congestion on the national network can also bring speeds down with the average download speed for a NBN 100 plan during peak hours sitting at around 90Mbps.
Remember, when choosing an NBN plan it's important to check the typical evening speeds , as those are the speeds you can expect during peak times - usually between 7pm and 11pm.
Here are the fastest NBN 100 plans around.
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#1
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amaysim
FTTN, FTTB, FTTC
NBN100
$50/mth
Min. cost $50
|
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#2
|
Belong
FTTN, FTTB, FTTC
NBN Premium – Unlimited
$59/mth
Min. cost $59
|
|
#3
|
Dodo
FTTN, FTTB, FTTC
Editor's Pick
nbn100 Unlimited Plan
$62.99/mth
Min. cost $62.99
|
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#4
|
Moose NBN
FTTN, FTTB, FTTC
nbn 100/20 Elite
$63.80/mth
Min. cost $63.80
Link not supplied
|
|
#5
|
Tangerine Telecom
Fixed Wireless Value Plus
$63.90/mth
Min. cost $63.90
|
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#6
|
Flip
FTTN, FTTB, FTTC
Unlimited Turbo Boost nbn100
$69/mth
Min. cost $69
|
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#7
|
Swoop
FTTN, FTTB, FTTC
nbn® Home Fast
$72/mth
Min. cost $72
Link not supplied
|
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#8
|
Skymesh
NBN Wireless Plus
$74.95/mth
Min. cost $74.95
Link not supplied
|
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#9
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Optus
FTTN, FTTB, FTTC
Optus Fast nbn®
$84/mth
Min. cost $84
Link not supplied
|
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#10
|
Telstra
FTTN, FTTB, FTTC
Premium Internet Only Plan
$99/mth
Min. cost $49.50
Link not supplied
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LBN
LBN services operate in a similar way, offering speed tiers of between 12Mbps and 250Mbps. However due to the scarcity of the network there is less congestion so you can expect the typical evening speeds to be substantially higher in some cases.
There are however no requirements for providers to supply their typical evening speeds on the LBN, although many still do. There are huge variations so be sure to ask your provider about their LBN speeds - and what speeds you can expect during peak times - before making the leap.
If you're not sure which LBN speed you need, our NBN speed guide will give you an indication of which speed tier will work for your household.
Technology Types
NBN
NBN has a range of different technology types depending on where you live and how lucky you are. Customers may have;
- Fibre to the Premises (FTTP)
- Fibre to the Basement (FTTB)
- Fibre to the Curb (FTTC)
- Fibre to the Node (FTTN)
- NBN Hybrid Fibre Coxial (HFC)
- Fixed Wireless NBN
- Satellite (Sky Muster) NBN services
Each of these technologies have different maximum speeds and require varying levels of technology and installations to work at top capacity.
LBN
LBN on the other hand is a bit more simple, only offering Fibre to the Basement or Fibre to the Premises which is the equivalent of two of the fastest technology type available on the NBN.
These connections minimise the amount of copper wiring used in conjunction with the fibre. Copper, although widely used to transfer data on both ADSL and NBN connections, has a limited range before the transmission becomes incredibly slow. By limiting the amount of copper used, internet speeds become considerably quicker.
This also means that most residences connected to the LBN can have their new internet service operational in less than an hour since a technicians shouldn't need to visit the residence.
Looking for LBN Co plans?
There are a number of providers offering LBN Co plans, but if you're searching for LBN with no luck, try searching for 'fast fibre internet'. Many LBN providers, like Exetel and Buroserv wholesale the LBN Co as fast fibre internet. Others, like Occom, call it LBN Co Fibre, and provider Clear calls its LBN offerings Fibre to the Home. The fine print will tell you whether it's delivered over the LBN Co network, if you're not sure.
Price
Both the NBN and the LBN are wholesale networks who sell capacity on their networks to different internet service providers. Internet service operators then sell these on to the customer at varying speeds and prices depending on their pricing structure and operating costs.
NBN
NBN wholesale prices are heavily regulated by the ACCC as the network was meant to bring reliable and accessible internet to every Australia. As a result we have and will continue to see prices shift to ensure that the network continues to be affordable for all.
Prices vary depending on speed and data limits on the NBN but you can get a range of plans for under $60 per month.
Have a look and compare NBN plans and prices below. Just choose from the dropdown meu below the heading to choose your speed tier.
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#1
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SpinTel
All Fixed Line nbn®
Home Starter 25/10
$41/mth
Min. cost $41
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#2
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Tangerine Telecom
All Fixed Line nbn®
Value NBN 25/10
$42.90/mth
Min. cost $42.90
|
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#3
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Dodo
All Fixed Line nbn®
nbn25 Unlimited Plan
$43.99/mth
Min. cost $43.99
|
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#4
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Moose NBN
All Fixed Line nbn®
nbn 25/10 Value
$44.80/mth
Min. cost $44.80
Link not supplied
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#5
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Flip
All Fixed Line nbn®
Editor's Pick
Unlimited Premium nbn25
$48/mth
Min. cost $48
|
|
#6
|
Belong
All Fixed Line nbn®
NBN Starter – Unlimited
$49/mth
Min. cost $49
|
|
#7
|
Kogan Internet
All Fixed Line nbn®
Bronze Unlimited
$49.90/mth
Min. cost $49.90
|
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#8
|
Swoop
All Fixed Line nbn®
nbn® Home Casual
$54/mth
Min. cost $54
Link not supplied
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#9
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MATE
All Fixed Line nbn®
Crikey nbn 25/10
$55/mth
Min. cost $55
Link not supplied
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#10
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Superloop
All Fixed Line nbn®
Everyday nbn25/10
$58/mth
Min. cost $58
|
LBN
Although the LBN sells its capacity wholesale it has a smaller network in which to draw from. This means that in order to make a profit prices are a little bit higher on the LBN than on the NBN. There are also less LBN service providers which means competition is yet to create as many deals or price differences in the market.
At the time of writing an LBN 25 plan can cost around $65 per month, an LBN 50 plan can cost $75 per month and an LBN 100 plan can cost $95 per month.
LBN Providers
According to the LBNCo website, the following are LBNCo providers: 5G Network, Active, Alpha, Buroserv, Clear, Connected Australia, Emerge Internet, Exetel, ezinternet, FuzeNet, Harbour ISP, Jamba, Kloud phone, Launtel, Leaptel, MyOwnTel, Node1 Internet, OCCOM, Pentanet, Pivit, Southern Phone, Uniti, Varsity Internet and xintergration.
It's important to note that not all providers are available Australia-wide.
Do I have a choice between the LBN and the NBN?
No, you don't get to choose between LBN and NBN. LBN is primarily used in new apartment complexes and the choice to go with the private fibre network is made by the developer. Although more buildings seem to be taking up the option, the LBN is by no means as far reaching as the national counterpart and that isn't looking to change anytime soon.
LBN Alternatives
Don't want the NBN or the LBN? There are other internet options available, like home wireless. Home wireless internet connects to the same networks as your mobile phone to connect you to the internet. Have a look below to compare plans. Choose your preferred speed from the dropdown menu below the heading.
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#1
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Telstra
Premium 5G Home Internet - 1TB
$95/mth
Min. cost $95
Link not supplied
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#2
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SpinTel
5G Unlimited Wireless Broadband (240Mbit)
$89/mth
+ $25 Upfront
Min. cost $114
Link not supplied
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#3
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Optus
Editor's Pick
Optus Plus Entertainer Superfast 5G
$84/mth
Min. cost $84
Link not supplied
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#4
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Yomojo
5G Internet Max
$95.90/mth
Min. cost $95.90
Link not supplied
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#5
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TPG
Editor's Pick
5G Home Broadband Premium
$34.99/mth
Min. cost $34.99
Link not supplied
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#6
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iiNet
5G Home Broadband Premium
$49.99/mth
Min. cost $49.99
Link not supplied
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#7
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Vodafone
5G Home Internet Premium Plan
$60/mth
Min. cost $60
Link not supplied
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Kate Reynolds
Digital Content Editor
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