Exetel back on top as fastest NBN provider in latest ACCC report

Dylan Crismale - Digital Content Editor

Last updated 30 June 2023

The ACCC has released its 21st Measuring Broadband Australia report, and Exetel has reclaimed the top spot. The report found Exetel customers receive 103.5% of their NBN plan's maximum speeds during the busiest hours of the day (between 7pm and 11pm).

This comes after Launtel topped the previous two reports since December. Launtel itself placed second with its customers achieving 103.3% of maximum speeds. Optus followed with 100.1% with Telstra and TPG trailing next on 99.8% and 98.1% respectively.

The report looks at the speeds of major telcos to determine the fastest NBN provider. There are currently 11 telcos featured in the report including Aussie Broadband, Dodo, Exetel, iiNet, iPrimus, Launtel, Optus, Telstra, TPG, Superloop, and Vodafone.

Here's the full breakdown of how they all performed:

Average percent of max. download speed

Provider	Peak hours	Overall	Overall excluding underperforming connections
Aussie Broadband	97.5	98.8	101.4
Dodo	95.4	96.7	100.8
Exetel	103.5	104.8	105.3
iiNet	96.8	98	100.7
iPrimus	95.4	96.7	100.8
Launtel	103.3	105.2	105.8
Optus	100.1	101.4	103.1
Superloop	96.9	98.1	100.4
Telstra	99.8	101.6	104
TPG	98.1	99.9	102
Vodafone	97.8	98.8	101.4

Since its exit from the Australian market, MyRepublic is no longer included in the report with its customers participating having been transferred to Superloop (unless they have since switched to another provider).

Customers with fixed-line NBN connections received 98.1% of their maximum plan download during the weekday peak periods between 7 and 11pm - this was slightly higher than the last report where the figure was 97.7%. The ACCC noted that it was a different story when it came to upload speeds with customers achieving maximum plan upload speeds just 85.4% of the time during the same busy hours.

ACCC Commissioner Anna Brakey said "Consumers rightly expect to receive the download and upload speeds that they are paying for. The report shows that broadband retailers are consistently delivering download speeds close to consumers’ maximum plan speeds".

Compare NBN 50 plans from the providers in this report:

#1	Dodo Editor's Pick	Dodo All Fixed Line nbn® Editor's Pick nbn50 Unlimited Plan All Fixed Line nbn® nbn® 50/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Incl. $30/mth discount for 6 months based on the standard price $87.99/mth. Ends 08.12.26. T&Cs apply. $57.99/mth for first 6 mths, then $87.99/mth Min. cost $57.99 Go to Site*	$57.99/mth for first 6 mths, then $87.99/mth Min. cost $57.99	Go to Site
#2	Superloop	Superloop All Fixed Line nbn® Extra-value nbn50/20 All Fixed Line nbn® nbn® 50/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Incl. $20/mth off for 6 months! $69/mth for 6 mths, then $89/mth + Bundle & Save $69/mth for first 6 mths, then $89/mth Min. cost $69 Go to Site	$69/mth for first 6 mths, then $89/mth Min. cost $69	Go to Site
#3	TPG	TPG All Fixed Line nbn® nbn50 Unlimited Plan All Fixed Line nbn® nbn® 50/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: $69.99/mth for first 6 months, then $89.99/mth. T&Cs apply. $69.99/mth for first 6 mths, then $89.99/mth Min. cost $69.99 Link not supplied	$69.99/mth for first 6 mths, then $89.99/mth Min. cost $69.99	Link not supplied
#4	iiNet	iiNet All Fixed Line nbn® nbn50 Liimitless All Fixed Line nbn® nbn® 50/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $20/mth off for 6 mths – $69.99/mth for first 6 months, then $89.99/mth. Use code SAVE20FOR6 $69.99/mth + $10 Upfront for first 6 mths, then $89.99/mth Min. cost $79.99 Link not supplied	$69.99/mth + $10 Upfront for first 6 mths, then $89.99/mth Min. cost $79.99	Link not supplied
#5	Aussie Broadband	Aussie Broadband All Fixed Line nbn® Value nbn - Unlimited All Fixed Line nbn® nbn® 47/18 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $25 off for the first 6 months. Promo code SPRING25. $95/mth after promo ends 15.11.26 $70/mth for first 6 months, then $95/mth Min. cost $70 Link not supplied	$70/mth for first 6 months, then $95/mth Min. cost $70	Link not supplied
#6	Optus	Optus All Fixed Line nbn® Optus Everyday nbn® All Fixed Line nbn® nbn® 50/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: $82/mth for a year, then $97/mth or as notified. New services. Incl intro offer + extra $5/mth off. Min cost $388. Ends 6/10. $82/mth for first 12 months, then $97/mth or as notified Min. cost $82 Link not supplied	$82/mth for first 12 months, then $97/mth or as notified Min. cost $82	Link not supplied
#7	iPrimus	iPrimus All Fixed Line nbn® Standard Plus Plan All Fixed Line nbn® nbn® 50/17 Mbps Unlimited Data $90/mth Min. cost $90 Link not supplied	$90/mth Min. cost $90	Link not supplied
#8	Vodafone	Vodafone All Fixed Line nbn® Essential+ nbn® All Fixed Line nbn® nbn® 50/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Save $10/mth when you bundle with a mobile plan with Vodafone. T&Cs apply. $94/mth Min. cost $94 Link not supplied	$94/mth Min. cost $94	Link not supplied

NBN Fixed Wireless speeds improve

The Measuring Broadband Report also includes fixed wireless NBN services. This report noted that significantly more NBN Fixed Wireless Plus plans achieved download speeds above the benchmark of 50MBps following changes made to the network by NBN Co.

In March 2023 72% of fixed wireless services reached average speeds above 50Mbps compared to just 32% of services in February 2022.

"We have previously called out the underperformance of fixed wireless plans, so it is encouraging to see that more people are experiencing faster speeds", said Brakey.

Dylan Crismale

Digital Content Editor

Dylan Crismale is a Digital Content Editor at WhistleOut, has been writing for almost a decade across a variety of Australian publications. He previously worked as a writer at Finder covering energy, internet and mobile plans. Dylan is passionate about finding the best deals to save people money and educating people about tech. When he's not sat at his desk Dylan loves working out, bingeing TV and hanging out with friends.

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