Modem error was causing Telstra to over-report 5G internet evening speeds

Alex Angove-Plumb - Digital Content Editor

Last updated 31 May 2024

Telstra has dropped the reported typical evening speeds for its uncapped 5G home internet plan after identifying a fault in how its 5G modems were reporting download and upload speeds. After issuing a firmware update, the telco now believes the issue has been fixed.

The actual connections of Telstra 5G home internet customers haven’t slowed down. Only the accuracy of Telstra’s reporting has changed, thanks to the firmware update.

Download typical evening speeds fell from 336Mbps to 291Mbps – a difference of 45Mbps, which is roughly the speed of an NBN 50 plan. Uploads also dropped, but only from 44Mbps to 35Mbps.

Even with these lower numbers, Telstra still boasts the fastest typical evening speeds for any uncapped 5G home internet service from a national provider in Australia – the next-closest is SpinTel, with 240Mbps down and 20Mbps up. This is a significant gap in performance, though obviously less so than with Telstra’s previous figures.

Not many providers offer 5G home internet plans with uncapped speeds, but here's a look at how they compare:

#1	Optus Editor's Pick	Optus Editor's Pick Optus Plus Entertainer Superfast 5G 5G Home Internet 230/20 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: $84/mth for a year, then $99/mth or as notified. New services. Incl intro offer + extra $5/mth off. Min cost $552. Ends 6/10. $84/mth for first 12 months, then $99/mth or as notified Min. cost $84 Link not supplied	$84/mth for first 12 months, then $99/mth or as notified Min. cost $84	Link not supplied
#2	SpinTel	SpinTel 5G Unlimited Wireless Broadband (240Mbit) 5G Home Internet 240 Mbps Unlimited Data $89/mth + $25 Upfront Min. cost $114 Link not supplied	$89/mth + $25 Upfront Min. cost $114	Link not supplied
#3	Telstra	Telstra Premium 5G Home Internet - 1TB 5G Home Internet 300/30 Mbps 1000GB Data $95/mth Min. cost $95 Link not supplied	$95/mth Min. cost $95	Link not supplied
#4	Yomojo	Yomojo 5G Internet Max 5G Home Internet 225/20 Mbps Unlimited Data $105.90/mth Min. cost $105.90 Link not supplied	$105.90/mth Min. cost $105.90	Link not supplied

WhistleOut reached out to Telstra about the drop in speeds and a spokesperson said “the issue was picked up during our regular quarterly speed testing reviews and we urgently took action to correct any advertising.” The telco is in the process of informing customers about the situation.

Telstra 5G home internet plans are contract-free, so customers can leave without paying an exit fee if they're unhappy with the speeds they're receiving. If you signed up within the past 24 months, the 5G modem needs to be returned to Telstra in good working order to avoid paying a $400 hardware fee.

Australian internet providers are required to report typical evening speeds for residential internet plans to give consumers an idea of the kind of service they might expect before signing up. Making sure these figures are accurate is important if people are to make informed decisions prior to purchase. But, while a useful indicator, typical evening speeds are gathered using past averaged performance statistics and therefore not a guarantee.

Alex Angove-Plumb

Digital Content Editor

Alex Angove-Plumb is a Digital Content Editor at WhistleOut and an award-winning journalist. He's been in the tech publishing industry since 2010, putting him a few short years away from the title of Grizzled Ancient in his chosen profession. He was an original WhistleOut-er before running NBN Co's corporate blog for two years, then moving on to a lengthy stint at CHOICE. Now he's come home.

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