The NBN speed boost could make me ditch 5G internet

Alex Choros - Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor

Last updated 05 March 2024

Just over two years ago, I cancelled my NBN connection for 5G home internet and I haven't looked back. It's faster and cheaper than an equivalent NBN plan, and has proved very reliable. While I've been happy with 5G home internet, NBN Co's newly announced speed increases have me contemplating a wired connection again.

If the speed changes go through, NBN 100 plans will become five times faster with no change in wholesale price (for those with HFC or FTTP connections). That's an increase from 100Mbps to 500Mbps. NBN 250 and NBN 1000 plans will also get a bit faster, but it’s the NBN 100 plan change that has me excited.

Uncapped 5G plans are currently better value than an NBN 100 plan. I'm paying $85 per month and getting speeds as fast 500Mbps. For comparison, you're typically looking at $85 per month for an NBN 100 plan with typical evening speeds of 100Mbps (excluding promotional discounts).

Here's how NBN 100 plan pricing compares with uncapped 5G plans:

NBN 100
Uncapped 5G

#1	amaysim	amaysim FTTN, FTTB, FTTC NBN100 FTTN, FTTB, FTTC nbn® 100/18 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $40/mth off for the first 6 months ($30 NBN Sale + $10 Standard Intro Offer), then $90/mth. Ends 20.10.26 $50/mth for first 6 months, then $90/mth Min. cost $50 Go to Site	$50/mth for first 6 months, then $90/mth Min. cost $50	Go to Site
#2	Belong	Belong FTTN, FTTB, FTTC NBN Premium – Unlimited FTTN, FTTB, FTTC nbn® 100/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $36 off for 6 months - $59/mth for first 6 mths, then $95/mth (Offer ends 04.11.26) + Free $80 Mobile SIM $59/mth for first 6 mths, then $95/mth Min. cost $59 Go to Site	$59/mth for first 6 mths, then $95/mth Min. cost $59	Go to Site
#3	Dodo Editor's Pick	Dodo FTTN, FTTB, FTTC Editor's Pick nbn100 Unlimited Plan FTTN, FTTB, FTTC nbn® 100/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Incl. $30/mth discount for 6 months based on the standard price $92.99/mth. Ends 08.12.26. T&Cs apply. $62.99/mth for first 6 mths, then $92.99/mth Min. cost $62.99 Go to Site*	$62.99/mth for first 6 mths, then $92.99/mth Min. cost $62.99	Go to Site
#4	Moose NBN	Moose NBN FTTN, FTTB, FTTC nbn 100/20 Elite FTTN, FTTB, FTTC nbn® 100/18 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $23/mth off for first 6 months - $63.80/mth for 6mths, then $86.80/mth + Get eero 7 modem for only $175 (RRP $249). $63.80/mth for first 6 mths, then $86.80/mth Min. cost $63.80 Link not supplied	$63.80/mth for first 6 mths, then $86.80/mth Min. cost $63.80	Link not supplied
#5	Tangerine Telecom	Tangerine Telecom FTTN, FTTB, FTTC Speedy NBN 100/20 FTTN, FTTB, FTTC nbn® 100/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $25/mth off for the first 6 mths, $67.90/mth for first 6 months, then $92.90/mth. $67.90/mth for first 6 mths, then $92.90/mth Min. cost $67.90 Go to Site	$67.90/mth for first 6 mths, then $92.90/mth Min. cost $67.90	Go to Site
#6	Flip	Flip FTTN, FTTB, FTTC Unlimited Turbo Boost nbn100 FTTN, FTTB, FTTC nbn® 100/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Incl. $19.90/mth off for 6 months - $69/mth for first 6mths then $88.90/mth. New customers only. Ends 31.10.26. T&Cs apply. $69/mth for first 6 mths then $88.90/mth Min. cost $69 Go to Site	$69/mth for first 6 mths then $88.90/mth Min. cost $69	Go to Site
#7	Kogan Internet	Kogan Internet FTTN, FTTB, FTTC Gold Unlimited FTTN, FTTB, FTTC nbn® 98/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Incl. $16/mth off for 12mths. $69.90/mth for first 12 months then revert back to $85.90/mth. Offer available until withdrawn. $69.90/mth for first 12 mths, then $85.90/mth Min. cost $69.90 Go to Site	$69.90/mth for first 12 mths, then $85.90/mth Min. cost $69.90	Go to Site
#8	iiNet	iiNet FTTN, FTTB, FTTC nbn Home Fast Liimitless FTTN, FTTB, FTTC nbn® 99/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $25/mth off for 6 mths - $69.99/mth for first 6 months, then $94.99/mth. Use code SAVE25FOR6 $69.99/mth + $10 Upfront for first 6 mths, then $94.99/mth Min. cost $79.99 Link not supplied	$69.99/mth + $10 Upfront for first 6 mths, then $94.99/mth Min. cost $79.99	Link not supplied
#9	Swoop	Swoop FTTN, FTTB, FTTC nbn® Home Fast FTTN, FTTB, FTTC nbn® 100/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $22/mth off for 6 months, $72/mth for first 6 mths then $94/mth + Get the eero 7 for only $175 (normally $249) $72/mth for first 6 mths, then $94/mth Min. cost $72 Link not supplied	$72/mth for first 6 mths, then $94/mth Min. cost $72	Link not supplied
#10	Superloop	Superloop FTTN, FTTB, FTTC Family nbn100/20 FTTN, FTTB, FTTC nbn® 95/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Incl. $21/mth off 6 months! $74/mth for 6 mths, then $95/mth + Bundle & Save $74/mth for first 6 mths, then $95/mth Min. cost $74 Go to Site	$74/mth for first 6 mths, then $95/mth Min. cost $74	Go to Site

#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 $95.90/mth Min. cost $95.90 Link not supplied	$95.90/mth Min. cost $95.90	Link not supplied

5G plans make some trade-offs in consistency, however. I can get speeds above 500Mbps on a good day, but sometimes they're as low as 200Mbps. 200Mbps is still a great internet speed, so for the price, this isn't an issue for me. But if an upgraded NBN 100 plan can give me 500Mbps most of the time, that becomes a no-brainer. Especially at the same price.

Price is the big question, however. NBN Co says wholesale pricing won't change for plans receiving a speed boost, but that doesn't mean prices won't change for customers like you and me. While price increases are never popular - and often cause customers to leave - a five times speed increase is the kind of thing that’s worth a couple more bucks per month on paper.

NBN providers also then have the responsibility of delivering those speeds. While capacity charges have been eliminated from NBN 100 plans and up, from are other contention points in the network. Users can still run into congestion due to a lack of network-to-network interface (NNI) capacity or backhaul capacity.

NNI is effectively the connection back to the NBN, whereas backhaul typically refers to the connection between a telco and the wider internet. To avoid congestion, a telco would need enough backhaul that matches the capacity they purchase on the NBN. Some telcos, like Aussie Broadband, own their own infrastructure, which allows them to cut down on this cost. Others need to purchase connectivity through a larger provider.

Backhaul is more affordable than what NBN used to charge for capacity, but more customers on faster plans could see providers need to invest a lot more. This, in turn, could increase prices for customers.

At the same time, providers offering 5G internet could drop their prices. There's a lot more margin in selling 5G wireless internet plans than there is NBN after all. If Telstra wants to cut my 5G home internet bill to $70 per month to better compete with the upcoming NBN speed boosts, I'd probably stay.

The NBN speed boosts sound great on paper. Making faster internet more widely available is a good thing! There are just so many variables that need to be considered over the coming months. And that's assuming they go ahead - this is still all just a proposal. But if NBN Co and the providers get it right, they'll have won back a customer.

Alex Choros

Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor | X | Instagram | Threads | LinkedIn

Alex Choros is the Managing Editor of WhistleOut Australia and an award-winning journalist. He's been writing about consumer technology for over a decade and is an expert on the Australian telco sector, to the point where he knows far too many phone and internet plans by heart. In addition to leading the WhistleOut editorial team, Alex is responsible for ruining the office Sonos with his troubled taste in music.

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