TPG tops ACCC NBN speed test again

Jacqui Dent - Editorial Strategist

Last updated 06 February 2019

TPG tops ACCC NBN speed test again, but true top provider could be Telstra

The ACCC's most recent real-world speed test of Australian NBN connections has found that TPG customers, on average, receive 86.1% of their plan's maximum download speeds during peak hours (7pm - 11pm). While that is a 2.3% drop on November results, this still puts TPG at the head of the pack for best NBN speeds, at least as far as NBN speed testing is concerned.

However, the ACCC says that once it eliminated homes connected via poor infrastructure from its testing sample, Optus rose to the top speed spot with customers receiving an average of 89.9% of their plan's maximum speed during peak hours. Telstra and TPG trailed behind by a hair with 89.8% and 89.5% respectively.

Here's how all providers ranked in the ACCC's speed test, where all connections were included:

TPG - 86.1%
Aussie Broadband - 84.8%
Optus - 83%
Telstra - 82.7%
MyRepublic - 82%
Exetel - 81.7%
iiNet - 79.8%
Dodo & iPrimus - 78.9%

And here's how all providers ranked when poor connections were removed from the sample:

Optus - 89.9%
Telstra - 89.8%
TPG - 89.5%
Aussie Broadband - 89%
MyRepublic - 88.9%
Exetel - 84.8%
Dodo & iPrimus - 84.6%
iiNet - 83.3%

However, the ACCC noted that while peak speeds across providers were on average very high, all providers experienced a significant dip in speed quality during their very busiest hour of service, with iiNet's speeds dipping to an average of only 48.3% of maximum plan speed during this time. No other providers dipped lower than the ACCC's 60% minimum benchmark for evening speeds. Here's how they all compared:

Dips in speed on the NBN during peak hours are caused by network congestion.

While these results look like a clear win for TPG and Telstra, we would suggest taking the ACCC's speed testing with a grain of salt. The testing was conducted over 30 days during November 2018 across 980 households receiving service from 15 providers. Connections were a mix of NBN and ADSL services. While we have been unable to ascertain how many connections were NBN, based on past speed test samples we're guessing it would be about 800 homes, which is only about 0.0002% of active NBN connections, according to NBN Co's 2019 Corporate Plan.

It's also worth noting that TPG's advertised evening speeds are actually slightly slower than those advertised by Optus, Telstra, iiNet, Aussie Broadband, Exetel, Dodo and MyRepublic on some plans.

The ACCC has urged more Australian households to volunteer for their connections to be speed tested, to increase the accuracy of future results. If you want to become part of the ACCC's speed test program visit https://measuringbroadbandaustralia.com.au.

Slow connections mostly Fibre to the Node

The ACCC said that while the NBN connections it tested performed well on the whole, 13% of services were unable to "come close" to delivering the maximum speed promised by their plan. These connections were mostly Fibre to the Node (FTTN), and under-performed due to "limitations with some FTTN lines, or connection issues such as in-house wiring faults".

These results are hardly surprising. FTTN technology has long been controversial due to the speed degradation that can occur over the copper wiring that makes up an integral part of these connections.

ACCC Chair Rodd Sims said he would "encourage customers who aren’t getting the maximum speeds to contact their internet service provider to ask whether the problem can be fixed or about moving onto a cheaper plan".

NBN customers on poor FTTN connections can also consider connecting their home via a wireless broadband plan instead. Home wireless broadband plans use the same mobile network as your smartphone to connect your home to the internet. These connections can offer speed and data fast enough to completely replace a fixed-line connection. Depending on where you live, you may even be able to sign up for a super-fast unlimited data plan on Optus' new 5G network.

It's important to note, however, that these plans do require a reliable mobile signal at your home.

The ACCC also noted that not all FTTN NBN connections were slow. Many were able to achieve speeds comparable to those achieved over HFC and Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) connections. It all depends on how far your home is from the node.

Jacqui Dent

Editorial Strategist

Jacqui Dent is an Editorial Content Strategist at WhistleOut Australia, where she writes about mobile phone plans, NBN plans and everything in between. Over her ten-year career, she has worked to provide informed advice to the public, first in the sphere of writing and now in the world of consumer tech. Jacqui has also written about consumer telco products for Business Insider, Pedestrian and the 50Up Club.

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