Telstra is all but promising congestion free NBN for speeds as fast as NBN 100

Alex Choros - Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor

Last updated 29 September 2020

Telstra is all but promising congestion free NBN, having upped its typical evening speed guidance for plans as fast as NBN 100. Big T is now saying customers can expect typical evening speeds of 100Mbps on NBN 100 plans, 50Mbps on NBN 50 plans, and 25Mbps on NBN 25 plans.

All Fixed Line nbn®

Basic Internet Only Plan

All Fixed Line nbn®

nbn® 25/4 Mbps
Unlimited Data
Deal: Get 50% off any home nbn plan for 2 months. Add code PROMO at checkout. Ends 05.10.26. T&Cs apply.

$89/mth

Min. cost $44.50

Link not supplied

$89/mth

Min. cost $44.50

Link not supplied

Typical evening speeds refer to the NBN performance customers can expect during the busiest times of the day - between 7pm to 11pm. In short, this new speed guidance suggests Telstra customers will be able to get the maximum speeds available on their plan tier no matter what they want to get online.

Telstra previously advertised typical evening speeds of 88Mbps on NBN 100 plans. This was only bested by Superloop, who advertised typical evening speeds of 90Mbps on NBN 100 plans.

WhistleOut understands that the reason Telstra is able to make these kind promises regarding speed is the result of backend changes at NBN Co which will also apply to other providers. While Telstra has been the first provider to publicly take advantage, it wouldn't be surprising to see other providers increase their evening speed guidance in the coming weeks and months. Of course, there are no guarantees other providers will be as bold as Telstra in ostensibly promising congestion free plans.

Despite Telstra's alluring proposition, there are caveats. While these plans may be able to hit top speeds, factors like in-home wiring and equipment can result in lower speeds than expected. In addition, customers on FTTN plans will be limited to the maximum speeds their connection can achieve. A FTTN premise needs to be within 400 metres of the local exchange to have a chance of achieving NBN 100 speeds.

Nonetheless, Telstra has resumed selling NBN 100 plans to customers on FTTN, FTTB, and FTTC technology types, after limiting 100Mbps plans to customers with FTTP or HFC connections earlier this year. The telco says it's done backend work to ensure a better experience, and if customers can't reach the speeds they're paying for, they'll be provided with alternative options.

Lastly, Telstra has begun selling NBN 250 and NBN 1000 plans. These are available as speed pack add-ons for customers with an NBN 100 plan. Upgrading to an NBN 250 plan will set you back an additional $30 per month, bringing your total bill to $140 per month. Upgrading to an NBN 1000 pan will set you back an additional $70 per month, taking your bill to $180 per month. Telstra is reporting typical evening speeds of 215Mbps and 250Mbps on NBN 250 and NBN 1000 plans, respectively, putting it directly in line with providers like Aussie Broadband and Superloop. Unsurprisingly, Telstra's plans faster than NBN 100 are some of the priciest around.

Here is how Telstra's NBN 250 plans compare:

#1	Tangerine Telecom	Tangerine Telecom Fixed Wireless Speedy nbn® Wireless Speed Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $25/mth off for the first 6 mths - $67.90/month for first 6 months, then $92.90/month. $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
#2	MATE	MATE No Worries Wireless nbn® Wireless 90/8 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $25/mth off for first 6 mths, $75/mth for first 6 mths, then reverts to $100/mth (code MATE25) + Bundle & Save + more! $75/mth for first 6 months, then $100/mth Min. cost $75 Link not supplied	$75/mth for first 6 months, then $100/mth Min. cost $75	Link not supplied
#3	Skymesh	Skymesh NBN Wireless Fast nbn® Wireless Speed Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $20/mth off for first 6 months, then $99.95/mth. T&Cs apply. $79.95/mth for first 6 months, then $99.95/mth Min. cost $79.95 Link not supplied	$79.95/mth for first 6 months, then $99.95/mth Min. cost $79.95	Link not supplied
#4	Superloop	Superloop FTTP, HFC Creator nbn250/100 FTTP, HFC nbn® 250/85 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Incl. $20/mth off for 6 mths! $82/mth for 6 mths, then $102/mth + Free eero 7 modem when you stay for 24 mths + Bundle & Save $82/mth for first 6 mths, then $102/mth Min. cost $82 Go to Site	$82/mth for first 6 mths, then $102/mth Min. cost $82	Go to Site
#5	Origin Broadband	Origin Broadband Fixed Wireless Fast nbn® 250/20 nbn® Wireless 160/12 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $30/mth off for 6 mths, $85/mth for 6 mths, then reverts to $115/mth + 2,500 Everyday Rewards Points + More! $85/mth for 6 mths, then $115/mth Min. cost $85 Link not supplied	$85/mth for 6 mths, then $115/mth Min. cost $85	Link not supplied
#6	Activ8me	Activ8me Fixed Wireless Home Fast nbn® Wireless 90/8 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: 2 months free! New residential customers only who sign up on an eligible plan with an RRP of under $85/mth. T&Cs apply $89.95/mth Min. cost $89.95 Go to Site	$89.95/mth Min. cost $89.95	Go to Site
#7	Telstra	Telstra Premium Internet Only Plan (Fixed Wireless) nbn® Wireless 183/14 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Get 50% off any home nbn plan for 2 months. Add code PROMO at checkout. Ends 05.10.26. T&Cs apply. $99/mth Min. cost $49.50 Link not supplied	$99/mth Min. cost $49.50	Link not supplied
#8	Aussie Broadband	Aussie Broadband nbn® Fixed Wireless Fast Unlimited nbn® Wireless 160/10 Mbps Unlimited Data $99/mth Min. cost $99 Link not supplied	$99/mth Min. cost $99	Link not supplied
#9	More	More Fixed Wireless Fast NBN nbn® Wireless Speed Unlimited Data Deal: $80/mth for 36 months, then $95/mth ongoing for CommBank customers who sign up using a CommBank credit or debit card $105/mth Min. cost $105 Link not supplied	$105/mth Min. cost $105	Link not supplied
#10	AGL	AGL Fixed Wireless Fast nbn® Wireless 160/10 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: AGL Bundle Offer - $95/mth when you BYO modem and have AGL energy. $110/mth Min. cost $110 Link not supplied	$110/mth Min. cost $110	Link not supplied

Telstra is currently offering a $10 per month discount on its NBN 250 plan, bringing it down to $130 per month for your first year.

NBN 250 and NBN 1000 plans are only available to customers connecting to the NBN via FTTP and HFC. All FTTP customers can get either plan, but only 70% of HFC customers can get NBN 250 speeds, and only 7% can get NBN 1000. However, recent NBN upgrades announced by the federal government should ensure that 75% of Australians are able to get gigabit NBN plans by 2023.

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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