Your old BYO modem could be the reason your NBN is slow

Dylan Crismale - Digital Content Editor

Last updated 22 August 2025

Leading network insights company, Opensignal, has found NBN customers with retail service provider (RSP) issued routers experience significantly better performance.

Opensignal's analysts looked at broadband consistency between Australian households using provider-supplied gateways vs those households using BYO modem-router equipment.

Telstra customers using its equipment had a 17.3% higher consistent quality score compared to Telstra customers with BYO modems.

It was the same for Optus users, where customers who used the RSP-issued router saw 16.8% better consistency.

Opensignal graph showing internet consistency when using an RSP supplied modem

All Australian RSPs providing NBN plans rely on the same NBN Co infrastructure but customer experiences can still vary wildly. Individual telcos differ in terms of traffic management, their own infrastructure, and their backhaul to the wider internet. This is normally reflected in typical evening speeds — the higher the speed, the more consistent performance you can expect.

Opensignal says the next most important role in a consistent internet experience is the in-home equipment.

What's in a name router?

RSPs take various approaches in how they support in-home setups. Both Telstra and Optus offer their own-branded routers with 4G backup valued at $306 and $240, respectively. Vodafone also just started offering its own "Super Wi-Fi" modem ($336 RRP) with a bundled mesh WiFi extender.

All three brands bundle the modem into an NBN plan for free, provided you stay connected for 24 months (with clawback arrangements if you don't). Other providers such as Superloop and iPrimus offer routers (under $200) such as the eero 6+ Wifi Router, with similar $0 upfront cost-incentivised offers.

RSP-issued routers are typically pre-configured to the provider's unique network, fully supported with remote management and troubleshooting and managed by the issuing provider — meaning they can push firmware updates and optimisations.

However, plenty of providers in-market with some of the cheapest NBN plan offers allow customers to BYO modem, no strings attached. This could be a modem supplied by your old telco from five or six years ago that you've taken with you from one provider to another.

Consumers using BYO-routers, however, may not receive full support from their provider and may have to self-configure and self-update, as the RSP can't support every device in the market.

If it's been a few years since you changed out your router, it may be something you want to put on your radar. Your older modem could be the reason for your slow internet.

From September 14, NBN Co is introducing new wholesale speed tiers for HFC and FTTP-connected premises. This will see NBN 100 plans boosted to 500Mbps speeds, NBN 250 will triple in speed to 750Mbps, and will even see NBN 2000 plans introduced to the market.

While NBN Co is effectively turning on the tap, you'll still need to make sure your at-home setup is capable of handling the higher speeds. If you're still using a WiFi 4 modem, you'll want to upgrade to a WiFi 6 modem at a minimum. Some WiFi 5 modems can support these kinds of speeds, but we wouldn't recommend buying a WiFi 5 modem or router in 2025.

Some providers have even started offering plans with up to 500Mbps speeds already:

Plans with active links

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#1	SpinTel	SpinTel FTTP, HFC Home Ultrafast 1000/100 FTTP, HFC nbn® 1000/100 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $28.95 off your plan for first 6 months! $76/mth for first 6 months, then $104.95/mth. $76/mth for first 6 mths, then $104.95/mth Min. cost $76 Go to Site	$76/mth for first 6 mths, then $104.95/mth Min. cost $76	Go to Site
#2	Tangerine Telecom	Tangerine Telecom FTTP, HFC Ultraspeedy NBN 1000/100 FTTP, HFC nbn® 700/85 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $25/mth off for the first 6 mths, $89.90/month for first 6 months, then $114.90/month. $89.90/mth for first 6 mths, then $114.90/mth Min. cost $89.90 Go to Site	$89.90/mth for first 6 mths, then $114.90/mth Min. cost $89.90	Go to Site

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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