What nbn speed do I need? nbn speeds explained

Let's take a trip down memory lane to the dial-up days. The screeching sound of connection is something we’ll never forget. With speeds barely reaching 56 kbps (kilobits per second) in the early 2000s, it was a world away from the high-speed connections we rely on today.

Flash forward to 2013, and the average Australian home had seven devices connected to the internet, using around 40GB of data each month. Fast forward to today, and that number has skyrocketed – with households now consuming over ten times that amount across 22 devices. Looking ahead, experts predict that within the next decade, our average monthly data usage will soar past 1100GB, with nearly 40 connected devices in every home.

It’s worth taking the time to think about how you use the internet. How many devices do your kit and kaboodle realistically use? What nbn® plans are available at your address? What nbn® internet speeds do you actually need?

Scroll on for the answers to all these questions, plus wrap your head around the different speed tiers and all the requirements that go along with it.

Understanding NBN speeds

It all comes down to the way that nbn® technology reaches your home. This impacts the type of internet connection you receive – whether you’re eligible for speedier speeds and that ultra-fast multi-device connectivity.

Fibre to the Premises (FTTP)

A fibre optic cable connects directly to the nbn® connection box inside your home or business. Think of it like your own personal Autobahn delivering zippy internet speeds. Basically, the piece de resistance of internet connections.

Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC)

Those sweet, fast, reliable connections are delivered via fibre optic cables to a node near your home. From there, a coaxial cable connects the node to your premises, powering your nbn® modem.

Fibre to the Node (FTTN)

Fibre to the Node (FTTN) brings fibre optic cables to a nearby node, with copper wires carrying the connection to your home – sometimes up to 1 kilometre. While it offers solid performance, speed can be affected by the quality and length of copper wires, cable layout, and electrical interference.

Fibre to the Curb (FTTC)

nbn® runs fibre optic cables down your street, connecting to copper cables at a nearby pit or telegraph pole. With FTTC, the copper stretch is kept short, delivering faster speeds than FTTN.

Fixed Wireless (FW)

You get access to the nbn® through a satellite dish installed by a qualified technician. Internal wiring connects this antenna to the nbn® connection box inside your home or business.

How NBN speed tiers work

Speed is generally measured in Mbps, which stands for megabits per second. It works the same as a speed limit – the higher the number, the faster the connection. nbn® providers showcase their speed tiers in this format:

DOWNLOAD SPEED / UPLOAD SPEED

1000 megabits – or 1 gigabit (Gbps) – is the most premium offering. But soon 2 Gbps nbn® speeds might be arriving in September 2025 thanks to Australia’s fibre optic upgrades.

Different speed, different price

nbn® speeds are all about your maximum download and upload on your internet plan. Each internet plan comes with its own speed tier. This means that the price varies depending on the level of speed you choose. Pretty straightforward!

Download speed vs upload speed

A download speed of at least 50 Mbps used to be enough. But these days, that number doesn’t cut it when you’ve got multiple devices. With more WFH, online learning, and gaming, 500 Mbps is the new norm.

Download speeds are prioritised over upload speeds because most online activities need more downloading capacity. Tasks that need uploading still rely on a level of downloading to some extent.

With FTTP, your speeds are nearly symmetrical – making it every bit better in every single way.

Typical Evening Speed explained

Typical Evening Speed indicates just how fast your connection will be during the busiest period of the day. The time when everyone gets online? Just after dinner between 7pm and 11pm at night.

See a rundown of our speeds below:

Factors that affect your NBN speed

The more, the not merrier

If you think of the internet like a freeway, your speed tier is like the speed limit for your road. When there are less cars on the road, it’s a smooth drive the whole time. But during busier hours, like rush hour in Western Sydney, your journey gets a whole lot slower.

More users mean more congestion, bringing your speeds down below the maximum limit of your plan.

More gigs for bigger digs

If you have more people in your house and everyone has at least 4 devices, you’re going to need higher speeds.

It also depends on what everyone is doing. The type and size of content getting downloaded and uploaded will also play a part in slowing down your internet speed.

Factors based on connection type

Your nbn® connection type might be more sensitive to interruptions than you'd like. To make sense of it all, we've broken down the key factors that impact nbn® speeds and which connection technologies are most affected.

What NBN speed do you need?

For streaming and entertainment

At least 500 Mbps is fast enough to stream a 4K video on platforms like YouTube and Netflix on a single device, or HD on two or three devices. So you’ll be able to watch Stranger Things in preparation for the final season in crisp 4K definition (you’ll need to trust us).

In a three to four-person household, you might opt for a slightly higher 500 Mbps plan, depending on how often you use these services.

For online gaming

For online gaming, low ping matters more than speed. You only need 3 Mbps to play on standard configurations, but for those 100GB+ updates, a faster plan (500/50 Mbps or higher) means less time staring at progress bars and more time slaying dragons, trolls, and foes.

Twitch recommends at least a 3 Mbps upload speed (or 3000kbps bitrate) to stream in crisp 720p at 30 FPS – so if you’re planning on showing off your skills to the wider web you’ll need a connection that can keep up.

For remote work and video calls

You don’t need lightning-fast nbn® speeds for emails or spreadsheets, but a reliable connection is key. At least 10 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload per remote worker will keep things running smoothly for tasks like document editing and team chats.

A little extra bandwidth ensures you stay in the conversation not frozen mid-sentence.

For large households and smart homes

Smart speakers like Alexa and Siri don’t ask for much – just 1–2 Mbps to keep the banter flowing. But add video doorbells, pet cams, and a thermostat that knows your toastiness level, and your bandwidth starts feeling the squeeze. If you’ve got more gadgets than a Bond villain? You’ll need the broadband to match once all the devices add up. Here are a few popular ones:

• Smart speakers: 1-2 Mbps

• Thermostats: 1.5 Mbps or more

• Pet camera: 2 Mbps

• Smart lighting: 2-5 Mbps

• Smart home hub: 3 Mbps

• 2K wireless video doorbell: 3 Mbps (per camera)

• Smart TV: Up to 25 Mbps

FTTP and accessing higher NBN speeds

Exactly how fast is nbn® through FTTP? FTTP throws the speed limit out the window, delivering up to 2Gbps. That’s enough to download an entire movie in less time than it takes to microwave some popcorn.

No buffering, just seamless 4K streaming, instant file uploads, and enough bandwidth to keep even the most device-hungry households happy.

At Superloop, it’s easy to check what nbn speeds you can get and learn about your connection status.

How to check and upgrade your NBN speed

Want to check your internet speed? Use Superloop internet speed test tool and keep an eye on typical evening speeds. This is when networks tend to be busiest.

Check internet speed

Upgrading your nbn® speed is simple:

1. Choose your plan: Browse through Superloop’s nbn plans.

2. Sign up online: Whether you’re new to nbn® or switching from another provider, we’ve got you covered.

   1. New to nbn®? Check to see whether your address is covered by the nbn and eligible to be connected. Superloop then arranges a technician to connect you.

   2. Switching? It’s quick and easy, with minimal downtime and often same-day activation.

3. Cancel your old service: Once you’re up and running, don’t forget to cancel your previous provider.

Connect with Superloop’s nbn speeds

We may not have flying cars (yet!), but we do have fiery battles in Westeros that demand epic 4K, smart homes that are only getting smarter, and urgent files that need to go from your Australian home office to London in a flash.

With Fibre to the Premises, you're set for whatever wild tech the future throws our way – AI that knows what you need before you do, VR so immersive you’ll forget what’s real, and home automation that practically tucks you in at night (well not quite but almost!).

Many Superloop customers are already living in the fast lane, their homes buzzing with seamless connectivity. So, what’s stopping you? The future’s here – might as well plug in.