The short version
Key points
- NBN Home Fast was proposed to increase from 100Mbps download and 20Mbps upload to 500Mbps download and 50Mbps upload.
- NBN Superfast was proposed to increase from 250Mbps download and 25Mbps upload to 750Mbps download.
- The highest tier was proposed to move from 500Mbps to a range of 750Mbps to 1Gbps download, with uploads increasing from 50Mbps to 100Mbps.
- The proposed changes would apply across NBN fibre to the premises and HFC networks, subject to the proposal proceeding.
- Eligible fibre to the curb customers could be able to order a 100Mbps download, 20Mbps upload plan to qualify for a full fibre upgrade.
What NBN Co proposed
NBN Co announced a proposal to provide substantially faster speeds on several popular high-speed tiers, with no extra wholesale cost to retailers from the beginning. The changes were expected to be considered for implementation towards the end of 2024, but they were still a proposal at the time of the video.
The biggest change involved the NBN Home Fast tier. Its wholesale download speed was proposed to rise from 100Mbps to 500Mbps, while the upload speed would increase from 20Mbps to 50Mbps. This represents five times the existing download speed on that tier.
Proposed changes to higher-speed plans
The NBN Superfast plan, listed as 250Mbps download and 25Mbps upload, was proposed to increase to 750Mbps download. The transcript does not specify a corresponding new upload speed for this tier.
The highest plan was described as moving from a 500Mbps to 1Gbps download service to a range of 750Mbps to 1Gbps. Its upload speed was proposed to increase from 50Mbps to 100Mbps. This means the service would have a minimum download speed of 750Mbps and a minimum upload speed of 50Mbps, with the possibility of reaching 1Gbps download and 100Mbps upload when conditions allow.
Which NBN connections could benefit
The proposed speed tiers would be available across NBN Co's hybrid fibre coaxial and fibre to the premises networks. These are the connection types positioned to receive the direct benefit from the faster wholesale products.
Customers in eligible fibre to the node and fibre to the curb locations would potentially be able to access the proposed tiers by upgrading to fibre to the premises. NBN Co also indicated that it intended to relax the fibre to the curb eligibility threshold. Under the proposal, ordering an NBN Home Fast service with 100Mbps download and 20Mbps upload could make some fibre to the curb premises eligible for a full fibre upgrade.
Demand, congestion and home networking
The announcement cited a rise in Australian data demand and usage. Average household consumption was described as 44GB per month across 22 internet-connected devices, compared with 40GB across approximately seven connected devices a decade earlier.
Faster speeds could reduce download times substantially. In the examples discussed, a 25GB Fortnite update was estimated to take about 70 minutes on an NBN 50 plan, around 36 minutes on the current 100Mbps Home Fast tier, about seven minutes on the proposed 500Mbps tier, and approximately five minutes on the proposed 750Mbps to 1Gbps tier.
The transcript also raised the possibility that substantially higher usage could contribute to evening slowdowns if network capacity did not keep pace with demand. At these speeds, home routers, Wi-Fi equipment, Ethernet ports and cabling could become more relevant, although many existing Wi-Fi and Ethernet connections are already faster than typical Australian internet services.
TechManPat’s conclusion
I think this is positive news, particularly because the proposal could make much faster services available without an additional wholesale charge. The fibre to the curb pathway to a full fibre upgrade may be the more significant part of the announcement, although I would not get too excited until the proposal is confirmed and implemented. I also think the faster tiers will make modern home networking equipment more useful for Australian households with suitable fibre or HFC connections.
This knowledge-centre summary is based on the linked TechManPat video and reflects the information available when it was published. Check current pricing, availability and policies before acting.
