The short version

Key points

  • Wholesale price changes begin on 1 July 2026, but the final retail increase will depend on each internet provider.
  • The 50Mbps download and 20Mbps upload tier rises by $2.34 per month wholesale, the largest increase listed.
  • The 500/50 tier rises by $2.32, while the 1,000/100 tier rises by $1.95.
  • The 25/10 tier is being priced in line with the 25/5 tier, making higher upload speeds available without an additional wholesale charge.
  • More than one million customers had moved from legacy copper to fibre by 31 December 2025, according to NBN Co.

What is changing from July?

NBN Co has confirmed wholesale price changes for residential fixed-line services from 1 July 2026. Wholesale prices are charged to internet providers, rather than directly to customers, so the eventual effect on household bills will depend on whether each provider absorbs the increase, passes it on or changes its plans and pricing.

The basic 12/1 tier is effectively unchanged, falling by one cent at wholesale. The 25/5 and 25/10 tiers increase from $35.70 to $36.15. The 50/20 tier rises from $55.26 to $57.60, an increase of $2.34. The 500/50 tier increases from $58.53 to $60.85, while the 1,000/100 tier moves from $73.93 to $75.88.

A regulated increase, but still another bill rise

NBN Co describes the average wholesale adjustment as being just under CPI. The transcript cites CPI of 3.63 per cent for the 12 months to 31 December 2025. The changes sit under the Special Access Undertaking, the long-term regulatory framework accepted by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission in October 2023.

That framework is intended to provide more predictable, transparent and fair pricing. The listed increases are not a large price shock, but they continue the broader pattern of internet costs gradually moving higher. Whether customers notice a change will depend on their provider and the plan they are currently using.

NBN Co is also pointing to network improvements

The pricing changes arrive as NBN Co promotes a faster, more fibre-based network. In September 2025, higher-speed plans were accelerated on eligible fibre-to-the-premises and HFC connections. The former 100/20 service became a 500/50 option, Superfast increased to 750/50 and Ultrafast moved to around 1,000/100.

NBN Co reported that more than one million customers had upgraded from legacy copper to fibre by 31 December 2025. Fibre-to-the-premises connections had reached 2.99 million, up 24 per cent year on year. The company’s argument is that higher prices are being accompanied by continued investment and modernisation.

Upload speeds are becoming more important

The proposed entry-level product from 1 July 2026 is 25/10 rather than 25/5, with NBN Co committing to price the two tiers in line. That gives customers twice the upload speed at the 25Mbps download level without an additional wholesale charge for the faster upload option.

Higher upload capacity is relevant to households working from home, joining video calls, backing up photos, uploading large files and operating businesses from home. It also reflects the fact that broadband use is no longer focused only on downloading and streaming.

What customers should check

A small wholesale increase does not automatically mean every customer will receive the same retail increase. Customers should check their provider’s notification, compare available plans and confirm whether their current speed tier still suits their household.

Home Wi-Fi equipment and the physical network inside the property can also affect real-world speeds. A faster NBN plan will not necessarily solve slow Wi-Fi if the issue is caused by the router, coverage or other home hardware.

TechManPat’s conclusion

Pat’s view is that these are modest increases, but customers should expect the network’s promised improvements to become visible in everyday performance. I support the move towards 25/10 as the entry-level service because a 1Mbps upload speed is inadequate for many modern households. I also see the shift to fibre and the reduction of older capacity-based pricing complications as positive, but I think customers are entitled to ask whether the real-world experience is improving enough to justify paying more.
Source note

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.