There are 4 speed-tiers offered by the NBN and differing ISP’s offer one or more of them.
To confuse matters further, each company gives the speed tiers their own special names. The deals you see plastered on the back of buses and on flyers pushed through your door, only ever quote the cheapest and slowest plan (Basic Evening Speed) which is less than 15 mbps download speed (equivalent to what you may already be getting using ADSL)
See latest report on actual NBN speeds at February 2019 at this link
If you DO NOT need a telephone handset, consider the following non-NBN alternatives:
- Telephone and Internet Connections offered via the Mobile Phone
- NetworksTelephone and Internet Connections offered via Independent Telecomm Companies
NBN Speed Tier’s
Basic Evening Speed – Designed for very basic usage. Ideal for:
- Home phone
- Very basic internet usage
- Typical busy period download speed should be: Less than 15Mbps*
- Browse the web
- SD video streaming
- Send emails
Typical busy period download speed should be: Minimum 15Mbps*
- HD video streaming
- Playing online games
- Working from home
Typical busy period download speed should be: Minimum 30Mbps*
- 4K video streaming
- Uploading and downloading large files
- Multiple devices online at the same time
Typical busy period download speed should be: Minimum 60Mbps*
Factors that can affect your speed
- The time of day, as high-traffic times like the evening can cause speeds to slow
- The type and size of the content you are downloading or uploading
- The number of people in your premises actively online at the same time
- The provider, plan and speed tier you choose
- The way your specific provider configures their network and manages traffic
- The nbn™ access network technology available at your premises
- How nbn configures the access network
Be wary of NBN offers from unknown-companies offering NBN deals that sound too-good-to-be-true.
In October 2019, our research came up with the following NBN plan prices from the major carriers
Speed Tier | Old NBN Name | Telstra | iiNet/ WestNet/ TPG | Optus | Aussie Broadband |
Basic Evening Speed | nbn™ 12 | N/A | Basic – $60/m, 500 GB data, Payg calls, Modem extra | N/A | N/A |
Standard Evening Speed | nbn™ 25 | Core (200 GB)
$75/m Unlimited calls to landlines, mobiles, New Modem |
Standard, $70/m
Unlimited Data Payg calls, Modem extra |
N/A | Casual – $69/m |
Standard Plus Evening Speed | nbn™ 50 | Unlimited Data
$90/m ditto |
Standard Plus
$75/m ditto |
NBN50 – $70/m
Unlimited data Payg calls. New Modem, $99 setup fee |
Everyday – $79/m |
Premium Evening Speed | nbn™ 100 | Speed Boost
$120/m ditto |
Premium
$100/m ditto |
NBN100 – $90 ditto, incl calls, $99 setup fee | Power User – $99/m |
Generally only the larger established telecom companies such as Telstra, Optus, Aussie Broadband, and TPG (including iiNet and Westnet) have the capacity and bandwidth to ensure that the speed you sign up for can be maintained at busy times and when the household uses multiple devices, TV’s and computers simultaneously.
The IT Guys recommend ignoring the lowest speed plans and only considering those based on the Standard Evening Speed and higher.
If you are happy with your current ISP then you maybe better staying with “the-devil-you-know” rather than switching provider.
There is not much to choose between the main ISPs they all offer similarly priced plans with the main difference being that Telstra cap their plans at 1000 GB per months with TPG and the like offering “unlimited” usage plans.
A deciding factor between ISP‘s is more likely to be what the ISP‘s can “bundle” together to save you money. Combining your Internet, mobile-phones, land-line and even Foxtel can save you a considerable amount of money.
The first step to moving to NBN is to contact your preferred ISP who will then contact NBN company to inspect your premises. You need to decide where you wish your internet line to be located inside your house and agree this with the NBN technician.
Your ISP will then mail out your new modem and will give you the option of a self-install, ISP-install or a third-party-install such as the IT Guys.
If you DO NOT need a telephone handset, consider the following non-NBN alternatives:
- Telephone and Internet Connections offered via the Mobile Phone
- NetworksTelephone and Internet Connections offered via Independent Telecomm Companies
If you are looking for an Internet-Only service (no telephone calls) and do not require a land-line telephone, Pentanet NBN or Pentanet Fixed Wireless may be for you.
To see what services are available at your address click here and enter your address here
To order NBN or to switch NBN providers, download the NBN Plan form here, complete the form and email to info@pentanet.com.au or post to Pentanet, 2/8 Corbusier Place, Balcatta WA 6021. Plans start at $69 per month.
To order Fixed-Wireless Internet or to switch providers, download the Fixed Wireless Internet form here, complete the form and email to info@pentanet.com.au or post to Pentanet, 2/8 Corbusier Place, Balcatta WA 6021. Plans start at $59 per month.
If you are looking for a Phone-Only NBN deal then Telstra offer a $55 per month plan and if an Australian Senior a discount of $10 per month may apply bringing the cost down to $45 per month.
Phone-Only NBN Plans are still quite expensive when you consider you can find mobile phone plans with unlimited calls and texts from $10 per month and basic mobile phones can be purchased from $89
Telephone and Internet Connections offered via Mobile Phone Networks
Telephone and Internet Connections offered via Independent Telecomm Companies
The Above Speed-Tiers refer to the “Download” Internet Speed you receive at your Modem. If you connect your modem to other computers and devices using hard-wired Ethernet cables, those devices should receive the same download-speed with little drop-off.
However, when using Wi-Fi to connect to the Internet via the modem, a drastic drop off occurs depending on the quality of the ISP modem, your distance from the modem, the amount of devices accessing the modem and walls and floors between you and the modem.
Generally the modems supplied by ISPs are very poor Wi-Fi devices and you should consider the following if you wish to receive high-speed Internet throughout your house and on multiple devices at the same time.
:jk:
2 comments to “Confused by NBN Plans? What are the alternatives to NBN?”
Paul Boyatzis - November 9, 2017
Hi
I live in Peppermint Grove and have a foxtel/telstra data cable connection into my house. I have a Telstra modem and wifi boosters around the house. I have a Telstra pit adjacent my driveway where the cable comes into my house.
– When I connect to NBN can I connect fibre directly into my home…..Would that cost extra.
– would that be advisable if I already have cable to the house
– what plan would you recommend i.e. hybrid etc ,….if I pay for 50ms is that what I will receive or do I have to discount it.
– would Telstra have sufficient bandwidth attached to my connection not to negatively affect download speed.
– are the NBN modems generally compatible to most devises… iPhone,apple laptops etc
– is there anything I need to be aware off when talking to my service provider to connect to NBN.
Thank you
Paul
IT Guy - November 10, 2017
Hi Paul
The cable to your house is HFC like most of the western suburbs, originally for delivering Foxtel.
This is how NBN will be delivered into your house and you should be able to get the maximum NBN speeds available, 100 mbps download and 20 upload, thru that cable
There is an option to put fibre to your house but its going to cost you over $3,000 and you may have to wait months to get it done. I would stick with NBN over HFC.
Telstra have the capacity to give you that maximum speed, if you pay for the top package.
The Telstra Gateway modems that they supply are from Netgear and are good quality.
Please be aware that moving to NBN will mean loss of any fixed telephone line services in your house plus anything attached to them such as Alarm systems (medical and security). You can still have a land line, but it is wired into the back of the NBN modem and your existing handsets may need to be replaced and your wiring moved.
The NBN and Telstra modems attach to any existing Foxtel points in your house, which maybe in a different location to your current modem. This can be altered by using an electrician to move the HFC wiring to a more convenient spot.
Also be aware that your existing wifi boosters may need reconfiguring and/or replacing if they are not compatible with the new modem you will be supplied.
If you need any help with the setup/move, I can send one of our technicians out to help.
John Kirkby
The IT Guys (WA)
support@itguyswa.com
08 6365 5603