After the privatization of the telecommunications industry in the 1990’s, the Australian Government lost a lot of control over the advancement of technology, which resulted in Australia gradually falling behind in high-speed internet options.
As a result, in 2009 the Australian Federal Government decided to launch the National Broadband Network (NBN) in order to build a new broadband system that would provide all Australians with access to high-speed internet. This also ‘leveled the playing field’ in the telecommunications space, as all Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are able to purchase wholesale access to the network, rather than having to rely on building their own infrastructure – a cost that just wasn’t possible for some of the smaller ISPs.
Today, the NBN functions as a Government owned & operated wholesale network, enabling consumers access to the network through the Internet Service Provider (ISP) of their choice.

With over 100 NBN providers in Australia, many of which offering several plans at various prices and different speed tiers, it’s not surprising that you would feel overwhelmed trying to pick just one.
That’s where Broadband.Compare comes in! We’ve carefully selected our panel of providers in order to do all of the hard work for you.
Below are some of the key elements involved in comparing broadband deals in the market today:

• • No-Lock in Contracts:
    In the past, many broadband plans on the market required a minimum term in their contracts, meaning if you left you would usually have to pay out the remainder of the contract up-to the minimum cost. This limited the ability to move between providers, as there could be exorbitant fees associated with doing so.
    These days, no-lock in contracts are becoming more and more common, meaning you can leave a plan for free at any time rather than having to wait until the end of your contract term.
    This can be a great option for customers, as it promotes regular comparisons and switching – ultimately leading to a more competitive market price-wise.
  • Unlimited Usage:
    Another trend that was previously very common in the broadband industry were usage caps. This limited your ability to use broadband, as reaching your cap would either incur extra charges or severely reduce your internet speed.
    While there are still plans on the market that cap your usage, there are many now that don’t.
    With the modern rise of streaming services, such as Netflix, Stan & Amazon Prime, we understand that having unlimited usage can be extremely important these days. At Broadband.Compare we have many unlimited plans available through our panel to ensure that your available data doesn’t fall short of your internet needs.
  • High-Speed Internet:
    When it comes to internet speed, every home is different. From single working people that only use their internet at night, to large families that use several devices all day long, everyone’s bandwidth needs vary.
    When making a decision on which bandwidth speed tier is right for you, there are a few important points to take into consideration:
    • Number of users:
      The amount of people using the internet in your home directly affects your speed requirements. For example, a bandwidth of 25Mbps may be ideal for an individual living alone however, if you have home with two or more people living together, individual streaming time will be cut down significantly. Therefore, before choosing the speed of bandwidth it is probably a good idea you keep this in mind.
    • Number of Devices:
      As outlined above, the amount of people in your home is really important when it comes to assessing your bandwidth needs; however, you may find you have more devices than users in your household. For example, if three people live in your home and all watch the same TV at night, this won’t affect your internet usage anywhere near as much as three people all using separate devices.
    • Usage type:
      It probably comes as no surprise to you that different activities online require varying levels of bandwidth. For example, browsing social media platforms such as Facebook or Instagram aren’t going to demand as much as online gaming or live streaming videos and movies. Depending on how you actually use your internet will play a big role in which speed tier you would need, especially when some of the more taxing activities are multiplied by the number of users and devices in your home.
    • Price:
      Last, but certainly not least, is the price that you pay. In the end, regardless of your speed requirements, there’s always going to be a budget involved and no one wants to spend outside of their means in order to get a decent internet plan. That’s why it helps to get a comparison from businesses like Broadband.Compare, who can find deals best suited to your needs.

There are a few reasons why your internet speed could vary throughout the day; however, one of the most common reasons is congestion. Much like a highway, there are peak and off-peak times for internet usage and depending on how many people are using the internet at the same time (and what they are using it for) it can affect the speed quality.
Generally, the highest peak-time for internet usage is between 7pm & 11pm, as this is when most people are home from work & school and using the internet. As a result, this causes congestion and the speeds that you receive during this timeframe usually aren’t as high as the maximum possible speed for your plan & connection type.
Due to this variation in speed, internet providers are required to advise you of your ‘Typical Evening Speed.’ This is the speed that you can reasonably expect to receive during these timeframes on your plan and can vary depending on which provider you have selected.
At Broadband.Compare, we not only focus on price when completing a comparison, but also the speed requirements you need for your particular situation. Request a quote now and we’ll take a look to see what your options are. Alternatively, skip the queue and give us a call on 1300 001 958.

With the NBN being the physical network itself, providers purchase wholesale access to the network and then on-sell retail access to consumers like yourself. As a result, there’s no standard cost to you as a customer, as different providers offer different pricing depending on the plan that you select – much like supermarkets charge different prices for bread, milk, and other groceries. This is why it’s important to compare your options and choose one that suits your needs, at a price that works for you.

Internet speeds are measured in megabits per second and the speed that you choose will directly affect the quality & cost of your internet. Everyone wants the fastest internet, but there’s no point in paying more for speeds that you will never reach! The good news is, the NBN comes with various speed tiers in order to service the needs of just about anybody. Below is a list of different speed tiers to get you started.

• 12/1 – This is the entry level speed tier. While this isn’t by any means the fastest option you could choose, it’s a great option for light internet users that live by themselves.
• 25/10 – The next step up, this speed tier is also suited for lower users but can handle a reasonable amount of usage, such as music streaming services or watching YouTube videos.
• 50/20 – When it comes to broadband, the 50/20 speed tier is a great all-rounder, so it comes as no surprise that it’s Australia’s most popular speed choice. This speed tier should be able to handle households with three to five people and not slow you down while you’re streaming movies, music, or video calling with work or friends.
• 100/20 – Once you get to this tier, you’re starting the enter the much higher speeds of NBN. An ideal option for substantial users, this tier will easily handle Ultra-HD streaming and many people using the internet at once. Great for larger families or heavy internet users.
• 100/40 – You’ll notice that the download speed with this tier is the same as the previous, with the upload speed being double. This is also great for heavy users, but with the added sustainability for users that complete a lot of usage intensive uploads, such as live video stream uploads and high-resolution work uploads.
• 250/25 – This speed tier is considerably higher than the average household would need, but provides support for extreme downloads, simultaneous 4k video streaming, etc. A great option for businesses as well.
• 1000/50 – This speed tier is faster than the vast majority of households would ever need, but can support next to anything you could need internet-wise. This generally tends to be a speed-tier utilised by high-usage businesses.

The speeds above outline ‘download/upload’ speeds. It’s important to note that the above speed-tiers refer to the theoretical maximum speeds on those tiers. Remember that throughout the day, internet usage will vary and can cause congestion at your NBN point, particularly during peak periods. Refer to ‘Typical Evening Speeds’ for more information.