How much does the nbn® cost?

The nbn® has become the standard way that Australians access internet services. As it’s been installed across Australia, it has replaced the existing telecommunications infrastructure, and with over 90 per cent of Australia now covered, unless you’re willing to invest in having new telco infrastructure laid down right to your home, the nbn® is your portal to the internet. This raises the question of how much it will cost to get online for most Australians.

The internet is increasingly considered to be a human right, as it facilitates learning and work opportunities to such an extent now that to not have access is to be left behind and struggling to engage with the modern world. So much work is now done online that there is the expectation that most can access their work from home, and without internet access, many students will be unable to complete assignments.

The Australian government is actively monitoring the affordability of what it considers to be the very minimum of internet access required, against what that would cost households, and this will continue to change as internet requirements change.

For most Australian households, however, the internet is going to be used for a combination of work and leisure. The kids may use it to complete assignments, the parents might run a home office, and come family movie night, everyone will come together to stream their favourite films. For that standard blend of internet uses, there are a number of price ranges to consider.

How much does an entry-level nbn® plan cost?

The lowest level of nbn® plan (and therefore the most cost-efficient) is the 12Mbps download/ 1Mbps upload speed. With Aussie Broadband, you can still look forward to a typical evening speed of 11Mbps, and that will be enough for basic web browsing, emails, and one video stream going on in the home. It comes with unlimited data, and the price is set at $59 per month. If you need a landline phone, you can bundle that in for $0 per month, you just have to pay $0.15 for local and national calls, and $0.22 per minute for mobile calls.

For most internet users though, it is worth considering a plan that is one step up. The nbn®25/5 speed provides 25Mbps download and 5Mbps upload, with a typical evening speed of 25Mbps – that’s double the typical evening speed of the nbn®12/1 plan. If you’re not a heavy user of data and happy with a 100GB data cap, you can get this plan for just $1 more – $66 per month.

Is 100GB enough for your nbn® needs? The best way to determine this is to ask two questions: 1) how much do you stream each month, and 2) is there a gamer in the house? If there is a gamer in the house, be aware that a typical game can use from 40MB to 300MB per hour, so you might be better off with an unlimited plan (which is $71 per month for the nbn®25/5 plan).

When it comes to streaming, Netflix, for example, chews through around 3GB of data per hour. So you can expect to use around 6GB-9GB for a movie, or 36GB for a 12-episode season.

If you’ve got students in the house, government research indicates that 20GB per month should be allocated for students who are streaming lectures or studying online. If your average Netflix use is kept to about two seasons or 5-6 movies, then 100GB should be enough to cover that, your regular internet usage, and the kid’s study. With a typical evening speed of 25Mbps, it’s likely that will be enough bandwidth for your family’s needs.

How much do bigger nbn® plans cost?

If you are a very heavy internet user, then a 100/40 or 250/25 nbn® plan might be better suited to you. The nbn®100/40 and nbn®250/25 Unlimited plans cost $95 per month and $119 per month respectively, but the one that is right for you will depend greatly on what you use the internet for.

The nbn®100/40 plan provides a typical evening speed of 100Mbps, but it’s the upload speed that counts here. If you’re regularly uploading data to the internet – perhaps you create videos on YouTube, or you use teleconferencing for work – then maximising the upload speed is critical for being able to work at your most efficient. If you don’t really need the extra upload but like the idea of the extra download speed, ISPs such as Aussie Broadband also provide a nbn®100/20 plan at a cheaper price.

The nbn®250/25 plan meanwhile, provides a typical evening speed of 250Mbps, and that is for people with serious download needs. Typically it’s for those with elaborate home entertainment setups, who want to download games quickly, play games online, live stream their gaming, or stream movies in full 4K resolution. Aussie Broadband deliver awesome internet that provides the fastest speeds possible at any given time of day. Plus, they purchase the additional bandwidth we mentioned above so your speed doesn’t take a hit during the evening.

So what nbn® option is right for me?

The quality of the service that you get from Aussie Broadband doesn’t change based on the price of your nbn® plan – you get the same quality internet delivered to you. The only things that differ are the speeds and data you select.

Frequently asked questions about our nbn® plans

You've got questions? We've got answers. Here are our top asked questions about our nbn® plans

Q: Are there connection fees or charges?

A: We do not have any standard connection fees for our nbn® services. If you are in a new housing development or opt to have a new line connected you may be liable for an additional charge as dictated by the nbn®. This will be displayed before confirming your order.

Q: Will my home phone work on the nbn®?

A: The majority of Australians will have to move their phone across to the nbn® as the current infrastructure providing a landline service will be switched off 18 month after the nbn® becomes available. You will still be able to retain the same home phone number by porting it onto our new home phone plans but will be required to connect your phone handset via your modem. Depending on the nbn™ technology you’re connected to, you may be able to keep your landline using the existing copper connection.

Q: What hardware do I need for the nbn®?

A: Depending on the location, nbn® uses a mix of technologies to connect to the nbn® broadband access network. Some devices will need to be registered with nbn® directly such as medical alarms, monitored fire alarms, and lift emergency phones. Other devices to consider are security systems, fax and teletypewriter devices, EFTPOS terminals, health claim terminals, and existing landline phone services. To register your devices visit the nbn® website.

Q: How does the nbn® installation work?

A: If there has been a previous nbn® connection at your premises the standard time frame is 1-5 business days and there will be no additional work required by a technician. If your address has not been connected to nbn™ before the standard time frame can be anywhere up to 20 business days and is dependent on your nbn™ access technology type and technician availability. Your nbn® access technology will determine the exact method of installation for your technician.

For connections to premises that are already connected to the nbn® via FTTN/B or HFC technology there may be a small period of downtime when switching providers.
For connections to premises that are already connected to the nbn® via FTTP or Fixed Wireless technology, another port on the already installed network termination device will be activated in addition to any other active ports, so there should be no downtime.

For connections to premises that have not yet connected to the nbn® via FTTN/B or HFC technology there may be a small period of downtime when connecting.

For connections to premises that have not yet connected to the nbn® via FTTP or Fixed Wireless technology, new infrastructure will be installed which will not interrupt your current service.

Q: Why we’ve chosen to offer unlimited nbn® plans

A: In April 2018, we made the decision to offer unlimited plans due to new CVC bandwidth prices given by nbn™ Co. to internet service providers (ISPs). Before these new bandwidth amounts were offered, ISPs offering unlimited plans were a large cause of the congestion issues many Australians faced, and we refused to provide our customers with a negative experience by being part of the problem.

Now, we are able to offer unlimited nbn® plans that will not increase congestion on our networks, ensuring our customers receive the quality internet speeds and service that we are known for.