NBN proposes new speed options to revolutionise internet experience
By
Seia Ibanez
- Replies 16
The National Broadband Network (NBN) is setting out to revolutionise Australia in the global digital landscape.
With a proposal on the horizon, many could soon be experiencing some of the fastest internet speeds on the planet.
Imagine being able to download your favourite movies or seamlessly talk to loved ones through video conferencing—all at vastly improved speeds.
NBN’s 100 Megabits per second (Mbps) plan is getting a massive upgrade, soaring to 500Mbps download and 50Mbps upload speeds—a fivefold increase for one of the most popular plans.
The Home Superfast plan will jump from 250Mbps to 750Mbps download and 50Mbps upload, while the Ultrafast plan will hit new heights of 750-1000Mbps download and 50-100Mbps upload from its current 500-1000Mbps speed.
A decade ago, the internet was a different beast.
Streaming apps like Netflix, Stan, and Disney+ didn't exist, and live-streamed sports were a mere pipe dream. Each month, an average household had seven devices connected and used around 40GB of data.
Today, homes are connected to an average of 22 devices, with ten times more data than before.
NBN Chief Customer Officer Anna Perrin explained, ‘Despite this explosion in data usage, many customers have remained on the same broadband plan for years.’
‘Our network monitoring suggests that some customers are potentially hitting their maximum speed on a regular basis. These customers may enjoy a better internet experience on a faster speed tier.’
‘The good news for customers is we are upgrading the NBN network to keep pace with customer demand. Fibre is the great enabler to deliver near gigabit speeds across the NBN network.’
‘We are on track with our national fibre upgrade program to put these incredibly fast speeds within reach of more than 10 million Australian homes and businesses by the end of next year,’ she added.
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland gave the proposal a thumbs up, saying it is ‘consistent with the Albanese Labor government's objectives and will deliver turbo-charged speeds that would deliver significant benefits for businesses and households alike’.
‘Reliable, quality, high-speed internet is not a luxury or nice-to-have: it is essential 21st-century infrastructure,’ she said.
The NBN plans to implement these changes within the next 12 months at no extra wholesale cost to internet retailers like Telstra, TPG, Optus, and Aussie Broadband.
This proposal comes after NBN and other retail telcos agreed to new pricing structures, which the Albanese government defended as ‘essential in providing “certainty” to the industry’.
The industry consultation on the proposal will be until 18 April.
What do you think about NBN’s proposal? Will this affect your daily internet activities? Let us know in the comments below!
With a proposal on the horizon, many could soon be experiencing some of the fastest internet speeds on the planet.
Imagine being able to download your favourite movies or seamlessly talk to loved ones through video conferencing—all at vastly improved speeds.
NBN’s 100 Megabits per second (Mbps) plan is getting a massive upgrade, soaring to 500Mbps download and 50Mbps upload speeds—a fivefold increase for one of the most popular plans.
The Home Superfast plan will jump from 250Mbps to 750Mbps download and 50Mbps upload, while the Ultrafast plan will hit new heights of 750-1000Mbps download and 50-100Mbps upload from its current 500-1000Mbps speed.
A decade ago, the internet was a different beast.
Streaming apps like Netflix, Stan, and Disney+ didn't exist, and live-streamed sports were a mere pipe dream. Each month, an average household had seven devices connected and used around 40GB of data.
Today, homes are connected to an average of 22 devices, with ten times more data than before.
NBN Chief Customer Officer Anna Perrin explained, ‘Despite this explosion in data usage, many customers have remained on the same broadband plan for years.’
‘Our network monitoring suggests that some customers are potentially hitting their maximum speed on a regular basis. These customers may enjoy a better internet experience on a faster speed tier.’
‘The good news for customers is we are upgrading the NBN network to keep pace with customer demand. Fibre is the great enabler to deliver near gigabit speeds across the NBN network.’
‘We are on track with our national fibre upgrade program to put these incredibly fast speeds within reach of more than 10 million Australian homes and businesses by the end of next year,’ she added.
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland gave the proposal a thumbs up, saying it is ‘consistent with the Albanese Labor government's objectives and will deliver turbo-charged speeds that would deliver significant benefits for businesses and households alike’.
‘Reliable, quality, high-speed internet is not a luxury or nice-to-have: it is essential 21st-century infrastructure,’ she said.
The NBN plans to implement these changes within the next 12 months at no extra wholesale cost to internet retailers like Telstra, TPG, Optus, and Aussie Broadband.
This proposal comes after NBN and other retail telcos agreed to new pricing structures, which the Albanese government defended as ‘essential in providing “certainty” to the industry’.
The industry consultation on the proposal will be until 18 April.
Key Takeaways
- The NBN is proposing to significantly increase the speed of their internet service offerings, enhancing some plans fivefold.
- NBN’s plan includes increasing popular plan speeds to 500Mbps download and 50Mbps upload, with other tiers seeing similar speed boosts.
- These changes are designed to meet the increased data usage demands of modern Australian households and businesses.
- There will be industry consultation on the proposal until 18 April, with potential changes impacting retail telcos and potentially leading to increased consumer costs.