Australia's average fixed broadband speed hovers around 60-70 Mbps, with mobile speeds generally faster, but rankings vary; recent reports place Australia around 82nd globally for fixed broadband (e.g., ~67 Mbps) but better for mobile (around 22nd, ~94 Mbps), though some data from late 2024/early 2025 shows faster fixed speeds around 135 Mbps, with most Aussies on NBN 50 plans.
According to Ookla's Speedtest Global Index, Australia's average download speed is 58.83Mbps with an average upload speed of 21.44Mbps (as of December 2020).
A 100 Mbps connection is generally considered good for everyday activities like streaming HD videos, gaming, and browsing on multiple devices. It's fast enough for most households or small businesses, but if you have many devices connected or heavy usage, you may experience slowdowns.
Yes, 20 Mbps is generally fast enough for Netflix, comfortably handling HD streaming on one device and even multiple HD streams or one 4K stream, but it can struggle with many simultaneous 4K streams; aim for 25 Mbps or higher if you frequently stream 4K or have many users.
The cheapest Australian internet plans are typically basic NBN 25 (25/8 Mbps) unlimited data plans, with promotional deals often starting around $39-$45 per month for the first 6-8 months from providers like WhistleOut (e.g., Go, Value NBN, Everyday NBN), though providers like TPG, Superloop, and Dodo offer low entry points, sometimes with higher speeds on deal, but watch for price jumps after the promo period, says Finder.
On average, you should expect to pay around $60 a month for high-speed internet. However, prices can range between $20 and $100 per month or more depending on where you live, which provider you choose, and which plan you go with.
A good rule of thumb is that download speeds of at least 100 Mbps and upload speeds of 10 Mbps are widely considered fast enough to handle nearly any online activity.
High definition (HD) videos, on the other hand, use 3 GB per hour. And 4K Ultra HD streams use up to 7 GB per hour of video. This means you'll use around 2 GB to stream a two-hour SD movie, 6 GB to stream the HD version or 14 GB for the 4K stream.
If you're the only one streaming, a 150 Mbps package will be sufficient. However, if many more people (5-6) are streaming, video calling, or downloading files, you might need a faster package like 500 Mbps to avoid slowdowns and ensure smooth performance.
300 Mbps is sufficient for moderate to heavy internet use for two to six people using multiple devices. Learn more about how 300 Mbps can handle various online activities, depending on the bandwidth each user and device needs.
4G LTE: Provides speeds up to 100Mbps, introducing HD video streaming and robust social media support, but is more prone to network congestion. 5G: Provides speeds up to 1Gbps – can be up to 100x faster than 4G, enabling AR/VR technology and even faster speeds for streaming and gaming.
Bandwidth Requirements for Home Internet:
Below 25 Mbps (download) and 3 Mbps (upload) is considered low, as it may struggle with streaming, gaming, or video calls. 10 Mbps or less is often insufficient for HD streaming and multiple users.
Yes, 100 Mbps is generally considered fast and sufficient for most households, supporting multiple users streaming HD/4K video, online gaming, remote work, and large downloads simultaneously, though very heavy usage or extremely large file transfers might benefit from gigabit speeds. It's excellent for typical activities but can struggle with many simultaneous 4K streams or huge file downloads in a large, heavy-usage family, making it a strong "broadband" standard.
The "best and cheapest" internet provider depends on your location and needs, but top contenders for value often include SpinTel, Tangerine Telecom, Superloop, TPG, Dodo, Aussie Broadband, and Buddy Telco, frequently appearing in "best value" lists for their competitive pricing, introductory deals, and reliable performance on the NBN (National Broadband Network). For budget-conscious users, TPG, Buddy Telco, and SpinTel are known for affordability, while providers like Aussie Broadband and Superloop balance price with excellent service.
Ethernet, a wired connection that uses cables to transmit data, is generally faster and more reliable than Wi-Fi. The latest Ethernet standard, Cat6A, supports transfer speeds of up to 10 gigabits per second (Gbps) over a distance of 100 meters.
If you are watching on a small screen, like a phone or tablet, you can expect to use 1-2 GB per hour. If you are watching on a medium screen, like a laptop or desktop computer, you can expect to use 2-3 GB per hour. And if you are watching on a large screen, like a TV, you can expect to use 3-4 GB per hour.
The Netflix 2-minute rule refers to the fact that if a user watches more than two minutes of a TV show or movie, this is counted as a view.
On Wi-Fi, you can stream in the highest quality without consequences (besides maybe slowing other devices in your home). But on mobile data: HD eats gigabytes quickly. Just three hours of 4K streaming could use up to 21 GB.
Maximizing Your WiFi Speeds
It depends on your household. For smaller homes, 500 Mbps fiber is plenty. Choose 1 gig or multi-gig fiber if you: Run a smart home with a lot of connected devices.
What is a good internet speed for Wi-FI? An internet speed of at least 25Mbps is good for Wi-Fi. That will make sure that multiple people get adequate bandwidth on your Wi-Fi network while multiple devices are being used at the same time. For larger households, a speed of 100Mbps is even better.
Broadband without a phone line is only available with Full Fibre. Unlike part-fibre, which still relies on old copper cables, Full Fibre gives you a 100% fibre connection straight to your home. That means faster, more reliable internet - no landline required.
The internet is a global network where you can share and access information via connected devices. Wi-Fi, on the other hand, is a tool for wirelessly connecting those devices to the internet. Think of the internet as a giant highway system that connects cities (websites, apps, and online services) around the world.