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Best NBN Fixed Wireless Plans
By
Will Ellis
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Last Updated on January 1, 2024
If you happen to call a more remote location home, you may not have access to the standard wired NBN connections. Yet, it doesn’t exclude the possibility of getting yourself a broadband connection.
With speeds of up to 100 Mbps, fixed wireless NBN plans are ideal for households with four or more heavy YouTube and Netflix users.
In fact, NBN broadband company will pay for the first installation and provide assistance with setting up the antenna and NBN connection box. Getting started with an NBN fixed wireless plan is as simple as deciding whether or not you’ll need a modem.
Let’s get you a solution.
Table of Contents:
- NBN’s Fixed Wireless Aussie Plans
- What I’ll Need
- Am I In The Right Area For Fixed Wireless
- Top 4 NBN Fixed Wireless Plans For Australia
- 1. Tangerine
- 2. TPG
- 3. Optus
- 4. Telstra
- Evaluating Fixed Wireless Plans
- Conclusion
- FAQs
NBN’s Fixed Wireless Aussie Plans
How does it work? 📡
Fixed wireless broadband basically functions the same as a 4G data connection on a mobile phone.
An antenna on your roof or another high location in your home communicates with a tower in the NBN Fixed Wireless network, which is connected to the NBN distribution network through an ordinary fibre optic cable.
Connecting the antenna to the connection box in your home through fibre optic cables allows you to utilise a modem with the same ease as any other NBN connection for online browsing. A fixed wireless connection is more steady and dependable than a typical 4G mobile connection due to the antenna’s placement.
This optimises signal exchange between the antenna and the tower 🛰️ 🗼 .. *beep beep.
What I’ll Need
Getting started & what you should expect… 📕 💡
The NBN installation at your home includes the installation of the antenna and the NBN connection box at no additional cost to you; all you need is a compatible modem to complete your connection to the outside world.
When you sign up for an NBN plan, you’ll have everything you need to go online, since each service provider will propose a specific modem to use with their service (at a different price).
“I’m curious in the NBN Fixed Wireless speed.”
Sure! NBN Fixed Wireless speeds, in contrast to traditional landline connections, don’t provide top-tier NBN speeds. Due to fixed wireless’s inherent unpredictability, speeds are often a tad slower than with a hardwired connection.
Am I In The Right Area For Fixed Wireless? 🌍
With a fixed wireless NBN connection, you’ll need to have both:
- 👍 An NBN connection box (which may be placed inside your house or remote office)
- 👍 And an antenna (which can be placed on the roof) installed
These should be able to link up with a wireless router. You may use your own equipment instead of the one given by your internet service provider (ISP), since the ports on a common fixed wireless nbn connection box are ordinary Ethernet ports.
Top 4 NBN Fixed Wireless Plans For Australia (2024) 📚
Australians no longer have to rely on dial-up internet or slow DSL connections thanks to the availability of fantastic wireless solutions.
This article compares the finest NBN fixed wireless plans together with 4G/5G home mobile and wireless broadband choices, in case you are unable to secure a reliable NBN connection that is cabled, of you’re travelling a lot, or simply want to look at alternatives to the ones typically offered.
1. Tangerine 🛰️💨 – Top Fixed Wireless NBN
Monthly payments of AU$54.90 🏁
Key Features:
- At a bare minimum, you should expect to pay AU$54.90
- First-year costs amount to $748.80 AUD
- A discounted annual rate of AU$838.80
- No long-term commitment
- Affordable Monthly payments
Pros
- Fixed wireless NBN
- Unlimited space
- Monthly payments of AU$54.90
Cons
- AU$54.90 initially, then AU$69.90
Reasons To Choose This Provider ❤️
NBN fixed wireless is a solution for those who do not have physical NBN connection access because they are located in rural, regional, or remote areas of Australia. Fixed wireless connections have varying speeds, much as NBN options for hardwired homes:
- NBN 12 👍 12 Mbps download speeds/upload speeds of 1 Mbps.
- NBN 25 👍 25 Mbps download/5 Mbps upload.
- NBN 75 👍 75 Mbps download/10 Mbps upload.
What To Expect 🌞
Fixed wireless services from NBN providers will have varying speeds and data caps, so it’s important to do some research before committing to a service. Our top pick for an NBN fixed wireless plan is detailed below, but feel free to use the comparison tool for even more packages.
With this Tangerine offer, you can test out an NBN fixed wireless connection risk-free for two weeks while enjoying unlimited data and nighttime speeds of up to 27 Mbps.
After the first six months of service, your monthly fee will increase to AU$69.90, which is still the lowest cost choice for this speed and data allowance. You may either pay Tangerine AU$179.90 for a modem or use your own.
2. TPG 🛰️💨 – Top 4G Home Wireless
AU$54.99p/m (first month free) 🏁
Key Features:
- Starts at AU$604 for yearly
- Apply a yearly discount
- 30 days free trial
Pros
- In-Home 4G LTE
- Infinite storage space
- No long-term commitment required
Cons
- Designed for usage at home and not when travelling
Reasons To Choose This Provider ☑️
Home wireless plans let you use the Optus, Telstra, or Vodafone mobile network instead of NBN’s own fixed wireless plans, despite the fact that mobile internet connections are meant to be used on the go.
It’s important to remember that the modems included in these packages are designed for usage at home and not when travelling. As you’ll see below, 4G home wireless services provide far more data than mobile broadband options.
What To Expect 🌞
When it comes to 4G home wifi, TPG is our top pick due to its affordable monthly rate of AU$54.99 and free trial period. As you may get your money back if you decide you don’t like the service within 30 days of receiving the modem, giving it a try is risk-free.
These TPG plans use the 4G mobile network provided by Vodafone and provide up to 20Mbps of download speed during non-peak times.
3. Optus 🛰️💨 – Best 5G Fixed Wireless Home NBN
AU$69p/m (first month free) 🏁
Key Features:
- Unlimited data at 50 Mbps
- 5G wireless for the house
- Affordable NBN plan pricing
- For those on a tighter budget
Pros
- Unrestricted storage space
- No long-term commitment
- AU$69p/m (month 1 is free)
- Minimum overall cost is $576 AU (includes modem)
Cons
- The modem is non-refundable (at AU$576) & you must return it
Reasons To Choose Optus Provider ✅
Telstra, TPG, Optus, Spintel, Internode, iiNet, and Vodafone are just a few of the telecommunications companies that currently offer 5G home wireless options.
Similar to 4G home internet connections, 5G internet plans utilise the main telco’s mobile towers rather than the NBN. The finest 5G home internet plans are often offered by Telstra and Optus because of the scope of their 5G networks.
For those on a tighter budget, we advise opting for Optus’ 5G home internet service, which offers unlimited data for AU$69 per month. Although 50 Mbps is the theoretical maximum speed with this package, the average speed during peak nighttime hours is closer to 43 Mbps.
If you aren’t getting at least 40 Mbps, you may terminate your subscription with Optus without penalty if you don’t like it. Please note that the modem is non-refundable (at AU$576) and must be returned.
What To Expect 🌞
- Tangerine NBN100: Monthly minimum of $62.90
- Exetel NBN100: Monthly minimum of $62.90
- Dodo NBN100: Minimum minimum of $62.85
4. Telstra 🛰️💨 – Top Fixed Wireless NBN For Home 5G And Reliable Home Mobile
AU$85p/m (first month free) 5G Home / AU$25p/m Mobile 🏁
Key Features:
- Data capacity of 30GB
- Wi-Fi on wheels
- Choose from mobile and home fixed router wireless
Pros
- No long-term commitment
- AU$25p/m for mobile
- AU$85p/m (first month free) for fixed router broadband
Cons
- A minimum of $25 AU is required (excluding modem)
- It will cost you $300 AU the first year
Reasons To Choose This Provider ☑️
At AU$85 per month, Telstra’s 5G home wireless package is one of the more costly alternatives on the market, although it does come with a restricted data limit of 1TB.
Telstra claims download speeds between 50 Mbps and 600 Mbps, with an evening average of 378 Mbps, making it faster than the top NBN 250 plans.
If you sign up for this plan, you won’t have to worry about shelling out any cash for the service until after the first month is over. Return the modem or incur a non-return charge if you decide to cancel during the first 24 months.
Mobile Alternative
Mobile broadband is an alternative to the NBN that allows users to get devices online over private mobile data networks like those operated by Optus, Telstra, and Vodafone. Mobile broadband, however, is meant to be portable, unlike the 4G/5G home internet options we’ve described above.
Mobile broadband offers many access points to the internet, and they are universal whether you’re looking for 4G or 5G speeds. Although some plans include mobile modems to allow for online access on the go, others are designed to be inserted directly into SIM-compatible devices like the 4G iPad.
What To Expect 🌞
Considering that Telstra operates Australia’s most extensive 4G and 5G networks, they are our top pick for mobile broadband services.
Choices like Belong, a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) that resells Telstra network access, are also viable alternatives. While we have chosen what we believe to be the best well-rounded plan available, we have included a comparison table for your convenience.
Value-conscious mobile internet users will find that Telstra’s Mini mobile broadband plan is an excellent option. If you buy the SIM card alone (which is what you should do), you can receive 30GB of data for only AU$25 a month.
If you don’t already have a modem, you may either bring your own or purchase one from Telstra; just remember that you’ll have to pay off the modem before you can terminate your service. Internet connections of both 4G and 5G speeds are now available.
Evaluating Fixed Wireless Plans 📘
How can I evaluate the various fixed wireless plans?
It’s not the case that you don’t have an option of anything other than the specific NBN technology that serves your location. Be aware that the services offered by fixed wireless providers may differ.
- Price 💳. Your fixed wireless connection fee will vary not just by provider, but also by speed tier and data use. Plan your monthly data use accordingly.
- Speed 🏎️. Quicker connections cost more money. You may save money by selecting a slower plan if you don’t need high-quality video or massive downloads.
Information pertaining to peaks and troughs. In general, fixed wireless plans do not provide really limitless data as traditional landline subscriptions do. Off-peak times for data use are often between 1 and 7 in the morning.
If you don’t believe you’ll be able to accomplish most of your heavy downloading or Internet usage then, you should buy a plan with enough peak data.
Conclusion 📶
If you want a mixture of portability and affordability, our choice for the best mobile broadband package for massive data sets is Belong.
A good package from Belong is hard to pass up if you need a substantial amount of data to utilise while travelling. At AU$35 a month, you can receive 100GB of data and good nationwide coverage thanks to Belong’s usage of Telstra’s 4G and 5G networks.
The maximum speed of 100 Mbps for your downloads is also quite good. Note that this plan has a SIM card, thus your device must have a SIM card slot. Telstra’s 75GB plan costs AU$55p/m and provides unlimited access to their network.
Final FAQs 📚
How do I connect my fixed wireless device?
Use our online tool to see whether NBN Fixed Wireless service is available in your area.
Look for a suitable plan on the internet. You can order it by calling the supplier or buying it online. A technician will visit your home to finish the installation and present you with a compatible modem (typically at an additional expense) so that you may connect to the Internet through the NBN.
Is a new modem purchase necessary for fixed wireless?
A new modem will be necessary if you have never had access to the NBN before. A suitable modem may be purchased along with your Internet service package and is often suggested by your ISP.
Which is better, satellite Internet or NBN fixed wireless?
An antenna on your roof sends signals to a stationary signal tower, which receives them. Your antenna will communicate with one of the two NBN SkyMuster satellites, which will then relay the information to a ground station.
You Might Also Like:
- Best NBN Plans in Australia Compared by Price & Speed
- Guide to Buying the Best NBN Modems
- NBN Connection Types
