We’re all looking for the same thing… insanely fast Internet.  ?️ This guide is going to help you understand the various NBN plans.

When you’re trying to pick a national broadband network that will provide you fast internet at an affordable price, it may be hard to find the perfect plan. A lot of the time you’ll notice that in order to get fast speed, you have to pay more.

No one wants their video streaming service to start buffering in the middle of one of their favorite shows that they’re watching.

Below you will read about the best overall plan, the best speed option, and several more honest provider reviews. The two main features that were compared were speed and cost. We wanted to make things even easier by talking about the best NBN provider for each popular city in Australia.

Lastly, we’ll discuss a little bit about what you should look for when shopping around for your next Internet provider.

Why Trust Me?

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My name’s Will and for the last three years I’ve been running this security blog helping Australians better understand digital privacy (huge guide here). I’ve worked with companies around Australian helping them secure their networks and websites. This journey has also taught me a thing or two about how the ISP industry works.

Read our guide if you want to know if your ISP can see your downloads.

My goal of this guide is to share my experience using literally all of the below NBN plans while setting up secure IT infrastructure for small businesses around Sydney and Melbourne.

This article is a work in progress but feel free to contact me if you have any questions or need help picking a suitable NBN plan. Cheers ?

What is an NBN?

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Australia uses the term NBN or national broadband network when talking about high-speed broadband companies that provide internet services to the citizens of Australia. They also offer services such as security, entertainment, mobile, and even e-health.

There are a handful of different technologies that national broadband networks use to bring services to their customers, but we’ll talk more about that later. An NBN is similar to what Americans call an Internet Service Provider, as they’re essentially the same thing, using different types of technology.

Explore our guide about public Wi-Fi dangers.

Best NBN Providers – 9 Plans Compared

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1. Tangerine – Best Bang for your Buck

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Discounts

As a newcomer, Tangerine wants customers to feel welcome and enjoy every second of their service. To make sure it’s always a pleasure, tangerine drops the first six month’s payments by $10 to $15. In that way, customers can try it out for size without breaking the bank. Plus, once your six months are up, you won’t have to worry about paying an arm and a leg, as the price stays at an affordable rate.

Affordable Additions

When customers want to bundle, they save and are bigger than with other companies out there. Things like adding a phone line don’t cost much, with bundles starting as low as $10. For those that add a home line, they can score unlimited local, national, and mobile calls within Australia.

14-Day Trial

Not a lot of services out there will let you try before you buy, but tangerine will. They want customers to be 100% satisfied, aiming to let them see what they’re getting into before they make a purchase. During that time, the only thing that users will have to pay is the modem fee, and they will not be refunded. Still, after the 14 days, users can decide whether or not it’s the service for them.

2. Activ8me – Best for Customized Plans

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Tons of Plans to Choose From

One of the best things about Activ8me is that there is a plan for every customer. Whether it’s those looking for a budget plan or those looking for master plans, you can find them, and then some. The most basic plan starts at $34.95, coming with an NBN 12 speed cap (upgradeable to NBN 25 for only $5 per month) and 150 GB. The fastest plans offer 300GB, coming in at $199.95 per month.

Accessibility

The online platform is one that comes with everything that customers need, including access to their account details. Customers can take a look at their current plan and browse other options available. On top of that, Aussies can pay their bill and check their balance, not having to give customer care a call to get things figured out.

Top-Notch Customer Care

When there is an issue that needs some attention, Aussies don’t have to call during odd business hours. All customer care is based in Australia, and it’s open and available from 8 am to 8 pm throughout the week and until 5 pm on the weekends. They have a high rating and don’t have any outstanding complaints, making them a broadband provider worth choosing.

3. Mate. – Top Rated NBN Provider

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Low-Cost Options

One of the best things about Mate. is that users can find low prices all across the board.  They offer record-breaking prices for access to NBN 100, one of the fastest speeds, and have bundle options that knock off $10 or more from the monthly bill. Unlike other providers, Mate. does not come with a higher first month to pay, staying at the same right from contract start to finish. The only way bills will go, is down, especially if users add bundles to their account.

Lots of Plans to Choose From

You won’t find just one plan across the board but, you’ll find options of all kinds when it comes to plans. Take a look at all they have to offer and browse through prices and speeds, all of which will get you closer to the options you want and need. Some of the top speeds go up to 208Mbps

Bundles for Days

Whether you want to add a phone line to your home or some extra speed to your wireless connection, you can do it with Mate. without the high costs. Bundles start at just $10 and don’t go up too far. That means that you could have access to all of your favorite features without having to break the bank. Before you purchase a package, see what they have to offer and see how much you can save when you put it all together.

4. Internode – Best for Customer Support

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No Contract, No Problem

The great thing about it is that it is a pay as you go phone service and broadband service that you pay for month-to-month. There isn’t a complicated contract that you have to sign and this company has actually won awards for their customer satisfaction. There is a standard plus evening speed of around 44 Mbps. This company offers unlimited data for around $50 per month.

Different Than the Rest

While you may notice that you get around 6 megabits per second less than some of the other national broadband network providers, the perks of being able to pay month-to-month, have great customer service, and no contract sets the Internode Unlimited plan above the rest. They also offer business plans and other telecommunication services.

Award-Winning

When it comes to awards, Internode has won plenty of them. They have one the Internet service provider of the month for June, July, and August 2019. They have also won the home broadband service provider of the year award two years in a row. Lastly, they won the communications alliance innovation award.

5. Aussie Broadband – Best Speed

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When it comes to the best high-speed NBN plan, we’ve found one of the best options for you. Starting us off there is the Aussie Broadband. Aussie Broadband was founded in 2008 and is a privately held company. The headquarters are located in Morwell, Australia. They offer Internet and mobile services to areas such as Victoria, Darwin, Lynbrook, and Morwell.

Crazy Fast Speed

They have a 100/40 unlimited package. Your typical evening speed will be just under 90 Mbps. You will receive unlimited data and the average price is around $100 per month. This premium plan is pretty hard to pass up. The average NBN provider speed for Australia is around 80 Mbps, whereas Aussie Broadband is closer to 90 Mbps.

It’s Risk-Free

This is also a great option if you’re looking for something that is practically risk-free. You won’t need to commit to a fixed-term contract or have to pay out-of-pocket for any type of set up fees. This is perfect if you’re unsure of what type of speeds you’ll need or the amount of data you use. You can easily switch plans if you need more or less of something.

6. Telstra NBN Plans

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Telstra is one of the most well-known and used national broadband networks in Australia. They have been around for several years and have headquarters located in Melbourne, Australia. They offer a handful of simple bundles that are easy to choose from. When it comes to the best Telstra NBN plan, you have to consider how much data you will need per month.

Bundles Galore!

Their bundles are based off of the amount of data you get. They offer a 100 GB plan, 200 GB plan, and an unlimited plan. Like many other providers, they also offer add-ons such as TV services including Netflix.

If we had to choose the overall best Telstra NBN plan, we’d have to go with the unlimited plan. With this, you pay $90 per billing period and get unlimited data at an NBN speed of 50. There is a standard plus evening speed, a $216 modem that is free when you use their service for 24 months, discounts on connection fees, and even unlimited local and national phone calls included.

Extra Entertainment Options Available

Telstra is great because they have a lot of entertainment options available. You’re also able to upgrade your plan to a premium NBN 100 speed if you’re eligible. Lastly, there isn’t a lock-in contract. This is great for customers who struggle with commitment or if you move around often.

Customer Service

Their customer service is also something that sets this company apart from other options available. There are several ways to get a hold of a customer service representative. You can talk to someone on the phone, send an email, or even a live chat with a trained customer service representative from the comfort of your own home.

NBN Plan Reviews – Other Great Choices

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7. TPG NBN Plans

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TPG is another amazing provider for Australia residents. This company has over 5000 employees and as of August 2015, is the second-largest Internet service provider for the country of Australia. One thing that people may not know about the company is that TPG stands for Total Peripherals Group. This group was founded and established all the way back in 1986.

Wide Variety of Plans

They offer a variety of different plans that all have unlimited data. These range from around $60 per month to $90 per month.

They are known for having the fastest performance when it comes to evening speeds with an average of 88 Mbps. Also, with their cheaper package, you will get unlimited data, a no-contract term, 11.1 megabits per second typical evening speed all at $60 per month.

Their middle plan at $70 per month will get you unlimited data, no contract term, and nearly 44 Mbps of typical evening speed. Lastly, for their more expensive bundle, $90 a month will get you a no contract term, 78.2 Mbps of typical evening speed and of course, unlimited data.

8. Vodafone NBN Plans

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Vodafone is a well-known company all across Australia. Ironically enough, the company is based out of Berkshire, United Kingdom. The company itself was founded in 1982 in Newbury, United Kingdom, but is rather new to Australia. They have around 2500 employees and their headquarters can be found in North Sydney.

Fast Speeds at Low Rates

They have four main plans available that are quite cost-efficient. Their first plan will cost you around $60 per month and you will receive unlimited data, a no-contract term, and 23 Mbps of typical evening speed.

Next, $70 per month will get you 83 Mbps of typical evening speed, unlimited data, no contract term, and often you’ll find this plan for $20 off per month. Lastly, another $70 a month option will get you unlimited data, a new contract term, and 45 Mbps of typical evening speed.

It’s a New Company

This company is rather new when it comes to national broadband networks, but they are great at what they do. If you use Vodafone for your mobile device, you will say between 5% and 20% when you add on a broadband plan.

9. Exetel NBN Plans

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The last honorable mention we have is Exetel. Their headquarters are located in Sydney, Australia, and the company has been around since the fall of 2001. They are a privately held company that has around 300 employees at the time of writing this.

A Trusted Australian Company

The three main unlimited plans they have range from $69 per month to $99 per month. With the most expensive plan, you will receive unlimited data, and no contract term, and 77 Mbps of typical evening speed for under $100.

Their middle plan is $79 and will get you 40 Mbps of typical evening speed, unlimited data, and I know contract term. Their most cost-efficient option with unlimited data has a no-contract term and 20 Mbps of typical evening speed.

NBN Plans By City

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Because NBN plans seem to differ based on what city you live in, we wanted to break down some of the options available for the most popular cities in Australia. A lot of NBN providers provide services to several cities or even the majority of the country.

Best NBN Plans for Melbourne

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1. Unlimited Belong

The first NBN plan that is a good fit for those residing in Melbourne, is Unlimited Belong.  This plan does not have a standard activation fee and there is a zero dollar modem charge if you sign a 12-month contract.

You will get unlimited monthly data at a standard plus speed of 50 Mbps.

Their shortest plan is 12 months long and allows for broadband-only access. This will cost you around $65 per month. They also provide 24 seven customer support.

2. TPG Plus

TPG Plus is another great option for Melbourne residence. This plan will give you unlimited data every month for just under $60 per month. The speeds are a bit slower, with the basic speed of 12 Mbps.

With that being said, that should still be a sufficient speed for most people. Lastly, their contract is 18 months long and they offer a bundled broadband and home phone plan.

3. Sumo Single Saver

Sumo Single Saver offers 50 Mbps of unlimited service per month. This option is great because you won’t have to sign a contract and the length of the term is month to month.

They offer broadband-only packages starting at just under $65 per month.

You could also save five dollars per month when you bundle your broadband plan with one of Sumo Electricity’s plans.

4. Dodo – Standard Plus Plan

The last option we’re going to talk about for Melbourne is a bundle from Dodo. For $70 per month, you will get unlimited data at a 50 Mbps speed.

Their contract is 12 months long and they do offer a bundle of broadband and home phone. This is incredibly fast internet for an affordable price, especially if it’s a bundle.

Best NBN Plans for Perth

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Perth has all of the plans Melbourne has listed above, but we wanted to include a handful specific to Perth.

1. iiNet Unlimited

iiNet Unlimited offers a bundled plan of broadband internet and home phone service. You will get unlimited data and 50 Mbps speed. Their plans are six months long and will cost you around $75 per month.

2. My Republic Unlimited Essential Plan

My Republic has an unlimited essentials plan that people in Perth enjoy. With this plan, you will pay $75 per month for unlimited data. Their plans are 12 months long and they only offer broadband.

Like many other providers, this plan has a standard plus speed of 50 Mbps.

3. iPrimus Unlimited Plan

Next, we have the iPrimus Unlimited Plan. This plan is a bundle of broadband internet and home phone service. For $80 a month you will get unlimited data at a speed of 15 Mbps.

Their plans are 12 months at a time and a line rental is included.

4. Telstra Casual Unlimited

If you’re looking for something that is month to month, Telstra Casual Unlimited has a home broadband bundle that you may be interested in.

You will get broadband internet and home phone service for $90 per month. Their standard plus evening speed is 50 Mbps.

5. Optus

Lastly, for Perth there is Optus. Optus offers unlimited data at 50 Mbps for $90 a month. This includes a broadband internet and home phone bundle. Their service lengths are at 24 months at a time.

Best NBN Plans for Adelaide

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1. Unlimited Belong

What are the best plan options for those living in Adelaide is the Unlimited Belong broadband plan.

For $65 a month you’ll receive unlimited data for 12 months. This is a broadband-only package and there is a standard plus speed of 50 Mbps. With this plan, you will receive a free activation, a free modem, and 24 seven customer support.

2. Sumo Single Saver

Sumo Single Saver makes another appearance, this time for the folks in Adelaide. With this plan, you will only pay month-to-month and still get unlimited service.

Plans cost just under $65 and there is an additional option to save an extra five dollars per month when you bundle your broadband-only plan with the Sumo Electricity plan.

You’ll receive the standard 50 Mbps with this plan.

3. TPG Plus

This next option is a bit more long-term and the speed is quite a bit slower. With the basic plan from TPG Plus, you’ll experience speeds of 12 Mbps.

This plan is 18 months long and includes unlimited data. This is a bundle of home phone service and broadband internet for less than $60 per month.

4. Optus

Optus offers Adelaide residents an unlimited bundle plan. As you could probably guess, with this plan you will receive unlimited data. It includes broadband internet service and home phone.

The plan is 24 months long, costs $70 per month, and has a standard plus the speed of 50 Mbps.

5. Dodo

Last, but not least for this part of Australia, Dodo has a plan available as well!

This is an unlimited plan that includes a home phone line rental for the bundle the home phone service and broadband internet.

The plan is a bit longer at 24 months total. You will get 50 Mbps of standard plus the speed for $70 per month.

Best NBN Plans for Brisbane

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1. iiNet Unlimited

The first plan for Brisbane that will be talking about is from iiNet Unlimited.

This plan only has a six-month-long contract and will cost you under $75 per month. You’ll get a bundle of service of broadband internet and home phone service with a standard plus speed of 50 Mbps. Unlimited data is included.

2. My Republic Unlimited Essential Plan

Next, we have My Republic. With the unlimited essential plan, you will pay just $75 per month for unlimited data at a standard plus speed of 50 Mbps.

The plan includes broadband-only and will last for 12 months.

3. Dodo

Dodo is a great option for those living in Brisbane. There are two plan lengths available, 12 months and 24 months. They both cost $70 per month and include unlimited data. There is a home phone line rental with both plans along with 50 Mbps of standard plus speed.

This is a bundled option of broadband internet and home phone service.

4. Optus

Optus offers Brisbane residents A bundled broadband and home phone service plan with unlimited data. For $70 per month for 24 months you will receive 50 Mbps of standard plus speed Internet.

5. Unlimited Belong

Unlimited belong offers 12-month broadband-only plans for $65 per month.

With this, you will get unlimited data at 50 Mbps of standard plus speed, free activation, 24 seven customer service, and a free Wi-Fi modem.

Best NBN Plans for Sydney

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1. Telstra Casual Unlimited

With this unlimited data plan, you will pay $90 from month to month.

There is no long-term contract and you’ll get a bundle the plan for broadband internet and home phone service.

The standard plus evening speed is 50 Mbps.

2. Unlimited Belong

Unlimited Belong is easily one of your best options no matter where you are in the country. Their most affordable plan comes with unlimited data at 50 Mbps of standard plus speed.

This is a broadband-only plan and will cost you $65.

The best part? The activation is free, you won’t have to pay for a Wi-Fi modem, and you’re able to reach customer support at all times.

3. TPG Plus

TPG makes the list once again, this time for Sydney. With their basic bundle, you will pay $59.99 per month for both broadband and home phone service. For 18 months you will receive unlimited data at a basic speed of 12 Mbps.

4. iiNet Unlimited

For $74.99 per month, you can get a bundle from iiNet that includes both broadband Internet and home phone service. Their plans are only six months long and provide a standard plus speed of 50 Mbps.

5. Sumo Single Saver

Last but not least for Sydney is a plan from Sumo Single Saver.

They offer a month to month plan for $64.95 per month that has unlimited data and standard plus speeds of 50 Mbps.

They also have an unlimited plan that is $70 per month that has basic speeds of 12 Mbps, but why pay more for a slower service?

Best NBN Plans for Victoria

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1. Unlimited Belong

Victoria loves Unlimited Belong as well. There is a standard 12-month plan that costs $65 per month.

This includes broadband-only and 50 Mbps of standard plus speed. They also have a plan that is $70 per month.

This plan is a month-to-month broadband-only unlimited data plan. You will also get 50 Mbps of standard plus speed. The main difference between these two plans other than the term length is that with the cheaper option you’ll also receive activation and a Wi-Fi modem free of charge.

Both plans come with 24/7 customer service support.

2. My Republic Unlimited Essential Flexi Plan

The essential Flexi plan from My Republic is $79 per month on a month-to-month basis. This will get you broadband only, unlimited data, and a standard plus speed of 50 Mbps.

This company also offers a 12-month term for four dollars less per month.

3. iPrimus

iPrimus has two plans available at both cost $80, have unlimited data, bundle broadband and home phone service, and have an average evening speed of 50 Mbps. The only difference between the plans is that one has a 12-month service length, while the other has a 24-month service length.

Both plans also come with a line rental included.

4. Dodo

Dodo also offers two plans for those living in Victoria.

These plans both cost $70 per month, come with unlimited data, have standard plus speeds of 58 Mbps, and are both broadband and home phone service bundles.

They also come with the phone line rentals, but one plan is 12 months long, and the other is 24 months long.

5. Optus

Optus makes the list one last time. Their plan is 24 months long and will cost you $70 per month. This will get you unlimited data and a broadband bundle with a home phone. There is a standard plus speed of 50 Mbps.

Australia NBN Plans Buying Guide

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It can be hard to know what to look for when shopping around for your next NBN provider. You may have no idea how much data you use, if it’s worth it to get a quality internet bundle, if contracts have hidden information, along with other concerning factors.

This is why we wanted to tell you a bit about what you should be looking for to help you find the perfect plan for you. Below is an NBN buying guide that you can use when comparing one provider or plan to another.

Uses

The first thing you want to consider is what you’ll be using the NBN for. Let’s take a look at what you will need for the different categories below.

Browsing the Internet

If you’re someone who finds yourself browsing the web a lot, you’ll likely use between 150 to 300 MB per hour. This is for things such as checking your email, surfing the web, the occasional social media check, or short YouTube video streamed.

Gaming Online

Online gaming can range quite a bit, depending on what type of game you’re playing and if you’re streaming live to an audience. In general games usually, require about 40 MB per hour. If you are playing virtual reality games, it’s much higher.

If you combine playing the game, downloading new games or updating the ones you already have, you’ll likely need around 100 to 200 GB per person gaming every month. Again, there are a lot of factors that go into this category so the amount of data used may vary quite a bit.

Spending Time on Social Media

If you consider yourself someone who spends a decent amount of time using social media, you’re likely consuming around 120 MB per hour.

This is to simply post statuses, download images or videos, and post images or videos. All of that on top of messaging your friends and loved ones, this category will run you between 1.8 GB per hour to 3.5 GB per hour.

Streaming Videos

Who doesn’t love to stream videos? Whether you’re watching Netflix, YouTube, or Presto, streaming videos take up some of the most bandwidth compared to other categories. This, of course, will vary depending on how much you watch and what quality you watch it on.

On average, video streaming uses around 3.5 GB per hour. On the low end of average, a household will use around 320 GB per month.

If you live with someone or are somebody yourself who spends a lot of time online, that number can increase quite a bit. Someone who uses the internet casually will spend around 32 hours per month on it. People who are invested in social media can spend well over 40 hours per month. Lastly, the majority of households will easily watch 60 hours worth of videos per month.

Data

One of the main things that will determine which plan you purchase is the amount of data allowance you need.

Hopefully, the section above will give you a better idea of how much you and your household uses per month. The options of NBN you read about earlier all had unlimited data options.

This is a great choice for the majority of people, depending on the price. If there is someone in your household who streams a lot of videos, downloads movies, or plays a lot of online video games, you will definitely get your money’s worth out of an unlimited data plan.

The average Australian spends a little less than 50 hours online every month. Depending on what you’re doing, you may use a lot of data one month and barely any the next. It’s smart to get a little more data than you think you’ll use to avoid running out.

Household Size

When we conducted our research to see which plans were best for the main cities in Australia, we had to fill out how many people were in the household. If you live by yourself, you will likely use a lot less data than a family of four. It also depends on the age of the people in the house.

If you have three kids who each have their own device to stream cartoons on, that’s going to eat up a lot of data. If you live with a bunch of university students, they will likely spend a lot of time online for studies, social media, streaming videos, and just generally surfing the web.

Can you see how quickly the amount of data you need can change? One last thing to keep in mind is how often the people in your household are home.

If you live with a handful of adults who all work full-time, you’re going to be using a lot less data than a household with people who are home a lot.

NBN Speeds

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Next, we’re going to talk a little bit about speed. Speed is an absolutely crucial feature to consider before you spend any money on a package or bundle.

There are three main speed tears for most NBN plans.

• NBN Standard: 25/5
• NBN Standard Plus: 50/20
• NBN Premium: 100/40

When many providers first started offering plans for their customers, the NBN standard plan was the most commonly used.

Since the way we use the Internet and how much we use it has drastically changed over the years, companies are starting to get rid of the NBN a standard plan as the standard plus plan is the most popular across the board.

To make it a little easier to digest, the fractions above for each plan are made up of two numbers. The first number is in relation to downloading speed. For example, the NBN standard plus plan has a download speed of 50 Mbps. The second number is in relation to uploading speed.

An NBN standard plus plan has an upload a speed of 20 Mbps.

One thing you can do to find out how much data you’ll need and at what speed is to consider how many devices will be used in your house. If you have two or fewer screens, an NBN standard plus plan should be enough. If you have any more than that, you will likely need an NBN premium plan.

Something that’s important to note is that when it comes to your plan’s speed if you don’t know how much you’ll need, it is better to assume a smaller amount rather than a higher amount. This is because it is much easier to ask a company to increase your speed whether than decrease it. Learn how to test your NBN speed.

NBN Plan Costs

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Of course, we have to talk about money. NBN plans come at a variety of different price points as seen above. Some plans will cost $60 and provide a max speed of 12 Mbps, while others are priced the same amount and offer 50 Mbps.

This is why it’s important to compare plans across several different NBN providers. Another thing when it comes to cost is upfront costs. Some providers may require a down payment or charge an extra fee upon signing up for their services.

While some NBN providers won’t have any upfront costs, others can have upfront costs over $200. There are also fees that come with contract periods depending on the length.

It is not uncommon to find that when you sign up for a longer-length plan, they will likely offer you a discounted monthly charge. The average Australian will pay around $50 for their NBN services. There are providers who will charge over $100 per month for some packages and bundles.

Speaking of bundles, if you get subscriptions, you can be paying as much as AU$3000 for two years of service. It’s your best bet to start on a more cost-efficient plan and upgrade as you need to. This way you’re not paying more for using less. Be sure to read the fine print and don’t be shy to ask the providers any questions you may have in relation to the cost.

NBN Contract Length

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Another thing you want to consider is the length of the contract. As you read about above, NBN providers offer a variety of different contract lengths. Some offer month-to-month contracts, while others have 24-month contracts.

There are a lot of factors that play into which contract you should sign up for. If you’re someone who moves around a lot, has unstable income, or is unsure of the speed at data usage for your household, a month to month contract is a great option.

This allows you to easily upgrade or downgrade if needed. On the other hand, a lot of the time when you sign on a longer contract, you will get a discounted price. If you plan on living in your residence or city for the foreseeable future, have a steady income, and already know how much data and speed you’ll need, this is a great option.

Signing a contract no matter how long it is can come off as scary and intimidating. Go with whatever contract length you feel comfortable with and avoid allowing providers to talk you into a plan or contract length just so that they can make more money.

Modems

Modems can be incredibly expensive. If you already have your own, that will save you a lot of money. If you don’t, you will likely be able to rent one from the NBN provider that you choose. It’s important to note that not all providers offer modems for rent, but the majority of them do. If you need to rent one, it will be very beneficial to look at the prices across the different providers.

One may offer a free modem with a longer contract, while another may charge you $30 per month to use one of their modems.

It is in your best interest to buy your own. This way you’re not responsible for a piece of the companies equipment and it will save you a lot of money in the long run.

Customer Service

Now, you may look at this and think that customer service won’t change your decision in which plan or provider you choose.

While that can be true, we hope that you take customer service into consideration. The way a company treats its customers can make a world of difference when it comes to your experience with them.

This can be especially crucial if you need to switch plans, cancel your plan, or need a professional to come to your home and service your modem. How can you tell if a provider has good customer service? There are a few ways. One of the easiest ways to check is by reading the reviews.

Try to avoid reading reviews on their direct website, as they are very unlikely to post any negative reviews. Check your local search engine or simply type the provider’s name followed by “reviews” to see real and honest customer feedback.

Another thing you could do is check to see if they won any customer service awards. The thing that’s tough about customer service is that it can be quite fickle. The customer could be blatantly rude, the customer service representative may be having a bad day or anything in between.

This is why it’s important to read several reviews that are both positive and negative to give you the best idea of what you’re getting yourself into.

Lastly, consider asking your friends and family which provider they have and what their experience has been. Depending on which NBN provider they have, this could vary from city to city.

Types of NBN Technology

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The majority of people don’t know what type of technology they already own. If you’re like me, you can easily contact your provider to find out. You could also head over to their website and type in your address to find out the type of technology and connection that your city provides.

Since technology can be incredibly complicated, we wanted to include a few simple things to make it a bit easier to understand. There are three different NBN technologies we’ll be covering and we will talk about what you should look for inside your home, outside your home, and what type of socket will be required.

Fibre to the Premises (FTTP)

• Socket type: This type of NBN technology does not use your phone socket inside your home.
• Inside your home: Two boxes will be required to be mounted inside your home.
• Outside of your home: A fibre will run to and from your home to an NBN street box along with a box installed on the outside of your home.

Cable (HFC)

• Socket type: The indoor box will not be mounted to the walls and won’t use phone sockets.
• Inside your home: You will need an NBN cable installed in your house if you don’t already have one.
• Outside of your home: A coaxial cable will run from power lines to a node box. Then a fibre will connect the node box to the NBN box.

Fibre to the node (FTTN)

• Socket type: Uses your phone wall socket in your house.
• Inside your home: An ADSL-like modem is placed in your house.
• Outside of your home: Copper lines will lead from your home to a street node. Then there will be a fibre going from the street node to the NBN box.

Changing Providers

If you are considering changing providers, doing so well depends on a few factors. The main factor playing a role is whether or not you’re in a contract. If you are in one, you should talk to your current provider to see what their cancellation policy is and if there are any additional fees.

Some companies will charge you for the months remaining on your contract plus a cancellation fee.

Other companies won’t charge you anything at all. This may be something to look into before you even choose a provider in the first place. How do you change providers if you’re not in a contract? This is much easier than if you are in a contract.

You will need to contact your new NBN provider first. You can do this online, via phone call, or even in person. The great thing about doing this is that your new provider will likely talk to your old or current provider to help you make the switch with ease.

Usually, your old plan will stay active until the end of the month.

Where You Live

Where you live also plays a part in which NBN provider that you can use. Not every city and town has the same options available.

If you don’t know who provides a service to your neighborhood or a neighborhood that you’re moving to, you can simply go to the provider’s website that you’re considering using and enter your address.

If you don’t have any providers in mind, there are plenty of sites available that allow you to enter your address and they will pull up a variety of different options based on the address entered.

Bundling

Bundling is another thing that you need to consider before you spend any money on a new service provider. Companies offer bundles that will make a handful of your expenses a little less expensive.

For example, if you have a mobile phone carrier who charges you $100 a month for your phone service and an NBN who charges you $75 for services, you may want to check with that NBN to see if they offer bundles. If not, it may be worth your money to switch to one that does. You may be able to get a mobile phone and NBN services for less than $100 per month.

Promotional Deals

The most common promotional deal is a discounted price for the first six months of your contract.

Other promotional deals will include things such as freebies or even faster services for less money. Be sure to ask about promotional deals with any NBN provider you’re looking into buying a service from. Not all promotions are listed on websites at all times.

Add-Ons

Add-ons or another popular feature that many NBN providers have available for their customers. The majority of add-on packages are in relation to entertainment. This could mean that the provider includes a Netflix subscription, specific television channels, or video game subscriptions.

Services like this are part of bundling. The best plan that you could find would be one that offered internet, phone, and streaming services. While this varies from person to person, this type of bundle would be incredibly popular with the majority of customers.

NBN PLAN FAQ

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Q: What is the Purpose of an NBN?

A: The main purpose of an NBN is to bring services such as telephone and internet to customers around the country.

They also provide wholesale broadband to retail service providers in large cities.

Q: Is the NBN a Good Thing?

A: We wouldn’t be boasting about it if it wasn’t! The National Broadband Network has much faster speeds than the ADSL. The rates they offer are competitive and many plans include unlimited data.

Q: What Does the NBN Installation Involve?

A: If the outside of your property hasn’t been previously set up for NBN installation, that will be the first step. They will come and install cables or fibres, depending on the type of technology available. Then they will install a cable if necessary in your home, along with a box or two.

They can help you set up your internet so that you’re ready to use it as soon as they leave!

Q: Is NBN Installation Free?

A: If you’re looking for just standard NBN installation, yes, that is free! This includes the installation process that is listed above!

Q: Can You Use NBN Without an Active Phone Line?

A: You absolutely can. There is no need for an active phone line in order for NBN to work. You may have the company install the NBN by using the copper wire and phone socket that is in your home, though this isn’t done on all technology types.

Q: Are there alternatives to an NBN?

A: Technically, yes. But when it comes down to comparing things such as price, data, and speed, there isn’t really any other alternative that measures up to the NBN.

Final Words

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Well, there you have it. By now you’re an expert on everything that has to do with national broadband networks.

We hope that you were able to find a provider above that services your city, has prices that fall within your budget, and that offers competitive speed and data rates. Before you spend any money, make sure you look into the contract length that a provider has for each plan.

Make sure that the amount you’re paying and the amount of data you get is enough for your entire household. Also, remember that depending on how you and others you live with using the Internet can make a big difference when it comes to how much data you need.

It may be best to go with an unlimited data plan that has evening speeds between 30 and 50 Mbps. Hopefully, you’re one step closer to finding the perfect NBN provider for you. Happy shopping!

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