100 days to go before massive NBN internet speed upgrade for Australians

Massive upgrades in internet speeds are now just 100 days away for Australian households.

From September, government-owned telecommunications company NBN, which supplies internet providers like Telstra and Optus with the physical infrastructure that connects households to the internet, will deliver massive upgrades to its network speeds.

The accelerated, high-speed wholesale products will be available to providers to sell to eligible residential and business customers connected to the NBN network via fibre to the premises or hybrid fibre coaxial options.

The Home Fast package will increase speeds from 100/20Mbps to 500/50Mbps, delivering a five times improvement in downloads and 2.5 times faster uploads.

The Superfast package will increase speeds from 250/25Mbps to 750/50 Mbps, while Ultrafast will double upload speeds from 50Mbps to 100Mbps.

The Hyperfast offering will deliver “blazing-fast speeds for top-tier connections”, with 2000/200Mbps (on fibre to the premises) and 2000/100Mbps (on hybrid fibre coaxial).

It is expected Hyperfast will be sold to retailers for a wholesale price of $115 per month.

Customers who purchased one of these higher speed tiers, or choose to upgrade, would automatically accelerate to the new, faster speeds when the plans were made available by the retailers, the company said.

NBN general manager Jane McNamara said the speed changes would “future proof” Australia as the world moved online.

“Back in 2015, the typical Australian home had two or three internet-connected devices,” she said on Friday.

“Today, the average number is about 25 and includes devices like smart phones, laptops, TVs and smart speakers, all of which need the internet to work.

“With people in Australia averaging more than 6½ hours a day online, streaming and gaming more than ever before, the number of connected devices (is) expected to rise to more than 44 by the end of this decade.”

But the company has warned that the technological boost will only be available to certain households.

“Higher speed plans are only available on NBN’s fibre to the premises and hybrid fibre Coaxial technologies,” it said.

“Check your address to see if higher speed plans are available at your place, and for those customers on fibre to the node or fibre to the kerb, whether you are eligible for a fibre upgrade.”

Some households might need to upgrade their home equipment to make the most of the new speeds, the company added, and simple adjustments to a home’s set-up, such as how modems and routers are placed, could also impact speed.

“Many objects and materials in the home can reflect or absorb your wi-fi signal, either slowing the speed as they pass through or blocking it altogether,” the company said.

“Metal doors, appliances, mirrors, solid walls, floors, and ceilings can significantly reduce signal efficiency and effective distance.

“Interior walls, furniture and even windows can do the same but to a lesser degree.

“Liquids, like those in fish tanks, fridges, hot water systems and even bottles can absorb wi-fi signal, preventing it from reaching your devices.

“Other technology, including radios, baby monitors, microwave ovens, Bluetooth devices, use signals that can interfere with your wi-fi.”

The NBN advises to keep wi-fi routers out in the open.