If you're on a high-speed NBN plan, you'll need a modem or router that can keep up. There's no point being on an NBN 500 plan or faster if your networking gear is acting as a bottleneck.
In this guide, we'll look at the kinds of hardware you need for NBN 500, NBN 750, NBN 1000, and NBN 2000 plans. But before we get into all of that, here's a breakdown of the most popular beyond-NBN 100 plans from our database.
|
#1
|
Dodo
FTTP, HFC
Editor's Pick
nbn500 Unlimited Plan
$62.99/mth
Min. cost $62.99
|
|
#2
|
Tangerine Telecom
FTTP, HFC
Speedy Max NBN 500/50
$59.90/mth
Min. cost $59.90
|
|
#3
|
amaysim
FTTP, HFC
NBN500
$50/mth
Min. cost $50
|
|
#4
|
Belong
FTTP, HFC
NBN Fast – Unlimited
$59/mth
Min. cost $59
|
|
#5
|
Superloop
FTTP, HFC
Family Max nbn500/50
$74/mth
Min. cost $74
|
|
#6
|
SpinTel
FTTP, HFC
Home Ultrafast 1000/100
$76/mth
Min. cost $76
|
|
#7
|
Exetel
FTTP, HFC
One Plan 500/50
$80/mth
Min. cost $80
|
|
#8
|
TPG
FTTP, HFC
nbn Home Fast Unlimited Plan
$74.99/mth
Min. cost $74.99
Link not supplied
|
|
#9
|
Kogan Internet
FTTP, HFC
Gold Plus Unlimited
$69.90/mth
Min. cost $69.90
|
|
#10
|
Flip
FTTP, HFC
Unlimited Fast Speed nbn500
$69/mth
Min. cost $69
|
Best routers for high-speed NBN plans
If you live in an FTTP or HFC home, you need the right router to get the most out of NBN 500, NBN 750, NBN 1000, and NBN 2000 speeds. For the first three of those speed tiers, popular routers should be okay. But for NBN 2000, there are some extra considerations.
If your home connects to the NBN via Fibre to the Curb (FTTC), Fibre to the Building (FTTB), or Fibre to the Node (FTTN) technologies, you won't have access to plans faster NBN 100. For NBN 100 plans, WiFi 6 networking gear is sufficient to get the max speeds out of your NBN plan.
If you want faster speeds, you'll need to upgrade your NBN technology. Most FTTN and FTTC addresses are now eligible for a free FTTP upgrade, which allows access to NBN 500 plans and up.
Here's a list of routers and mesh WiFi systems we've tested that are up to speed for all high-speed NBN plans.
| Networking device | Type | WiFi | WiFi speed (shared) | WAN speed | RRP | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon eero 7 | Mesh WiFi system | 7 | 1,800Mbps | 2.5Gbps | $299.99 | View on Amazon |
| Amazon eero Pro 7 | Mesh WiFi system | 7 | 3,900Mbps | 5Gbps | $529.99 | View on Amazon |
| Arcadyan HWG2025 | Router | 7 | 3,000Mbps | 2.5Gbps | $366 | - |
| D-Link M60 Aquila Pro AI |
Mesh WiFi system | 6 | 6,000Mbps | 2.5Gbps | $299 | View on Amazon |
| Netgear RS600 |
Router | 7 | 18,000Mbps | 10Gbps | $799.00 | View on Amazon |
| Amazon eero Max 7 |
Mesh WiFi system | 7 | 4,300Mbps | 10Gbps | $1,099.99 | View on Amazon |
| TP-Link Archer GE800 |
Router | 7 | 19,000Mbps | 10Gbps | $1,199.00 | View on Amazon |
Amazon eero 7 (mesh WiFi system)
The eero 7 is the best entry-level WiFi 7 router we've tested. It works well as a standalone device, but is even better in a three-pack configuration for whole-home WiFi that's easy to set up. We'd only recommend the eero 7 for plans as fast as NBN 1000, however. While it has 2.5Gbps Ethernet ports, combined wireless speeds max out at 1.8Gbps, so you won't get the full benefit of an NBN 2000 plan.
View on AmazonAmazon eero Pro 7 (mesh WiFi system)
The eero Pro 7 is a solid step up from the standard eero 7. Even a single unit is great, and the wireless speeds on offer are more than fast enough for even NBN 2000 plans. Those in larger houses may want to consider picking up a multi-pack, however.
View on AmazonArcadyan HWG2025 (router)
The Arcadyan HWG2025 is the "official" name for the router bundled with TPG, iiNet, and Vodafone NBN plans, but each provider has a different name for the hardware. TPG and iiNet call it "Wi-Fi Max", and Vodafone opts for "Super Wi-Fi Modem". But no matter who you get the HWG2025 from, it's very solid hardware capable of fast WiFi 7 speeds.
Better yet, the HWG2025 is available as a free add-on from these providers. Just note that you'll need to stick with your provider for 24 months to "own" the hardware. If you leave early, you'll need to send back the HWG2025 or pay a $200 return fee.
Here are NBN 500 plans from TPG, iiNet, and Vodafone that come with the HWG2025:
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#1
|
iiNet
FTTP, HFC
nbn500 Liimitless
$69.99/mth
+ $10 Upfront
Min. cost $79.99
Link not supplied
|
|
#2
|
TPG
FTTP, HFC
nbn Home Fast Unlimited Plan
$74.99/mth
Min. cost $74.99
Link not supplied
|
|
#3
|
Vodafone
FTTP, HFC
Home Fast+ nbn®
$79/mth
Min. cost $79
Link not supplied
|
D-Link M60 (mesh WiFi system)
D-Link does a great job of creating networking gear that act as a halfway point between routers and mesh WiFi systems. Take the D-Link M60 Aquila Pro AI, for instance. Yes, it's a mesh WiFi system, but it also has four Ethernet ports for each mesh unit, which is uncommon unless you're paying $1,000+ (per individual unit). The D-Link M60 costs $649.95 for a three-pack, which means 12 LAN ports for priority wired devices. Just be aware that the local area network (LAN) ports are capped at 1Gbps, which offer half the max speed for wired devices on an NBN 2000 plan. That said, the M60 has a 2.5Gbps internet port, plus up to 6,000Mbps of shared WiFi speeds. Stick to WiFi if you're going beyond NBN 1000 and the M60 is a competitively priced mesh solution.
View on AmazonNetgear RS600 (router)
The Netgear RS600 is a step up in performance, featuring a 10Gbps WAN port and 18Gbps shared wireless speeds. It may not be the best bet for those looking for fast speeds for wired devices, however, as every other LAN port maxes out at 1Gbps.
View on AmazonTP-Link Archer GE800 (router)
These next two options are expensive, albeit in line with what you can expect to pay for top-of-the-line WiFi 7 networking equipment. For around $1,200 RRP, you can own the TP-Link Archer GE800. This pricey router is built for gaming homes, with up to 19,000Mbps of combined tri-band WiFi 7 speeds. The 10Gbps internet port is beyond what you need for NBN 2000, plus the GE800 also sports four 2.5Gbps ports for wired devices. Despite the bulky design, the GE800 is easy to configure, simple to manage, and it even encourages tinkering to get the most out of its performance.
View on AmazonAmazon eero Max 7 (mesh WiFi system)
If you want to save money, consider the Amazon eero Pro 7. But for all-out futureproofing in a mesh WiFi system, check out the Amazon eero Max 7. It has a $1,100ish RRP. Price aside, the eero Max 7 offers up to 4,300Mbps of shared tri-band WiFi 7 speeds. With auto-sensing Ethernet ports, you can connect to your NBN modem with either a 2.5Gbps or 10Gbps port. If you use a 2.5Gbps port for your internet, there'll be a spare 2.5Gbps and two 10Gbps ports for wired devices. The best bit is the eero ecosystem supports easy expansion, either with more Max 7 units or any new or older eero networking gear.
View on AmazonNBN router minimums and specifics
There really isn't too much to think about for NBN router minimums for anything up to NBN 1000 if you've bought a router in the 2020s, assuming it was a WiFi 6 device or better.
Router minimums
You want at least WiFi 6 for high-speed internet connections to have the best chance of getting the max download speeds for wireless devices. For any internet plan up to NBN 1000, a gigabit internet port on your router is enough to hit the max 1,000Mbps download speeds. For NBN 2000, you'll need a 2.5Gbps internet port to reach the best-case 2,000Mbps download speeds. If you stick with an older router that only has a 1Gbps internet port but want an NBN 2000 plan, your max download speed for wired and wireless devices will be halved.
The other crucial consideration is your Ethernet cables, particularly the one used to link the NBN connection box to your router or mesh WiFi system. Ethernet cables are designated with a category (abbreviated as "Cat") and a number. Cat 5 Ethernet cables are only capable of 100Mbps speeds. Cat 5e and Cat 6 Ethernet cables can reach up to 1Gbps. But if you want NBN 2000 speeds, you'll need to link your NBN connection box and router with a Cat 6a cable (or newer), which is capable of 10Gbps speeds.
NBN 500 router specifics
With the router minimums out of the way, there are also some specifics worth considering. NBN 500 is the 'slowest' of the beyond-NBN 100 speed tiers, which needs around 520Mbps of networking bandwidth to cover max simultaneous download and upload speeds. You can achieve these max available speeds with a WiFi 6 router or a WiFi 6 mesh WiFi system. A gigabit internet port and gigabit Ethernet ports will be fast enough for wired devices. For wireless devices, you'll get the best results from keeping devices inside 5GHz WiFi coverage, which is closer to a router or mesh WiFi system unit than its max wireless range (which will use slower 2.4GHz).
NBN 750 router specifics
NBN 750 technically needs around 800Mbps of bandwidth to comfortably cover the max simultaneous download (750Mbps) and upload (50Mbps) speeds. A WiFi 6 router or WiFi 6 mesh WiFi system is okay for an NBN 750 plan, which shouldn't have issues hitting max available speeds for Ethernet and wireless devices. To get the best wireless speeds, though, you'll want to be in the 5GHz coverage area. If that's not possible, consider shifting from a router to a mesh WiFi system with multiple units or adding a WiFi extender.
NBN 1000 router specifics
NBN 1000 plans technically need 1,100Mbps of bandwidth for max simultaneous download (1,000Mbps) and upload (100Mbps) speeds. Practically speaking, you'd only max out download and upload speeds if you were simultaneously downloading and uploading larger files. WiFi 6 gear is good enough for NBN 1000 plans, as well as the same disclaimers above. But if you want a buffer, upgrade to a WiFi 6E or WiFi 7 router or mesh WiFi system with at least a 2.5Gbps internet port.
NBN 2000 router specifics
NBN 2000 plans max combined speeds differ based on whether you're in an FTTP or HFC home. Download speeds are the same (2,000Mbps) across NBN technologies, but upload speeds for FTTP are 200Mbps and 100Mbps for HFC homes. That means you want up to 2,200Mbps to cover max combined download and upload speed. Unlike gigabit-limited routers, networking gear with 2.5Gbps ports provides breathing room.
Even if you only care about downloads, you want a WiFi 6E or WiFi 7 router that has a 2.5Gbps internet port. Ideally, you also want at least 2.5Gbps-speed LAN ports. WiFi 6E and WiFi 7 add the 6GHz band for compatible devices, which is even faster than 5GHz, but also has a shorter range. To improve 6GHz coverage, consider using a WiFi 6E or WiFi 7 mesh WiFi system and keep your priority wireless devices as close to the mesh units as possible.
Other high-speed considerations
Getting the right router or mesh WiFi system is an important step, but there are other considerations to ensure you get the best networking experience possible. If you want an NBN 2000 plan specifically, you'll need to chat with your provider about a new NBN connection box. For HFC homes, the new HFC connection box has a 2.5Gbps Ethernet port. This is known as the Arris CM3500. If you have an older Arris CM8200, you'll need to upgrade.
If you're on FTTP, you may also need a new connection box. If you order an NBN 2000 plan, your chosen NBN provider should book an appointment on your behalf, where a technician will swap out your connection box for a newer model. This is done free of charge, unless you want a specific model (such as the four-port FTTP connection box), in which case there may be a charge of up to $300.
Now you've got a new HFC or FTTP connection box. Your router or mesh WiFi system is up to speed, and it's connected with an appropriate Ethernet cable. What's next? The last and most important practical step is to see what your devices are capable of in terms of speed. Wireless devices from the past few years shouldn't have any issues with speeds up to NBN 2000. But wired devices, including game consoles like the Xbox Series X and Nintendo Switch 2, may be stuck at gigabit speeds, so you won't get the fastest possible downloads.
It's a similar story for smart TVs and set-top boxes, which may be relegated to gigabit Ethernet ports and/or older WiFi generations. Practically speaking, streaming to TVs shouldn't really need more than 100Mbps with current app requirements. With newer devices and faster NBN plans, what you'll really notice is shorter wait times on devices like laptops and desktop computers whenever you're downloading larger files. Ensure they at least have WiFi 6 wireless connectivity – if not, ideally, 2.5Gbps Ethernet ports – to have the best shot at achieving max download speeds.
Be aware that even with the right devices, you still want to consider your home network setup. While wired speeds are really only hamstrung by their max potential speed (and max available internet speed), wireless connections are more temperamental. Place your router in an elevated position, ideally in the centre of your home. If you have a large house or thick walls, consider a mesh WiFi system that allows easy expansion of your home network. Just because you have a wireless signal in a distant part of your home, it's unlikely you'll be able to reach beyond 100Mbps speeds if you're stuck on the 2.4GHz wireless band. Aim to have 5GHz or 6GHz wireless coverage in most rooms if WiFi speeds are important around the home.
High-speed connection FAQs
Which is better: WiFi 6 or WiFi 7?
For high-speed NBN connections, WiFi 6 is a great way to save money and still get max speeds from NBN 500, NBN 750, and NBN 1000 plans. If you want to upgrade to an NBN 2000 plan, consider upgrading your network and devices to WiFi 6E or WiFi 7.
What do I need for NBN 2000?
For NBN 2000, you need to be in an FTTP or HFC home. You may also need a new FTTP or HFC NBN connection box. From there, ensure your NBN connection box is connected to a WiFi 6, WiFi 6E, or WiFi 7 router with at least a 2.5Gbps internet port by a Cat 6a Ethernet cable (or newer).
Nathan Lawrence
Freelance Contributor
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