
When you do a speed test, you’re probably looking closely at your download speed, but what about your upload speed? This neglected number is part of the bigger picture of your internet connection - so the real question is, how much is enough?
Before we go any further, here are the NBN 50 plans from the telcos NBN upload speeds tracked by the ACCC:
What is an upload speed?
While download speeds refer to how quickly you can get files from the internet, upload speeds determine how fast you can send files from one place to another online. When you’re downloading you are receiving data, and when you’re uploading you’re sending it.
So whenever you send an email, back up your Google Drive, post an Instagram or upload a TikTok - that’s using your upload speed.
Don't know what your upload speed is? Use our internet speed test tool below and see where your upload speed is at:
What is a good upload speed?
If you want to host zoom calls, play video games online and more without worrying about too much fluctuation we recommend at least an NBN 50 plan, which has a good maximum upload speed of 20Mbps.
However, a good upload speed for you will be determined by what you use your connection for, just like your NBN downloads, your uploads are a shared commodity. So the more people who are sending files and making calls, the more substantial your upload allowance will need to be.
If you only need your internet plan for the basics (internet, streaming etc.) than an an upload speed of 5Mbps should work well enough.
Small business owners can also consider business NBN plans which tend to have higher upload speed capacities. If you have an ABN and your work requires you to send big files regularly, these are worth taking a look at.
NBN upload speeds
Like download speeds, NBN upload speeds vary depending on which speed tier you land on. Here are the maximum upload speeds on each speed tier:
NBN Speed Tier | Maximum Upload Speed |
Est. time to upload 1GB |
---|---|---|
NBN 12 | 1Mbps | 2 hours, 23 mins |
NBN 25 | 5Mbps | 28 mins, 37 secs |
NBN 50 | 20Mbps | 7 mins, 9 secs |
NBN 100 / 20 | 20Mbps | 7 mins, 9 secs |
NBN 100 / 40 | 40Mbps | 3 mins, 34 secs |
NBN 250 | 25Mbps | 5 mins, 43 secs |
NBN 1000 | 50Mbps | 2 mins, 52 secs |
For most people, 20Mbps upload speeds are more than substantial, but if you’re a small business or one of the millions of Aussies that continue to work from home you may notice some lag when backing up to the cloud, attaching large files to emails, or uploading data to a site.
You can see the cheapest NBN 50 and NBN 100 plans here:
A couple of years ago telcos started to abandon traditional NBN 100/40 plans that had upload speeds up to 40Mbps. These were replaced by 100/20 plans which brought down the price but also cut your upload speed potential in half. You can still find NBN 100/40 plans from some providers like Superloop and Aussie Broadband. It will cost you a little extra - a further $10 to $20 per month or so.
Now if you want a higher upload speed you may want to opt for an NBN 250 or NBN 1000 plan. It means a big monthly plan fee for the luxury of faster uploads.
Note: NBN 250 and NBN 1000 plans are only available on FTTP and HFC connection types.
Does upload speed matter?
Yes and no. A lot of the focus has been on download speeds and the fastest NBN providers. But, if you’ve ever been video chatting with someone and had an argument about whose internet is worse, then you would know by proxy, that upload speed kind of does matter.
You're uploading data any time you're sending signals from your connection. When you're making video calls, using Voice over IP, gaming. However, even seemingly data-hungry activities like the aforementioned aren’t overly data-intensive. For example, online gaming on a console should only require a download and upload speed of 3Mbps.
While you can perform these functions with a low upload speed, you do have to bank on the connection remaining stable. If your speeds are jumping back and forth - because more people are joining the network, for example - then you won’t be able to achieve a seamless experience.
The ACCC has started paying more attention to upload speeds and making sure NBN providers display them prominently in marketing materials. You can see the NBN plans with the best upload speeds of those the ACCC monitors for a better idea of what to expect.
Home wireless upload speeds
Historically home wireless broadband upload speeds weren't disclosed. But this is changing as the ACCC clamps down on these sorts of things. When looking at home wireless plan speeds you'll often see both a maximum speed (which is highest your upload speed will go) and a typical evening speed which is an indication of the actual speeds you'll see on your plan between the busiest time of the day (between 7pm and 11pm).
For example, Telstra advertises typical evening upload speeds of 44Mbps with a maximum upload speed of 90Mbps.
You can compare 5G home wireless plans here:
If you decide to choose a plan capped at 50Mbps, this means it's the equivalent of NBN 50, however, you may experience
slightly slower speeds during peak hours. This is a great option if you're either conscious of the price
or you know you won't use over 50Mbps.
Here's pricing for 5G home internet plans capped at 50Mbps:
If you choose a plan capped at 100Mbps, this means it's the equivalent of an NBN 100 plan, however, you may
experience slightly slower speeds during peak hours. This is a great option for households with multiple
members who regularly connect to the internet at the same time.
Here's pricing for 5G home internet plans capped at 100Mbps:
Telstra, Optus, Yomojo and SpinTel currently offer uncapped plans. These can go as fast as network conditions allow but exact speeds will depend on your coverage and congestion. Generally, though we have found 200Mbps is a pretty safe average.
Note: These are organised by download speed. The first point within each plan description denotes download speeds followed by upload speeds where available.
And for comparison, here are the most popular 4G home wireless plans, you'll find while these plans are cheaper the upload speeds are far lower - in most cases just 2Mbps:
How to improve upload speeds
The easiest way to improve your upload speed is to change to a faster plan. Fortunately, you’ll also get some better download speeds bundled into that.
If you’re experiencing slower-than-usual uploads then we recommend going through some basic modem troubleshooting. Chances are it may be your modem that needs a jump start.
To improve your upload speeds try:
- Soft resetting your modem
- Check that your modem’s firmware is up to date
- Ensure you are within range of your modem, or move closer to it
- Check the positioning of your modem in your house and ensure that it isn’t blocked by major electronic devices or too many walls and doors
- Using a cabled internet connection rather than WiFi
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