NBN Co finds 83% of small businesses use consumer NBN plans

Alex Angove-Plumb - Digital Content Editor

Last updated 15 September 2026

Small business owner smiling while on laptop

Many small businesses probably aren’t subscribed to an internet plan that meets their needs, according to a recent report commissioned by NBN Co. In particular, 83% of small businesses rely on a consumer NBN plan, rather than opting for a business plan.

While consumer plans are sufficient for most at-home usage, business plans generally offer better upload speeds, as well as special customer service packages and faster fault resolution timeframes.

Upload speeds are becoming more important as more people adopt cloud storage, use cloud-based (online) tools, and as video conferencing becomes more common. But businesses in particular are turning to online tools for significant portions of their day-to-day workflow, making fast uploads crucial.

According to the report, more than two-thirds of small businesses are heavy users of cloud-based workflows, while almost all have at least some kind of weekly use for them. As such, the strong upload focus of a business plan might be more suitable.

When announcing the findings, General Manager of Business Products for NBN Co Steve O’Rourke said "business owners understand the internet can be a critical enabler of growth and success".

"That’s only true if their speed and reliability is rightsized for their business," said O'Rourke. "Running a business on a consumer plan can be a bit like fighting a blazing inferno with a garden hose – it’s just the wrong tool for the job."

But before you run out and grab a business plan for your fledgling outfit, consider what plan you already have. The same report found 34% of small businesses surveyed didn’t know their current NBN speed, which could have increased since they originally signed up.

In September 2025, NBN Co upgraded the speed of many of its consumer and business NBN plans for premises with an HFC or FTTP connection. Most premises previously on consumer NBN 100 plans (which typically have 20Mbps upload caps) were upgraded to the new NBN 500 speed tier, with its maximum potential upload speeds of 50Mbps – i.e. more than doubling the upload capacity.

This 50Mbps upload speed limit could comfortably be enough for many small businesses. But for companies or organisations that have particularly heavy upload needs, 50Mbps might still not cut it. And, if that’s the case, you won’t get an upload upgrade on consumer NBN plans until you reach the relatively pricey NBN 1000 speed tier with its 100Mbps upload cap. It's also worth noting that HFC customers can't get upload speeds faster than 100Mbps.

Here's a comparison of consumer and business NBN plans with upload speed limits above 50Mbps:

Consumer plans
Business plans

SpinTel	SpinTel FTTP, HFC Home Ultrafast 1000/100 FTTP, HFC nbn® 1000/100 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $28.95 off your plan for first 6 months! $76/mth for first 6 months, then $104.95/mth. $76/mth for first 6 mths, then $104.95/mth Min. cost $76 Go to Site	$76/mth for first 6 mths, then $104.95/mth Min. cost $76	Go to Site
Superloop	Superloop FTTP, HFC Creator nbn250/100 FTTP, HFC nbn® 250/85 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Incl. $20/mth off for 6 mths! $82/mth for 6 mths, then $102/mth + Free eero 7 modem when you stay for 24 mths + Bundle & Save $82/mth for first 6 mths, then $102/mth Min. cost $82 Go to Site	$82/mth for first 6 mths, then $102/mth Min. cost $82	Go to Site
Belong	Belong FTTP, HFC NBN Ultrafast – Unlimited FTTP, HFC nbn® 875/80 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $35 off for 6 months - $75/mth for first 6 mths, then $110/mth (Offer ends 04.11.26) + Free $80 Mobile SIM $75/mth for first 6 mths, then $110/mth Min. cost $75 Go to Site	$75/mth for first 6 mths, then $110/mth Min. cost $75	Go to Site
Vodafone	Vodafone FTTP, HFC Home Ultrafast nbn® FTTP, HFC nbn® 850/85 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Incl. $20/mth for 12 mths, then reverts to $114/mth + Save $10/mth when you bundle with a mobile plan with Vodafone $94/mth for first 12 mths, then $114/mth Min. cost $94 Link not supplied	$94/mth for first 12 mths, then $114/mth Min. cost $94	Link not supplied
Kogan Internet	Kogan Internet FTTP, HFC nbn1000 Diamond Unlimited FTTP, HFC nbn® 850/85 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Incl. $14/mth off for 12mths. $94.90/mth for first 12 months then revert back to $108.90/mth. Offer available until withdrawn. $94.90/mth for first 12 mths, then $108.90/mth Min. cost $94.90 Go to Site	$94.90/mth for first 12 mths, then $108.90/mth Min. cost $94.90	Go to Site
Dodo	Dodo FTTP, HFC nbn Home Ultrafast Plan FTTP, HFC nbn® 800/92 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Incl. $30/mth discount for 6 months based on the standard price $109.99/mth. Ends 08.12.26. T&Cs apply $79.99/mth for first 6 mths, then $109.99/mth Min. cost $79.99 Go to Site*	$79.99/mth for first 6 mths, then $109.99/mth Min. cost $79.99	Go to Site

Vocus	Vocus FTTP, HFC Business nbn Superfast+ FTTP, HFC nbn® 232/85 Mbps Unlimited Data $95/mth Min. cost $95 Go to Site	$95/mth Min. cost $95	Go to Site
Superloop	Superloop FTTP, HFC Totalbiz 250/100 FTTP, HFC nbn® 250/85 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $20/mth off for 6 months + Free Amazon eero 7 if you stay connected for 24 mths $87/mth for first 6 months, then $107/mth Min. cost $87 Link not supplied	$87/mth for first 6 months, then $107/mth Min. cost $87	Link not supplied
Swoop	Swoop FTTP Business nbn® 250 FTTP nbn® 236/94 Mbps Unlimited Data $104/mth Min. cost $104 Link not supplied	$104/mth Min. cost $104	Link not supplied
Exetel	Exetel FTTP, HFC Accelerator nbn250/100 FTTP, HFC nbn® 225/85 Mbps Unlimited Data $107/mth Min. cost $107 Link not supplied	$107/mth Min. cost $107	Link not supplied
Optus Business	Optus Business FTTP Business nbn® Pro FTTP nbn® 250/85 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Bundle Bonus: Get $15/mth off any internet plan for 12mths when you add to your existing eligible Optus Service. T&Cs apply $109/mth Min. cost $109 Link not supplied	$109/mth Min. cost $109	Link not supplied
Superloop	Superloop FTTP, HFC Totalbiz 1000/100 FTTP, HFC nbn® 860/85 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $20/mth off for 6 months + Free Amazon eero 7 if you stay connected for 24 mths $104/mth for first 6 months, then $124/mth Min. cost $104 Link not supplied	$104/mth for first 6 months, then $124/mth Min. cost $104	Link not supplied

But even if you don't need an NBN plan with faster upload speeds, it's worth considering a business NBN plan for the additional customer support and fault resolution perks alone.

Two-thirds of small businesses surveyed could only tolerate up to three hours of downtime. If you've ever experienced an NBN fault before, you'd know that means needing an alternative connection, such as falling back to using mobile tethering until your NBN is back up and running. This can work in a pinch, but you want to minimise any downtime on your main internet connection.

Not only do most business NBN plans have better customer support options from their provider, they also benefit from the enhanced Service Level Agreement (eSLA). This determines the periods in which your provider can raise faults with NBN Co (from normal business hours up to 24/7), while reducing the length of time you can expect a solution – e.g. from "5pm on the next business day" or up to four hours. This might still mean you need to use a plan B, but hopefully for a much shorter period of time.

Need a new mobile plan?

These are the most popular mobile phone plans on our website right now with at least 15GB of data, sourced from our database of 28 mobile providers:

#1	SpinTel Editor's Pick	SpinTel Editor's Pick $23 Mobile Plan 25GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Optus 5G in selected areas with 5G devices ex. NT WhistleOut Special: Enjoy $11 off for the first 6 months for new customers - $12/mth for first 6 months, then $23/mth $12.00/mth Min. cost $12 Go to Site	$12.00/mth Min. cost $12	Go to Site
#2	Boost Mobile	Boost Mobile $39 Prepaid 60GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Telstra 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices Deal: Get 60GB data on first 6 recharges, then 30GB from 7th recharge. New customers only. Activate by 02.11.26 $39.00 Per 28 Day Renewal Go to Site	$39.00 Per 28 Day Renewal	Go to Site
#3	Tangerine Telecom	Tangerine Telecom 30GB 5G Mobile SIM 30GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Uses parts of Telstra’s 5G and 4G mobile networks Deal: 50% off plan fees for 4 months - $15/mth for 4 months then $30/mth. Offer available until withdrawn. $30.00/mth Min. cost $15 Go to Site	$30.00/mth Min. cost $15	Go to Site
#4	Pivotel	Pivotel 25GB Mobile Swift Plan 25GB data On the Vodafone 4G Mobile Network Deal: Incl. 50% off - $11.45/mth for first 6 months, then $22.90/mth ongoing. Offer ends 31.10.2026. T&Cs apply. $11.45/mth Min. cost $11.45 Go to Site	$11.45/mth Min. cost $11.45	Go to Site
#5	Dodo Editor's Pick	Dodo Editor's Pick Medium Mobile Plan 40GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Optus 5G in selected areas (exc NT) with a 5G device Deal: 50% off for first 4 mths! Get the Medium Mobile Plan for $15/mth for first 4 mths. New and returning mobile customers only. Ends 27.10 $30.00/mth Min. cost $15 Go to Site	$30.00/mth Min. cost $15	Go to Site
#6	Swoop	Swoop 30GB SIM Only 5G 30GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Vodafone 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices Deal: Includes $11 off for first 6 months - $14/mth for first 6 months then $25/mth after that. Offer ends 30.06.27 $14.00/mth Min. cost $14 Go to Site	$14.00/mth Min. cost $14	Go to Site
#7	Optus	Optus $60 Optus Choice Plus Plan 100GB data Optus 5G in selected areas (exc NT) with a 5G device Deal: $39/mth and 100GB/mth for first 12 months, then 60GB/mth and $60/mth or as notified. New services. Ends 12.11.26. Terms apply. $39.00/mth Min. cost $39 Go to Site	$39.00/mth Min. cost $39	Go to Site
#8	TPG Editor's Pick	TPG Editor's Pick 30GB Small Plan 30GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Vodafone 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices Deal: 50% off - $15/mth for first 6 months, then $30/mth ongoing. Available until withdrawn. T&Cs apply. $15.00 Per 1 Month Renewal Link not supplied	$15.00 Per 1 Month Renewal	Link not supplied
#9	felix mobile	felix mobile felix 25GB Mobile Plan 25GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps On the Vodafone 5G/4G Mobile Network Deal: Get 50% off your first 3 mths when you switch to felix. $15/mth for first 3 mths, then $30/mth. Use promo code FELIX50. T+Cs apply $30.00 Per 1 Month Renewal Go to Site	$30.00 Per 1 Month Renewal	Go to Site
#10	Yomojo	Yomojo Starter 29GB Plan 29GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps On the Optus 4G Plus Mobile Network $24.90 Per 30 Day Renewal Link not supplied	$24.90 Per 30 Day Renewal	Link not supplied

Alex Angove-Plumb

Digital Content Editor

Alex Angove-Plumb is a Digital Content Editor at WhistleOut and an award-winning journalist. He's been in the tech publishing industry since 2010, putting him a few short years away from the title of Grizzled Ancient in his chosen profession. He was an original WhistleOut-er before running NBN Co's corporate blog for two years, then moving on to a lengthy stint at CHOICE. Now he's come home.

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