
Thanks to a reputation for fast speeds and great service, Aussie Broadband is an NBN provider that should definitely be on your shortlist if you're looking for a new plan. If you're contemplating an Aussie Broadband plan, here's everything you need to know.
Who is Aussie Broadband?
Aussie Broadband might not quite be a household name yet, but this up-and-coming telco is now the fifth largest connector of new NBN services in Australia. In addition, it was the first telco outside the four major internet providers - Telstra, TPG, Optus, and Vocus - to commission its own infrastructure to all 121 NBN Points of Interconnect (POI).
A POI connects the NBN to the wider internet, but each telco requires its own hardware at each POI if it wants to service customers in that area. For the most part, smaller NBN providers tend to buy wholesale NBN plans from larger providers who already have equipment at every POI.
Aussie Broadband NBN plans
Aussie Broadband offers NBN plans across four of the main speed tiers, including NBN 25 (Standard), NBN 50 (Standard Plus), NBN 100 / 40 (Premium), and the newly launched NBN 100 / 20. No matter what speed tier you're picking from, you can choose between 100GB, 500GB, or unlimited data.
Here are Aussie Broadband's NBN 25 plans:
Here are Aussie Broadband's NBN 50 plans:
And here are Aussie Broadband's NBN 100 / 20 and NBN 100 / 40 plans:
In addition, Aussie Broadband is the only major provider currently offering an NBN 250 / 25 plan. This plan is two-and-a-half times faster than NBN 100 in terms of download speeds. It will set you back $169 per month and has unlimited data. However, you'll only be able to get an NBN 250 plan if you have a Fibre to the Premises (FTTP).
Here's a look at how Aussie Broadband's unlimited NBN 50 plan compares to the competition. We've sorted these plans in order of typical evening speed.
And here's a look at how Aussie Broadband's unlimited NBN 100 plan compares. We've sorted these plans in order of typical evening speed.
What makes Aussie Broadband different?
Aussie Broadband has made a name for itself thanks to a combination of consistently high evening speeds and responsive local support. The telco says its customers rarely encounter congestion during peak times, and to prove it, published bandwidth graphs that show how much capacity it has purchased on the network versus how much capacity its customers are using.
In addition, Aussie Broadband's NBN plans are highly customisable: you can pick between 100GB, 500GB, or unlimited data on almost every speed tier offered by the telco. Given that many providers now only offer unlimited plans, it's nice to see cheaper options available for customers who don't quite need all you can eat data.
There are three different options for adding phone calls, and on top of the standard NBN speed tiers, Aussie Broadband is also one of the few providers that goes beyond NBN 100. If you're lucky enough to have a FTTP NBN connection, Aussie Broadband has an NBN 250 plan.
No matter which plan you pick, Aussie Broadband is completely contract-free, and unless you want to buy a modem, there are no setup fees.
How to sign up to Aussie Broadband
The process of signing up for an Aussie Broadband plan will vary depending on what stage of the NBN journey you're on. However, Aussie Broadband only sells NBN plans, so your home or business needs to be NBN ready if you want to sign up.
Once the NBN is live in your area, all you'll need to do is place an order through the Aussie Broadband website. If Aussie Broadband is your first NBN provider, it will organise a time and date for a technician to come out and get you connected.
If you're already connected to the NBN, switching from one provider to another is easy. You'll just need to ensure you haven't signed an extended contract with your current provider, otherwise you may be hit with early exit fees.
In most cases, switching from one NBN service to another involves minimal downtime – between thirty minutes and one hour. It's possible to be connected to your new NBN provider on the same day that you place your order, but this will depend on the technology connecting your home to the NBN.
It's also worth noting that you will be responsible for cancelling your old service. After your new NBN connection is live, be sure to contact your old provider and cancel your plan.
If you don't know if the NBN is live in your area, you can enter your address into this form to check:
Aussie Broadband FAQ
How fast are Aussie Broadband's NBN plans?
Aussie Broadband offers NBN 25 (Standard), NBN 50 (Standard Plus), NBN 100 (Premium), and NBN 250 speed plans. During busy hours, Aussie Broadband reports typical speeds of 22Mbps on its NBN 25 plans, 43Mbps on its NBN 50 plans, 86Mbps on its NBN 100 plans, and 215Mbps on its NBN 250 plans.
Do you have to buy a new modem to sign up to Aussie Broadband?
Modem purchase is optional on Aussie Broadband. If you don't have an NBN compatible modem or router, you can add one when placing your order. Aussie Broadband charges $149 for its modem and $15 in postage, or $20 for express post.
What happens if I want to cancel my Aussie Broadband NBN plan?
All Aussie Broadband NBN plans are contract-free, so you can cancel your plan at any time with no early exit or termination fees. All you'll need to do is pay your final bill.
What happens if I go over my download allowance?
If you have an Aussie Broadband plan with a fixed download allowance and you go over it, both your download and upload speeds will be slowed to 1Mbps for the remainder of your billing month. You won't be charged for excess usage fees.
If you need extra data, you can move to a high download allowance plan for the remainder of the month. Aussie Broadband even lets you schedule the plan to revert back to your original at the start of your next billing cycle, so you'll only be charged more for the month where you need extra data.
Can I get a static IP address on Aussie Broadband?
If you need a static IP address (which you might want if you're running a server at home or need to remotely access your devices while on the go), Aussie Broadband can add one to your plan for an extra $5 per month. Aussie Broadband small business plans include a static IP as a standard feature.
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