WHAT IS NBN?

The National Broadband Network (NBN™) is rolling out fibre-optic, fixed wireless and satellite infrastructure by replacing existing broadband infrastructure with speedier and more steadfast broadband service. Boasting download speeds four times quicker than the fastest ADSL2+ broadband NBN is an upgrade to your internet plan. Depending on how much you already use the internet NBN could be a boon to your business, social networking and access to a world of entertainment. The idea is to make your online experience faster and therefore more efficient.

KNOWING WHICH NBN YOU NEED

Finding the perfect broadband plan fit begins with knowing your bandwidth. Ask yourself what kind of usage you and your household require?

If you use the internet mostly to check emails, social media check ins and the occasional youtube binge you're probably consuming between 150-300MB per hour. This amount increases if you play online games, if you're a media socialite or if you stream video via a service like Netflix or Stan. According to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australians aged between 15-24 spend roughly 20 more hours per month online than those aged between 45-65. Student share houses for example could burn through a 320GB/month data package.

As the National Broadband Network (NBN) roll out continues, with over 69 registered internet service providers (ISPs) finding the right nbn plan is imperative and comparison sites like iSelect can help you to compare nbn plans and find a package that suits your needs or that of your family and business.

NBN SPEED & PRICE POINTS

NBN plans offer five tiers of connectivity, with a range of download/upload speeds: Generally, the faster you go, the more you will need to pay. It’s worth noting, however, that NBN 12 is not actually considered ‘super-fast’ internet as it’s comparable with most standard ADSL2+ connections.

Tier 1 may be sufficient if you occupy a household of light internet users or live alone. Prices range between A$29 and A$60 depending on the data allowance and other factors. The minimum contract period can vary from one month to 24 months and the upfront cost can be anywhere $0 to A$230.

Tier 2 and Tier 3 may be suitable for households with moderate Social Networkers and music streamers.

Tier 4 connectivity would be ideal if you’re an online gamer or living with multiple series streamers who watch religiously during the peak usage hours. You should consider what will be the cost implications and contract condition limitations of upgrading your package. A higher Tier service right from the start might be a better option if you anticipate your usage is likely to be different within the contract period.

A household of multiple internet addicts should consider going for a Tier 5 service. Similarly, business users with video conferencing facilities might be better off with a Tier 4 or 5 service. Similarly, a comparison of available offerings under various Tier 5 plans can be considered  as heavy users finding the right package to suits your unique needs is critical to get you on the right track.