NBN speed tiers explained — and how to pick the right plan
Plus this month’s headline deal: super-fast 500/50 Mbps for $99 on FTTP & HFC.
“Which NBN plan should I get?” is one of the most common questions we hear. The honest answer: it depends on your connection type, how many people are online at once, and how much you upload. Here’s a plain-English guide — then the plans worth looking at right now.
First, your technology type
The NBN reaches different homes and businesses in different ways, and your address decides which speeds are actually available:
- FTTP (Fibre to the Premises): fibre all the way to your door — the fastest and most reliable, unlocks plans up to 2 Gbps.
- HFC (cable): fibre to a node, then coax into the building — supports very high speeds including 500/50 and 1000 Mbps.
- FTTC / FTTN / FTTB: fibre to a nearby cabinet/node, copper for the last stretch — great everyday speeds up to 100/40.
- Fixed Wireless: for regional and rural addresses, delivered over a wireless tower — now up to 400/40.
Then, the speed tier
NBN plans are named by their download/upload speeds in Mbps. A rough guide for a household or small office:
- 25/10 – 50/20: browsing, email, a few devices, standard streaming.
- 100/40: the sweet spot for most — multiple 4K streams, video calls, big downloads.
- 250/100 and up: heavy households, creators, big file uploads, work-from-home teams.
- 500/50 – 1000/400 – 2000: serious speed for power users and busy sites.
Don’t ignore the upload number
The second number matters more than people think. If you back up to the cloud, run video calls, upload footage or host anything, a plan like 500/50 (fast download AND a genuinely usable 50 Mbps upload) feels far better than a plan that skimps on upload.
This month’s deal & popular home plans
| Home plan | Speed | Price/mo (inc GST) |
|---|---|---|
| Home Fast | 25/10 | $59 |
| Home Fast | 50/20 | $79 |
| Home Fast Popular | 100/40 | $99 |
| Home Fast Promo | 500/50 | $99 |
| Superfast | 250/100 | $109 |
| Ultrafast | 1000/400 | $189 |
15 residential plans from $59 up to 2 Gbps. Prices inc GST, no lock-in. Speeds are maximum line speeds; actual speeds vary by technology, wiring, Wi‑Fi and network conditions, and are confirmed at your address.
Running a business? Look at Business NBN
Business NBN isn’t just a residential plan with a different label. You get an enhanced SLA, a static IP address (essential for remote access, CCTV, VPNs and hosted services), unlimited data and Sydney-based business support.
| Business plan | Speed | From (ex GST) |
|---|---|---|
| BIZ Fast Bronze | 100/40 | $109 |
| BIZ Superfast | 250/100 | $119 |
| BIZ Turbofast Gold | 500/200 | $139 |
| BIZ Ultrafast | 1000/400 | $169 |
| BIZ Hyperfast | 2000/500 | $249 |
Bronze vs Gold: Gold adds a sub-4-hour fault-response SLA, a 99.95% uptime target, priority NBN Co escalation and account-manager access. Month-to-month (no lock-in) or discounted 24–36 month terms. Prices ex GST; confirm current rates.
A 30-second buyer’s checklist
- Check your technology type — it caps the top speed available at your address.
- Count simultaneous users and 4K streams to size your download speed.
- If you upload or work from home, pay for upload (50 Mbps+).
- Business? Get static IP + SLA + local support, not a home plan.
- Choose no lock-in so you can move up a tier as you grow.
Get a straight answer on NBN & internet plans
Tell us what you need and one of our Sydney-based specialists will get back to you — no pressure, no jargon. Prefer to talk now? Call 1300 070 747.
Or email sales@comstel.com.au · Support 1300 700 600
