Why it's happening
Simply put - NBN would like customers to be on higher speeds. NBN has invested heavily in upgrading its infrastructure – replacing legacy copper and mixed technologies with fibre. Now that more capacity is available, they want more customers using higher-speed services to make the most of these upgrades.
And there's definitely no catch?
There’s no catch – but it's worth noting that these infrastructure upgrades have been funded through a mix of taxpayer contributions, private investment, and NBN revenue.
What this means for you
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If you’re on the right plan and have the right connection, your speeds will be upgraded automatically.
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If you’re not and would like to access faster speeds, you may need to upgrade your plan or your connection type.
Not everyone needs higher speeds. Consider how you and your household use the internet before upgrading. A 500/50 Mbps connection may be unnecessary for many homes.
Consider the examples below:
Case study – John Browsalot
John lives in metropolitan Perth. He has a 50/20Mbps internet plan, and according to the NBN Address Search, his property is connected to Fibre to the Premises (FTTP). With four kids at home – including university students and a keen gamer – his household uses a lot of data.
John knows that his household will make use of the additional speed – and that he might see less buffering of YouTube videos in the evenings when many in the house are using phones and laptops.
John gets in contact with his provider and orders a new 100/20Mbps service. When the NBN speed boost comes into effect, this connection will increase to 500/50Mbps at no extra cost to the 100/20 plan.
Case study – Kaitlin Netuser
Kaitlin lives with her husband in the outer suburbs of Adelaide. She has a 50/20Mbps internet plan and, according to the NBN Address Search, she can see that her house is currently using a Fibre to the Node (FTTN) connection.
Kaitlin mainly uses her internet connection to stream on her home TV, read the news and browse the web on her iPad.
Although Kaitlin is eligible to upgrade to a 100/20 Mbps plan, her connection type won’t support speeds higher than 100 Mbps.
While NBN has plans to upgrade her connection in coming years, upgrading her connection early would involve a high out-of-pocket cost.
For now, she sticks with her current plan, which meets her needs, and chooses not to upgrade to the 100/20Mbps plan.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
This will affect you if:
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You’re on a 100/20 Mbps or faster NBN plan
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Your home is connected via FTTP or HFC
To check your connection type, use the NBN Address Search or contact your provider.-
If you have an FTTP or HFC connection, simply upgrade to a 100/20 Mbps plan.
If you’re on another connection type (like FTTN), you may be eligible for a free fibre upgrade. Otherwise, you might need to pay for an early upgrade. Use the NBN Address Search or speak to your provider for details.
No, as long as you have a compatible connection and your NBN plan is 100/20Mbps or faster – your speed will increase come September.
Possibly. Some older modems may not support faster speeds. Contact your provider or check their website for information whether you will need a new modem and how to choose and set a new modem.
Some customers are ineligible as their connection type (typically Fibre to the Node or Satellite customers in regional areas) does not support faster speeds.
While NBN is rolling out Fibre to the Premises over coming years, estimated time of upgrades is location dependent. To find out more, use the NBN Address Search. You may be able to pay extra to speed-up your fibre rollout.
Background
It’s important to understand that NBN Co does not sell directly to customers. Instead, it provides wholesale internet products to retail service providers (RSPs) (like Telstra, Optus, Aussie Broadband, and TPG), who then sell you the service.
The table below shows how wholesale speed tiers and prices are changing. Retail prices will differ, as RSPs include their own costs (marketing, customer support, etc).
NBN is speeding up their plans
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what you need to know
From 14 September 2025, NBN Co will be increasing the speeds of several wholesale internet products as part of the ‘Accelerate Great’ changes.
Some customers will notice a significant speed increase, while others may see no change.
Faster speeds, for free? What's the catch?
Not all NBN plans will be affected.
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Customers on 12/1, 25/5, 50/20, and 50/40 Mbps plans will see no change to their speeds.
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Customers on FTTC, FTTN, FTTB, wireless and satellite connections will see no change to their speeds.
This speed boost will be automatically applied for customers who are:
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Currently on 100/20 Mbps, 100/40 Mbps, or faster plans
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Customers connected via Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) or Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC) – or who are eligible for an upgrade to these connection types
If you are not eligible for the automatic speed boost but want faster speeds, you may be able to upgrade your plan speed or connection to become eligible.
If you are not on a Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) or Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC) connection, check via the NBN Address Search if you are eligible to upgrade your connection.
If you are on a FTTP or HFC connection, you can upgrade your plan speeds by talking to your provider.
Current plan
Plan name | Current Speeds (Download/upload Mbps) | FTTP | HFC | FTTC, FTTN/FTTB, wireless, satellite |
|---|---|---|---|---|
NBN Basic I | 12/1 | X | X | X |
NBN Basic II | 25/5; 25/10 | X | X | X |
NBN Standard | 50/20 | X | X | X |
NBN Home Fast | 100/20; 100/40 | 500/50 | 500/50 | X |
NBN Home Superfast | 250/25 | 750/50 | 750/50 | X |
NBN Home Ultrafast | 500 to ~1000/50 | ~1000/100 | ~1000/100 | X |
NBN Home Hyperfast | X | 2000/200 | 2000/100 | X |