- NBN 50 connections dropped by nearly 500,000, from 4.45 million to 3.98 million in the past year.
- NBN 100, 250, and 1000 plans saw significant growth, with NBN 100 connections rising to 1.8 million.
- Price hikes made the gap between NBN 50 and faster plans minimal, leading many to upgrade to NBN 100 or higher.
The NBN 50 speed tier is experiencing a significant decline in popularity, with nearly 500,000 Australian households moving away from the plan in the past year.
According to the latest figures from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's (ACCC) NBN Wholesale Market Indicators Report, the number of active NBN 50 connections has dropped from 4.45 million in December 2023 to 3.98 million by September 2024.
This shift in consumer preferences is primarily driven by a growing appetite for faster speeds, with many households opting for NBN 100 or even faster plans. The number of NBN 100 connections, for example, has surged from 1.45 million to 1.8 million in the same period.
This growing demand for faster speeds has been mirrored by the rise in popularity of NBN 250 and NBN 1000 plans, which together gained an additional 185,000 users, although these are only available to customers with HFC (Hybrid Fibre-Coaxial) or FTTP (Fibre to the Premises) connections.
Faster speeds in demand
The increasing trend towards faster speeds is also reflected in the growth of NBN 25 plans, which saw a boost in user numbers from 1.58 million to 1.75 million. While not as fast as NBN 50 or higher tiers, NBN 25 plans provide a more affordable option for households with lighter Internet usage.
The NBN 50's waning popularity can be attributed to several factors, chief among them being the price hikes introduced at the end of 2023 and mid-2024. These increases hit the NBN 50 tier the hardest, causing a noticeable gap in pricing between NBN 50 and higher-speed plans.
For many consumers, the difference in cost between NBN 50 and NBN 100 has become negligible, often just $3 to $5 per month, making the upgrade to a faster plan an easy decision.
Providers have noted the trend, with Aussie Broadband reporting in February 2024 that 69% of their new customers were opting for NBN 100 plans or faster. This trend reflects a broader shift in Australian households' Internet usage patterns, with more consumers looking for higher speeds to support streaming, gaming, remote work, and other data-intensive activities.
Upgrade your plan with Compare Broadband
As the demand for faster Internet speeds continues to grow, the NBN 50 tier appears to be losing its appeal.
With pricing becoming more competitive between mid-tier and high-speed plans, consumers are increasingly opting for the improved performance and reliability offered by NBN 100 or faster connections.
As a result, it's likely that the NBN 50 plan will continue to lose steam, leaving faster speed options to dominate the Australian broadband landscape.
If you want to upgrade your NBN plan, contact the team at Compare Broadband on 1300 764 000 today. We'll talk you through your speed options and help you to get connected to a faster option.
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