- Learn what Mbps means and how it impacts your daily Internet experience
- Understand the latest NBN speed tiers and 2025 speed upgrades
- Find out how to choose the right plan for your household or business
Whether you're streaming your favourite shows, working from home, or just browsing social media, your Internet speed matters more than ever.
In 2025, Australians are using more connected devices and data-heavy apps, making it essential to understand what Internet speed actually means - and how to choose the right plan.
If you've ever been confused by terms like Mbps or NBN speed tiers, you're not alone. This guide is here to explain it all clearly.
What does Internet speed mean?
Internet speed refers to how quickly data can move between your devices (like your phone or laptop) and the wider Internet. It's like the size of a pipe delivering water: bigger pipes (higher speeds) let more data flow through at once.
There are two main types of Internet speed:
- Download speed: How fast you can receive data (e.g. watching videos, loading websites, downloading files).
- Upload speed: How fast you can send data (e.g. uploading photos, sending emails with attachments, video calling).
These speeds are measured in Mbps, or megabits per second. The higher the Mbps, the faster your Internet connection.
What is Mbps?
- Mbps stands for megabits per second - a unit of measurement for data speed.
- One megabit (Mb) is 1 million bits of data.
- A typical HD Netflix movie might be about 3,000 to 5,000 megabits in total.
- If your Internet speed is 50 Mbps, you can theoretically download 50 megabits every second.
⚠️ Don’t confuse Mbps with MBps (megabytes per second)! There are 8 bits in a byte, so a 100 Mbps connection is equal to 12.5 MBps in download speed.
In everyday terms:
- 25–50 Mbps handles HD streaming and small households.
- 100 Mbps+ is better for gaming, working from home, and households with multiple devices.
Understanding NBN speed tiers in 2025
In Australia, most households are connected to the Internet via the NBN (National Broadband Network). The NBN offers a range of speed tiers to suit different household sizes and Internet habits. Here's a breakdown of each one with easy-to-understand explanations.
NBN 25 (Basic II)
- Download speed: Up to 25 Mbps
- Upload speed: Up to 5 Mbps
- Best for: Light streaming (SD/HD), browsing, video calls
- Who it suits: 1–2 people using the Internet moderately
Explanation:
NBN 25 is a good step up from NBN 12. It can handle everyday activities like Netflix (in standard definition), Zoom calls, and using social media. It’s not ideal for big downloads or if several people are online at the same time.
NBN 50 (Standard)
- Download speed: Up to 50 Mbps
- Upload speed: Up to 20 Mbps
- Best for: HD streaming, online gaming, multiple users
- Who it suits: Families and shared households
Explanation:
NBN 50 is the most popular NBN speed for Australian households and usually, it's a few dollars between NBN 25 and NBN 50! It handles multiple devices streaming, downloading and gaming all at once. If your household has kids on YouTube and parents on work Zoom calls, this speed can handle it without noticeable lag.
NBN 100 (Fast)
- Download speed: Up to 100 Mbps
- Upload speed: Up to 20–40 Mbps
- Best for: 4K streaming, big downloads, cloud backup
- Who it suits: Larger households, remote workers, gamers
Explanation:
NBN 100 is for households that need more performance - like streaming in 4K, sending large files, or running a business from home. It’s a good future-proof option, especially with smart TVs, home security cameras, and multiple users online.
NBN 250 (Superfast)
- Download speed: Up to 250 Mbps
- Upload speed: Up to 25 Mbps
- Best for: 4K/8K streaming, smart home setups, fast file transfers
- Who it suits: Tech-heavy homes or small businesses
Explanation:
If you’ve got a smart home (voice assistants, security, cameras, lighting), NBN 250 gives you enough bandwidth to keep everything running smoothly. It’s also great for large file uploads, like cloud backups or video production.
NBN 1000 (Ultrafast)
- Download speed: Up to 1000 Mbps (1 Gbps)
- Upload speed: Up to 50–100 Mbps
- Best for: Media professionals, large households, power users
- Who it suits: Creators, remote teams, big families with heavy usage
Explanation:
NBN 1000 is the fastest tier currently available. It can download a full HD movie in seconds and support over a dozen devices doing intensive things like gaming, editing, and video calls - all at the same time.
⚠️ Note: NBN 250 and 1000 are only available on certain connection types like FTTP (Fibre to the Premises) and HFC (Hybrid Fibre Coaxial).
NBN 2000 (Extreme Ultrafast)
- Download speed: Up to 2000 Mbps (2 Gbps)
- Upload speed: Up to 100–200 Mbps
- Best for: Large households, high-demand businesses, power users
- Who it suits: Professional creators, gaming enthusiasts, smart homes with multiple devices, tech-heavy households
Explanation:
NBN 2000 is the fastest residential tier available, offering blistering download speeds of up to 2000Mbps. With up to 2000Mbps download and 100-200Mbps upload, it’s designed for those who demand nothing less than unrivaled performance from their Internet.
NBN 2000 can handle dozens of devices simultaneously, providing seamless, uninterrupted connectivity — even for large households or teams working from home.
⚠️ Note: NBN 2000 is available only on select connection types such as FTTP (Fibre to the Premises) and certain Enterprise Ethernet connections.
New in 2025: NBN speed upgrades
As of September 2025, NBN Co is rolling out speed boosts across Australia.
- NBN 100 plans may now deliver up to 500 Mbps
- NBN 250 plans may reach 750 Mbps
- NBN 1000 plans may go up to 2000 Mbps (2 Gbps) in select areas
- NBN 2000 plans are the newest in extreme ultrafast Internet
You can read more about this in our in-depth explainer here.
Why this matters:
The rollout of these upgrades means faster downloads, better support for video calling and gaming, and improved performance during peak hours. Check with your provider to see if you're eligible - especially if you're on FTTP.
Typical evening speeds – what they really mean
You might see a plan advertised as “NBN 100” but with a typical evening speed of only 85 Mbps. Why?
Typical evening speed is the average speed you can expect between 7 pm and 11 pm, when most people are online (streaming, gaming, browsing).
This figure is more realistic than the “up to” speed, which represents the theoretical maximum.
Always compare typical evening speeds, not just advertised speeds, to understand what you’ll actually get in real-world usage.
Choosing the right speed for your household
Here’s a simplified breakdown to help guide your choice:
| Household type | Recommended NBN tier | Why? |
| One person, basic use | NBN 25 | Light browsing and email |
| Couple, light streaming | NBN 25 or NBN 50 | HD streaming, social media |
| Family with kids | NBN 50 or NBN 100 | Multiple devices, gaming, Zoom |
| Shared house/WFH | NBN 100 or NBN 250 | 4K streaming, large downloads |
| Home business or techy | NBN 250, NBN 1000 & NBN 2000 | Creative uploads, cloud backups |
Internet speed matters more than ever - contact Compare Broadband
Your Internet speed affects everything - how fast pages load, how smooth your video calls are, and how much you enjoy your online life. In 2025, getting the right NBN speed is essential for modern Australian households.
Need help finding the right plan? Let the team at Compare Broadband do the hard work for you.
✅ We compare NBN providers and plans
✅ We explain things in plain English
✅ We help you match a plan to your lifestyle and budget
Call us today on 1300 764 000 or visit Compare Broadband to find the best Internet deal for your needs.
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