Are faster nbn® speeds worth it?

Who doesn't want the fastest of the plans? The best value? The most aligned costs? Everyone wants the best of the best, and why not?

When it comes to internet speeds, you should absolutely be asking about the nbn® 100 to 500 upgrade. The nbn® speed increase 2025 made that upgrade easy - and free. But is nbn® 500 worth it? Is upgrading your speed a good option for your household?

For most households on FTTP or HFC connections, upgrading to a faster nbn® plan now costs little more than what they were already paying. In many cases, it cost nothing at all. Whether the fastest speeds make a real difference depends on how many people share your connection and what they do online.

What changed with nbn® speeds in 2025?

In September 2025, nbn® Co upgraded the wholesale speeds on its mid-to-high residential tiers for FTTP and HFC connections. The changes were substantial and, for most customers, automatic. Having your internet plan upgraded may have felt like a treat. But you might also be asking: did my nbn® speed upgrade automatically?

If you were on the nbn® 100 plan with an FTTP or HFC connection, your speeds likely increased to 500 Mbps without any action. Here's what that looks like:

The ACCC confirmed that services on the upgraded Home Fast plan averaged 493.7 Mbps during busy hours in December 2025. (ACCC, 2026).

nbn® Co also launched the nbn® 2000 plans tier for eligible FTTP addresses, offering up to 2,000 Mbps download and 200 Mbps upload. If you're working from home, this can feel like a lot, but it's not.  It's great for video conferencing, video calls and large file downloads. Some of the most popular nbn® providers can offer you the speed you need, but it all depends on your connection type.

If you're unsure whether your speed was upgraded, check your provider's app or contact them directly. You can also run a speed test during an off-peak time and compare the result to your plan speed.

Who benefits most from faster speeds?

Faster speeds make the most difference in households where multiple people are online simultaneously, particularly during the evening peak.

The best thing that you can do while deciding which speeds are the best, is to figure out your household needs. Do you have streamers? Members into gaming? Are you working remotely?

All of these things are impacted by the nbn® speed tiers you compare.

Want some help? Call our friendly Aussie-based team on 1300 764 000 and we'll do the legwork for you.

Does your connection type support faster speeds?

Whether faster speeds are available depends on your connection technology. Not all nbn® connection types can access faster tiers.

If you are on FTTN or FTTC, you may be eligible for a free upgrade to FTTP. The government fibre rollout program has expanded eligibility to more than 1.5 million additional homes. Check your address eligibility using the Compare Broadband FTTP upgrade checker.

Do I need a new modem for nbn® 500?

On FTTP connections, no new modem is required to access faster speed tiers. Your existing router connects directly to the nbn® connection box.

If you are on HFC, your provider supplies a compatible modem. Faster speeds may require a modem upgrade, which most providers handle during the plan change process.

The router you use can affect your actual speeds. If your router is older, it may not support speeds above 100 Mbps over Wi-Fi. For the full benefit of nbn® 500 or faster, a router with Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) or Wi-Fi 6 support is recommended. Check your router specifications before assuming a speed upgrade will translate to faster Wi-Fi throughout your home.

Is the price increase worth it?

For customers on nbn® 100 who were automatically upgraded to nbn® 500 in September 2025, there was no price increase. The upgrade was applied at no extra cost. It's always nice to get something back from the provider, right?

If you are considering moving from a lower tier to nbn® 500 as a new plan, the price difference is typically modest. The question is whether your household will notice the speed difference. Use the household benefit table above as a guide.

Plan prices are not listed here because they change frequently. Compare current plans at your address using the Compare Broadband plan checker. This gives you the opportunity to see the actual price difference for your connection type.

FAQs

Will I notice a difference if I upgrade to nbn® 500?

Most households with three or more people will notice less congestion during the evening peak. Individual users streaming alone on nbn® 100 are unlikely to notice a meaningful difference.

Did my speed already upgrade automatically?

Yes, if you were on a nbn® 100 plan with an FTTP or HFC connection before September 2025. Check your provider's app, log into your account portal, or run a speed test during the day to verify.

Why can't I get faster speeds on FTTN?

FTTN uses copper cabling for the last portion of the connection, which limits the maximum speed. Upgrading requires running fibre directly to your premises. If your area is eligible, this can be done through the FTTP upgrade program at no charge for the installation.

What nbn® speed do I need?

That depends on household size and usage habits. A household of one or two people doing standard streaming and browsing will find nbn® 50 or nbn® 100 more than adequate. Larger households or heavy users should look at nbn® 500 or above. See the nbn® speed guide for a full breakdown.

How do I check my current speeds?

Use a wired connection (not Wi-Fi) and run a speed test during busy hours, between 7pm and 11pm. Compare your result against your plan's typical evening speed. If you are consistently below the advertised figure, contact your provider.

Hayley Griffin Content Lead Hayley draws on over ten years of experience in technology, internet, and communications fields. Her experience spans across global clients, offering expertise on about the nbn, internet plans and hardware challenges facing Australian households, businesses and consumers. Read full bio

References

• ACCC (2026). Measuring Broadband Australia, Report 31. Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. Available at: accc.gov.au/consumers/internet/measuring-broadband-australia-program
• NBN Co (2025). Faster speed tier upgrades for home customers. Available at: nbnco.com.au