Plans that support your heavy gaming needs
Learn which plans are best for you
Written by:
Hayley LowerFor gamers in Australia, finding the right Internet plan is crucial for a smooth gaming experience, whether you're into PC games or gaming on Xbox or PlayStation.
A fast and reliable NBN or broadband connection is essential for connecting with friends online and enjoying your favourite games without interruptions.
Written by:
Hayley LowerIt's important to compare plans from different ISPs to find the best value for your needs. Many ISPs offer no lock-in contracts, allowing you to switch providers if you're not satisfied with your current plan.
Switching NBN providers should be relatively easy if you already have the necessary equipment installed at your address.
What to consider when choosing NBN plans for gamers
When it comes to choosing the best NBN plan for your online gaming needs, speed and costs are not the only considerations. There are also other factors to think about such as latency, bandwidth, and typical evening speeds.
All of these play a role in the overall quality of your gaming experience, so it’s better to inquire about them with your service provider before signing a contract.
- Latency refers to the quality of your connection to the game server or to another gamer’s computer and can be affected by the actual distance of your broadband connection from the main node in the area. Ideally, your NBN plan should have low latency or better ‘ping’ times.
- Bandwidth is the capacity to accommodate the number of users and devices connected to the Internet. NBN plans that offer Premium Speeds of 100 Mbps could be the better choice if this is the case for you at home.
- Typical evening speeds are the speeds that your broadband connection can deliver during peak hours, which are usually 7 and 11 in the evening. While your plan may offer a download speed of 100 Mbps, it could go lower during hours when most Internet users are online.
All things considered, there will surely be an NBN plan that suits your needs — gaming or not. If you are still undecided about which plan to get, check out this list of NBN plans that offer the fastest connections.
What is latency and why is it important?
Ping and latency are essential concepts in networking, referring to the time taken for data to travel from its source to its destination and back.
In gaming, these metrics directly impact the responsiveness of actions on screen. A high ping, measured in milliseconds, can lead to delays in your game's responsiveness when you press a button or move a joystick.
In online gameplay, high latency, or lag, can result in delayed and slower actions for your in-game avatar compared to others with lower latency.
Your NBN connection type and ISP are key factors in determining ping speed and latency. While download speed can play a small role, it's not a guarantee for lower latency, especially under heavy load.
Your router also plays a significant role, with its model and configuration affecting latency under load. Investing in a high-quality gaming router could be a wise move to mitigate ping-related issues and improve your overall gaming experience.
How does download speed affect gaming?
Having a reliable NBN connection is crucial not just for online gaming but also for downloading large games, which can be over 100GB in size.
To ensure quick downloads, you'll need both sufficient storage space on your console and a fast NBN connection.
For the fastest game downloads, NBN 250 and NBN 1000 plans are ideal, but these are only available for fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) and some hybrid fibre coaxial (HFC) connections.
If you're using a different connection type, such as fibre-to-the-node (FTTN) or fixed wireless, the best you can get is an NBN 100 plan.
What are good speeds for gamers?
When it comes to gaming, a fast Internet connection isn't always a must-have. Even the most demanding multiplayer games can typically run smoothly on an NBN 12 speed tier connection. However, faster speeds can offer two significant benefits: faster downloads and lower latency.
The primary advantage of high speeds is the ability to download game files swiftly. For example, here's a comparison of how long it would take to download a standard 40GB game on various NBN speed tiers:
| Speed tier | Maximum download speed | Game download time |
| Basic I | 12Mbps | Almost 8 hours |
| Standard | 50Mbps | 2 hours |
| Fast | 100Mbps | Under 1 hour |
| Superfast | 250Mbps | Less than 30 minutes |
| Ultrafast | 1000Mbps | No more than 10 minutes |
If you're eager to jump into your new game without delay or wait around for updates, a speedy Internet plan is essential.
Additionally, a fast connection can reduce your latency during online play, which is crucial for a smooth gaming experience. It's advisable to opt for at least a Basic II plan with an average speed of 20Mbps or higher to minimise the chance of experiencing annoying lag problems.
NBN plans for gamers by speed
While most NBN plans with decent speeds and reliable connections could work for online gamers, there are a few telcos in the country that offer plans specific to gamers.
When it comes to choosing the right Internet provider for gaming, there isn't a one-size-fits-all solution. The best choice depends on your specific needs and preferences.
NBN plans for gamers by performance
Aussie Broadband
Aussie Broadband stands out by incorporating gaming optimisation into its standard operations, rather than offering additional tools or add-ons.
It provides real-time network data, including ping times, offers direct links to gaming platforms like Steam and Twitch for faster updates, and prioritises routing to minimise latency.
This focus on gaming-specific features makes Aussie Broadband a compelling choice for gamers looking for an optimised Internet experience. Its range of NBN plans, from NBN 12 to super-fast NBN 250 and NBN 1000, caters to a wide range of gaming needs.
Optus
Optus provides a gaming enhancement service called Game Path, available as an add-on to its regular NBN plans for $10 per month. This feature aims to minimise lag and jitter by optimising the network connection's route to the game server.
Optus offers a 30-day free trial of Game Path for existing customers through the My Optus app. However, it is important to note that Game Path is exclusive to Windows 10 and above users.
Gamers seeking a smoother online gaming experience may find Optus' Game Path service appealing, as it enhances gameplay by routing traffic through optimised servers, resulting in up to a 30% reduction in lag.
Telstra
Telstra offers its Internet Optimiser feature as part of its NBN service, providing a range of functionalities, including those tailored for gaming and entertainment:
- Gaming geo-filter: Allows you to select a preferred region for better response times and filters out distant servers.
- Network priority: Lets you prioritise online activities such as gaming, browsing, or streaming.
To activate Internet Optimiser, existing Telstra customers can use the My Telstra app and configure it to prioritise online gaming. However, this feature requires a compatible Telstra Smart Modem and is not available on Ultrafast plans.
While Telstra may not offer specific gamer plans, its Internet Optimiser feature can help enhance your online gaming experience by prioritising traffic and managing bandwidth effectively.
NBN plans for gamers by latency
Latency, often referred to as ping, is a critical factor affecting your online gaming experience, as it measures the time it takes for your computer to communicate with the game server. A lower latency results in smoother gameplay. However, factors influencing latency, such as your distance to the local exchange or node, server location, and ISP routing, are largely beyond your control.
Choosing Australian servers for gaming can help reduce ping, as connecting to servers within Australia is faster than connecting to those in the US or other countries. Upgrading to a faster Internet connection may not significantly impact your ping, as the connection speed between your computer and your provider's network does not guarantee a faster connection to the game server.
The ACCC's Measuring Broadband Report evaluates providers with the fastest latency for fixed-line NBN plans. Here are the results from the most recent report:
Average Latency - March 2024
| Provider | All hours | Busy hours |
| Exetel | 8.2ms | 8.5ms |
| Superloop | 8.6ms | 8.7ms |
| Leaptel | 9ms | 9.3ms |
| Launtel | 10.1ms | 10.3ms |
| Aussie Broadband | 10.6ms | 10.7ms |
| Optus | 10.8ms | 10.9ms |
| Telstra | 10.9ms | 11ms |
| Dodo | 10.8ms | 11.1ms |
| iPrimus | 10.8ms | 11.1ms |
| TPG | 11ms | 11.1ms |
| iiNet | 11.8ms | 11.9ms |
| Vodafone | 13.7ms | 13.7ms |
NBN plans for gamers by reliability
It's frustrating to deal with Internet dropouts, but it can be challenging to assess a provider's reliability. Luckily, the ACCC monitors and reports outages lasting over 30 seconds for 12 providers quarterly.
On average, NBN plans experienced 0.29 outages per day, with 94% of households experiencing less than one outage a day. Furthermore, 59% of outages lasted less than three minutes, minimising its impact on most users. Here's how the providers fared in the report:
| Provider | % of households experiencing 0 outages |
| iiNet | 40% |
| Leaptel | 40% |
| Optus | 38% |
| Superloop | 38% |
| Telstra | 36% |
| Vodafone | 35% |
| Exetel | 34% |
| Aussie Broadband | 31% |
| TPG | 24% |
| Dodo | 15% |
| iPrimus | 15% |
| Launtel | 9% |
Should you choose a gaming-specific Internet plan?
If you're considering switching your Internet provider for better online gaming, there are a few key factors to keep in mind.
While the cheapest plan might seem appealing, it could come with slower NBN speeds and less direct traffic routes, potentially leading to higher latency. It's important to choose a plan that meets your household's speed needs, prioritising low latency over high download speeds.
Using an Ethernet connection instead of Wi-Fi can also improve your gaming experience by providing a more stable connection.
Additionally, when it comes to gaming on your mobile or Nintendo Switch, the data usage is relatively low, so you might not need to purchase a separate mobile broadband plan unless your current plan has very limited data.
Are you still considering your options? Why not let the team at Compare Broadband give you a hand? Give us a call or talk to us on our handy online chat to get all the information you need for the best gaming Internet plans.
To help you decide quickly, you can always contact Compare Broadband at 1300 106 571. We will be more than delighted to assist with your needs.
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