If you have a fast NBN plan, but your connection still seems to lag, there are a few things you can do to try and improve your connection. Several factors cause a slow NBN connection. The good news is that you can do things to improve your experience. We have a quick guide to help you with how you can improve your connection.
Aussies need a fast and reliable internet connection and this is why the NBN project emerged. The Australian government has committed to deploying the National Broadband Network (NBN) in 2020. Today, every house in Australia has access to a fast and consistent internet connection, which is crucial for various activities.
However, there are instances wherein your connection may fail you. But, unlike what most users think, your internet provider is not always at fault. There are various factors that affect your NBN speed. This article will discuss the reasons for a slow NBN connection and how you can troubleshoot them.
There are several reasons why your NBN connection is not giving you the speed that you're paying for. It can be frustrating but remember that there are a number of external factors that can affect your internet connection.
We've outlined these factors below and some tips on what you can do during these scenarios.
Network congestion is the number one reason for a slow NBN connection, especially during peak hours when most individuals attempt to connect to the internet. This happens most frequently in the evening when everyone is already at home after work and uses their home internet for entertainment purposes like trying to stream shows, download files, or play online games.
Network congestion is an unavoidable circumstance that depends entirely on your internet service provider. However, you can try connecting to the internet during off-peak hours like in the early morning or late at night.
You can also look into upgrading your NBN plan to a faster speed tier so that you can still enjoy your online activities even during peak hours.
If you feel like the issue is with your provider's connectivity in your area, and you have opted for a no-contract plan, then there is always the option for you to change telcos.
If you're not connected to the proper NBN speed category, it might negatively affect your connection. The speed you need depends on the activities you are usually doing over the internet. As a result, if you're signed up for the wrong speed level, your connection is a letdown. The table below shows the typical evening speed of each NBN speed tier.
| NBN Speed Tier | Poor NBN Speeds | Great NBN Speeds | |
|---|---|---|---|
| NBN Standard (NBN 50) | 0 – 30 Mbps | 40 – 50 Mbps | See NBN50 plans |
| NBN Fast (NBN 100) | 0 – 60 Mbps | 85 – 100 Mbps | See NBN100 plans |
| NBN Superfast (NBN 250) | 0 – 110 Mbps | 150 – 250 Mbps | See NBN250 plans |
| NBN Ultrafast (NBN 1000) | 0 – 250 Mbps | 500 – 1000 Mbps | See NBN1000 plans |
Choosing the right speed for your home starts with understanding how you and other household members use the internet. For example, a basic speed plan will be enough if you're only browsing or logging into your social media profile and live alone. An NBN plan in the higher speed tier is required in a larger home with several users streaming at once.
If you purchased a plan in a fast speed tier and are not receiving the expected speeds, you should notify your NBN provider immediately. You may always choose to upgrade to a higher speed tier. However, if you're still on an older NBN technology like FTTN or FTTC, there is a possibility that your home cannot support the higher speeds.
In this instance, you'll need to have your connection upgraded by your provider to one of the newer technologies like FTTP or HFC. This will usually require a technician to come over and carry out the necessary work.
| NBN Providers | NBN Plans | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
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NBN Unlimited Belong Standard Plus broadband plan on the NBN | $70/Month | See Belong NBN Plans |
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NBN Standard Plus (nbn50) Unlimited Dodo broadband plan | $75/month | See Dodo NBN Plans |
|
NBN The 50 (nbn50) Uniti Wireless NBN Broadband Plan | $79.95/month | See Uniti Wireless NBN Plans |
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NBN 100GB Build your own NBN - Aussie Broadband plan - Standard Plus Speed | $79/month | See Aussie Broadband NBN Plans |
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NBN Optus Internet Everyday NBN™ Bundle Plan | $79/month | See Optus NBN Plans |
Finally, there's the distance issue; the farther you are from the node, the slower your connection may become. This is true for areas connected via Fibre to the Node (FTTN). FTTN is the most common NBN connection type in Australia, where an optical fibre line runs from the exchange to a node in your neighbourhood and then uses existing copper phone lines to connect to your home.
The maximum distance for an FTTN connection is around 1.5km but can be as low as 400m. Anything beyond that will result in a slower connection. The farther that the signal has to travel through the wire, the greater the chance for the speed to degrade accordingly.
If your connection to the node is the reason behind your internet connection issues, you can consider going for mobile broadband or home wireless broadband instead. This is one of the most viable solutions to your problem, especially if you cannot acquire a good fixed-line connection.
Not all modems and routers are created equal. In fact, some are already outdated and incapable of handling your current NBN speed.
So what type of router supports NBN? Well, it depends on the NBN technology you're using. If you're on FTTP, any type of router will work as it uses an Ethernet connection. Meanwhile, those on HFC need a DOCSIS 3.0 compatible modem while those on FTTN/B require a VDSL2 modem that's also compatible with ADSL2+.
To check if your modem or router is the root cause of the problem, connect your computer directly to the NBN connection box using an Ethernet cable. If you're able to connect to the internet without any issues, then that's a sign you need to upgrade your modem or router.
If you still can't seem to figure out what's causing your NBN connection problems, you can always contact your service provider for help. They might be able to pinpoint the exact source of the issue and provide you with a solution accordingly.
Another potential reason for your shoddy NBN speeds is the wiring inside your home. This is happens more frequently for those who are connected to the network via FTTN or HFC. Over time, the copper wires in your home can degrade and become twisted, which can impact your connection speed.
The best way to troubleshoot issue is to have a technician come over and check the state of your copper wiring. They'll be able to tell if it's the reason behind your NBN woes and replace them accordingly.
Like any other type of wireless signal, the NBN can be subject to interference from other devices in your home. This is most common for those using HFC or FTTN connections as they rely on copper wires to deliver the signal.
The interference can come from several sources, including electrical appliances, microwaves, cordless phones, and even baby monitors.
If you believe that interference is the reason your NBN speeds are less than stellar, there are a few quick fixes you can do.
First, try and move your router to a different location in your home. If that doesn't work, consider getting a WiFi booster as it can help amplify the signal and reduce interference. Finally, you can invest in a quality router designed to minimise interference.
Most NBN providers have traffic management policies in place to ensure that everyone has a fair chance of getting a good connection. This is especially true during peak hours when everyone is trying to use the internet simultaneously.
As a result, your speeds might be reduced during these times as your service provider tries to manage the network traffic.
There's not much you can do to avoid this issue as it's out of your control. However, you can contact your service provider to see if they're willing to lift the traffic management policies during off-peak hours.
You can also look for an NBN provider with no traffic management policies in place. This way, you can be confident that you'll always get the best possible speeds, regardless of the time of day.
In some cases, the problem might not be with your NBN connection at all. Instead, it could be with the device you're using to connect to the internet. This is most common with older devices that cannot take full advantage of your current speeds.
If you think your device might be the issue, the best thing you can do is to upgrade to a newer model. This way, you'll be able to take full advantage of your NBN connection and get the speeds you're paying for.
There are various reasons why your NBN connection is running slow. Apart from network congestion, it can also be due to the speed tier of your plan and your distance from the node. Various other connection issues may affect the speed of your NBN as well. Rest assured that for each of these, there will always be a fix or a remedy that you can try.
If you need help in upgrading your plan or switching NBN providers, you can call us at Compare Broadband. Our NBN connection experts are more than happy to assist you in finding the best possible deal for your needs.
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