A slow nbn® connection almost always comes down to one of six causes
Work through the quick fixes below first, then check the detailed reasons if the problem persists.
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Quick AI Answer Why is my nbn® internet slow? The most common causes of a slow nbn® connection include network congestion in peak evening hours. Other causes include a speed tier that is too low for your household. If you use FTTN, distance from the node can also slow speeds. An old modem or router may reduce performance. Wireless interference can also slow your connection. An older device may not support your full speed. Most of these have a same-day fix. |
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Unlimited Data
100% Australian-based support
Award-winning customer service
No lock-in contracts
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NBN
Fibre/ HFC
Unlimited Data
100% Australian-based support
Award-winning customer service
No lock-in contracts
Special Offer
Before working through the detailed reasons below, these five checks solve most slow-connection problems on their own.
Instead of panicking and asking how do I fix slow nbn® connections, start working through all the reasons below in turn.
Network congestion is the most common cause of a slow nbn® connection. This is especially the case in the evening when most households are streaming, gaming or downloading at once.
Congestion depends on how much bandwidth your provider buys from NBN Co. This is why providers must publish typical evening speeds. This is the speed you can realistically expect between 7pm and 11pm, rather than just an advertised maximum.
If your speeds consistently drop in the evening, compare your provider's typical evening speed against competitors. You can also upgrade to a faster tier so peak-hour congestion has less impact.
If your nbn® speed feels slow, you may simply be on a tier that is too low for how your household uses the internet. Internet speeds often change during the day. But you want the fastest speeds possible for your household. Getting maximum speeds in place will depend on your provider and your modem.
Speed tiers are priced separately on the nbn®. This is unlike old ADSL connections where speed was not something you paid for.
| Speed tier | Poor speeds | Great speeds | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| nbn® 50 | 0-30 Mbps | 40-50 Mbps | 1-2 people, browsing and standard streaming |
| nbn® 100 | 0-60 Mbps | 85-100 Mbps | A household streaming and working from home |
| nbn® 250 | 0-110 Mbps | 150-250 Mbps | Multiple users streaming and gaming at once |
| nbn® 1000 | 0-250 Mbps | 500-1000 Mbps | Large households with heavy simultaneous use |
If you are on a fast tier and not getting the expected speeds, contact your provider. If you are on an older connection type such as FTTN, ask whether you are eligible for a free upgrade to full fibre. This removes the copper bottleneck entirely.
On a fibre to the node (FTTN) connection, distance between your home and the local node affects your speed. FTTN uses fibre to a neighbourhood node, then existing copper phone lines for the final stretch. It lasts typically up to 1.5km but sometimes as short as 400m. The longer that copper run, the more speed can degrade.
Check whether your address is eligible for a free upgrade to full fibre. If it is not yet eligible, a home wireless or fixed wireless connection may outperform a long FTTN run.
Not every modem or router can handle your plan's full speed. FTTP connections need any router with an Ethernet connection. HFC needs a DOCSIS 3.0 compatible modem. FTTN or FTTB need a VDSL2 compatible modem.
Connect a computer directly to your nbn® connection box with an Ethernet cable. If speeds improve significantly, your modem or router is the bottleneck, and it is time to upgrade.
If you connect over Wi-Fi, nearby electrical items can all interfere with your signal. Even thick walls can slow down internet plans!
Move your router to a central, open location. Switch to the 5GHz band if your devices support it. You can even consider a mesh Wi-Fi system if you have a larger home or persistent dead zones.
Sometimes the connection is fine, and the bottleneck is the device you are using. Older phones, laptops and smart TVs often cannot take advantage of higher speed tiers, even on a strong connection.
If one device is consistently slower than others on the same network, that points to the device rather than your nbn® connection. Upgrading that device, not your plan, is the fix.
Still slow after trying all of the above? Compare nbn® plans to see if a faster tier or a different provider is available at your address.
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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 |
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