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There’s a range of internet connection types to wrap your head around in Australia, from the NBN to home wireless, mobile broadband and more.
Fact checked
Are you curious about the various types of internet connection available in Australia? There’s a range of technologies that power our online experiences. In Savvy’s helpful guide, we'll delve into the different types of connection on offer around the country today. Whether you're looking to understand the fundamental differences between the NBN, home wireless, mobile broadband and ADSL or you're exploring options for your home or business, find out all you need to know with us here!
There’s a wide range of potential options when it comes to connecting your home or business to the internet in Australia. The connection types available today are:
National Broadband Network (NBN)
The NBN is a government-driven initiative which aims to provide high-speed internet access to homes and businesses across Australia via fixed line connections. It offers a range of speed tiers to suit different needs, which are:
In terms of establishing a connection, there’s a wide range of options for how your home or business is hooked up to an NBN plan. This can range from purely fibre optic cables (Fibre to the Premises) to a combination of fibre optic and coaxial (Hybrid Fibre Coaxial) or copper cables (Fibre to the Node, Curb and Building). Rural properties can also connect to the internet via radio (Fixed Wireless) and satellite signals (Satellite).
Home wireless broadband
Home wireless broadband uses mobile networks to deliver internet access to your home. This either comes via the widely available 4G network or the newer, more powerful 5G network which can rival some of the faster NBN speed tiers (but is more limited in its availability as of September 2023).
It typically involves a modem that connects to the mobile network in your area, providing Wi-Fi connectivity within your home or business. This option is suitable for areas with good mobile coverage or who simply wish to move away from the NBN.
Mobile broadband
Mobile broadband allows you to access the internet via mobile networks in the same way as home wireless broadband, but the difference between the two is that this type of internet is designed for on-the-go use. As the name suggests, this broadband is more portable, rather than being fixed to one stable location.
In terms of how to connect to the internet via mobile broadband, you can choose from the following options:
Mobile broadband plans can also either be prepaid (paid before usage period and recharged when required) or postpaid (paid after usage period on an ongoing basis).
Fibre internet
Fibre internet is essentially the same as the NBN, with the difference being that these plans are offered by private providers. They can deliver ultra-fast and reliable internet through dedicated optical fibre cables like the NBN.
However, in most cases, availability for these plans is much more limited comparatively and connections are only available via Fibre to the Premises (FTTP), ruling them out as an option for those without this connection type.
Cable internet
Cable internet plans rely on existing pay TV infrastructure to deliver internet access. It’s important to note that these plans are only available in areas where the NBN is yet to be rolled out and are offered by very few providers. Once the NBN reaches your area, your cable internet connection will be overhauled by new technology, such as a Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC) connection.
ADSL
ADSL internet plans use existing copper phone lines to provide internet access. It offers variable speeds based on your distance from the exchange, with maximum speeds not exceeding the lowest NBN speed tiers in many cases. The NBN was essentially designed to replace the existing ADSL infrastructure around Australia, so these plans are only on offer to those without the NBN available.
Receive a $50 Woolworths Bonus Store eGift Card when you purchase a Broadband Plan via Savvy's partner, Econnex Comparison. Terms and conditions apply.
Disclaimer:
Savvy is partnered with Econnex Comparison (CIMET Sales Pty Ltd, ABN 72 620 395 726) to provide readers with a variety of internet plans to compare. We do not compare all retailers in the market, or all plans offered by all retailers. Savvy earns a commission from Econnex each time a customer buys an internet plan via our website. We don’t arrange for products to be purchased directly, as all purchases are conducted via Econnex.
Any advice presented above is general in nature and doesn’t consider your personal or business objectives, needs or finances. It’s always important to consider whether advice is suitable for you before purchasing an internet plan. For further information on the variety of internet plans compared by Econnex, or how their business works, you can visit their website.
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© Copyright 2024 Quantum Savvy Pty Ltd T/as Savvy. All Rights Reserved.
© Copyright 2024 Quantum Savvy Pty Ltd T/as Savvy. All Rights Reserved.
Quantum Savvy Pty Ltd (ABN 78 660 493 194) trades as Savvy and operates as an Authorised Credit Representative 541339 of Australian Credit Licence 414426 (AFAS Group Pty Ltd, ABN 12 134 138 686). We are one of Australia’s leading financial comparison sites and have been helping Australians make savvy decisions when it comes to their money for over a decade.
We’re partnered with lenders, insurers and other financial institutions who compensate us for business initiated through our website. We earn a commission each time a customer chooses or buys a product advertised on our site, which you can find out more about here, as well as in our credit guide for asset finance. It’s also crucial to read the terms and conditions, Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) or credit guide of our partners before signing up for your chosen product. However, the compensation we receive doesn’t impact the content written and published on our website, as our writing team exercises full editorial independence.
For more information about us and how we conduct our business, you can read our privacy policy and terms of use.