How to connect to the NBN
A national broadband network was first announced back in 2007, with NBN Co established in 2009 to build and operate the rollout to Aussie homes. The project timeline was to complete the rollout to 93% of Australian households by the end of 2020 and despite a large cost blowout the initial build was completed on time.
That means the vast majority of Aussies with a home broadband service will be connected to the NBN, even if they weren’t aware of it. Not sure if you’re included? NBN Co has a handy tool on their website that will check the details of the connection at your address.
If you’re located in one of the unlucky towns of Australia that aren’t yet connected to the NBN, they note scheduled works for your area with the above tool. If you can’t find your address listed or no works are scheduled for your area, you can register an unrecognised location through the NBN Co site.
NBN Co lists my address as connected, what now?
If NBN Co lists your address as connected, then they’ve completed works that allow you to connect to the NBN network. NBN Co are only responsible for the infrastructure however, so it’s up to you to find an internet service provider to get your home connected.
If you’re looking for an NBN plan, why not check out our 2021 Mozo Experts Choice NBN Award winners for a great value plan that will have you connected in no time. You’ll note some plans require certain connection types, with NBN 1000 at the very top in terms of speed only available to those with an FTTP connection. You can find the connection type at your home with the NBN tool, and find a suitable plan from there.
Does NBN mean I get fast internet?
While the NBN was a project to provide most Aussie homes with quick internet, there’s not just one speed across the board.
Your internet service provider will offer a range of plans which will feature different speeds. You can find out more about which speed may best suit your needs in our ultimate guide to the NBN. Common speeds start out with NBN 12, which means your download speed will be capped at 12mbps (megabits per second), with certain addresses eligible for an NBN 1000 plan that sees speeds up to 1Gbps (gigabits per second). The upgrades NBN Co are working on will see more homes becoming eligible for this top tier internet speed should they wish to connect.
Other common speed tiers feature 25, 50, 100 or 250mbps in terms of download speeds.
Find the right plan for your household
We’ve already mentioned speeds, but the number of devices you’re planning on having connected and the amount of data you will use are also considerations to make when signing up for an NBN plan.
Some providers will offer an unlimited plan, meaning your price will stay the same across any amount of data used, while other providers will offer a certain data cap after which you may be charged extra and/or your speed slowed down.
Higher speeds also often manage to handle a greater number of connected devices at once. Those in a family household, all frequently using streaming services or gaming platforms simultaneously, might struggle to manage a stable internet connection on a lower speed plan.
If you need more information about what speed or data cap could be right for you, I once again recommend our comprehensive guide on the NBN.
Searching for a new NBN plan? Check out some of our picks below:
