Internet Plans | Home Internet Plan Comparison

Internet Glossary of Terms

What are the different types of broadband internet?

There are several different types of internet available to Australian households and businesses. Each type of internet depends on a different technology to deliver internet services, and not every home or business will be able to access all of these internet technologies.

The most common types of internet available in Australia include:

NBN
Home wireless broadband
Cable internet
Fibre internet
ADSL
Fixed Wireless internet
Satellite internet
Mobile broadband

If you’re curious about the differences between these technologies, we’ll go into some brief detail below.

What is NBN?

NBN is by far the most commonly used and it’s also the most widely available internet type. The NBN — National Broadband Network — is an Australian-wide internet infrastructure built by NBN Co. NBN Co then sells wholesale access to the NBN to ISPs, which then sell NBN plans to customers. You can’t buy an NBN plan directly through NBN Co and if you want access to the NBN, you’ll need to go through an internet provider who handles the setup of your plan. If you are being connected for the first time, your ISP will organise the NBN technician to come to your home.

What is home wireless broadband?

Home Wireless Broadband uses wireless internet technologies to connect your home to the internet. This wireless internet can either come from a mobile network (such as Telstra or Optus) or even from satellite, depending on what is available. Typically these plans will include a router, which is typically not moveable and will need to be plugged into a power source. Home Wireless Broadband is meant to be a replacement internet service to fixed line internet.

What is Cable internet?

Cable internet uses existing infrastructure to supply your home with internet, namely the same coaxial cables that are used to deliver paid TV services. Some NBN technologies also use parts of existing cables to deliver internet to the home, however cable internet isn’t as widely available as NBN.

What is Fibre internet?

The NBN isn’t the only fibre network providing internet to households. There are other fibre networks, such as Opticomm and LBN, that give internet providers access to the network to then sell to customers. Typically these Fibre networks are found in apartments and housing estates, so if you happen to move somewhere with Fibre internet rather than NBN, you might find a smaller pool of internet providers to compare plans with.

What is ADSL?

While most homes previously used ADSL to deliver internet, the ADSL network is mostly being replaced by NBN and will eventually be obsolete. ADSL connections used existing copper phone lines to connect your home to the internet, and speeds could greatly vary. This makes it more unreliable for heavy internet usage like video streaming, when compared to NBN and other connections. The networks that delivered ADSL to homes were built by ISPs and sometimes sold to other ISPs wholesale, while the NBN has created a more even playing field where no one internet provider controls the network.

What is fixed wireless internet?

Fixed wireless is technology that uses network towers to deliver internet to an antenna fixed to a building, which is connected to an NBN connection box in the building (home or business). This is meant to be more consistent and stable than home wireless broadband.

What is satellite internet?

SkyMuster is the name for the NBN’s satellite internet service, which is designed for regional and remote parts of Australia to deliver internet access. It relies on an antenna or dish on the building to receive and send data to a satellite, with the satellite transmitting information to the ground station dishes. It is a much slower internet service than fixed wireless and many other internet technologies.

What is mobile broadband?

Mobile broadband is quite similar to home wireless broadband, in that it requires a mobile network to deliver internet to a modem. However, while home wireless is designed as an in-home alternative to fixed connections, mobile broadband is a more portable offering. Mobile broadband is often best for supplementing home internet or for taking with you when you’re out and about, such as holidays or travel for work, and need a more reliable internet connection than using your phone and hotspotting. Because of the portable nature of mobile broadband, you often don’t get much data with these plans.

Want to know more about how different internet types compare to each other? Check out the guides below for more details on the differences between internet types.

Internet types head-to-head

FAQs about Internet Plans

What is the best internet plan?

The best internet plan for you is the one that has the right inclusions, contract length and price that suits your needs and budget. There are more than 100 providers offering various types of internet plans, so there are plenty of choices when it comes time to shop around for a new deal.

To help you with your internet plan comparison, here are some things to consider:

Which type of internet is available to your home? NBN, 5G mobile broadband, wireless, cable internet, etc.
Which internet connection type suits your needs if you have multiple options. E.g. you may prefer wireless internet to a fixed-line connection.
If you’re choosing NBN or other cable internet, which speed plan is best for your household needs?
Do you need a modem included with your plan? In most cases, you’ll have the option to BYO modem or get one from your provider.
Which contract length do you prefer? Going with a 12 month contract often saves you about $10 a month compared with a monthly plan, so there are pros and cons.
Do you want bundled inclusions such as entertainment or home phone? It’s common for service providers to offer some form of TV package.
What is your budget and how much are you willing to pay? Could you manage with a capped data allowance to save a few bucks, or do you need unlimited data?

All in all, there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach when it comes to home internet. Before finding a plan, you will have to assess your own needs, budget and preference for different internet types. There are lots of options to pick from!

What is the difference between WiFi and internet?

For some, the words ‘internet’ and ‘WiFi’ are fairly interchangeable, however they are two separate things. Internet is what you are accessing on a device, and is a system of networks that connects devices from around the world. WiFi is the way in which devices are connected to a modem or router which delivers internet access to a home or business. To put it simply — internet is the thing you access, and WiFi is one of the ways you can get access to the internet.

WiFi is a network delivered by a physical modem or router within a home or workplace, which transmits a wireless connection that devices can connect to and therefore gain internet access. The WiFi is connected to a local area network (LAN), which connects local devices to one another. Before WiFi, devices would have to be connected via cable connection to the modem or router. Many modems still allow you to do this, and connecting a computer via cable can provide a better or more stable internet connection. While WiFi is convenient, it can at times be unstable or the signal weak, and the further away from the modem or router, the weaker the signal. WiFi connections can also be locked and require a password to connect, and if you turn the modem or router off, you are unable to access WiFi.

Internet is a way of connecting devices from around the world and allows you to access a range of websites, apps and more from your device. Even if websites and apps are hosted in other countries, you’re able to access them as local networks are all interconnected by routers which then in turn are connected to the internet, also known as a wide area network (WAN). Internet can be accessed on your device through WiFi connections, cable connections or mobile connections (using a mobile network tower to access the 3G, 4G or 5G network).

What is the difference between internet and broadband?

Internet is a network of devices from around the world, which are all connected via servers, which store information such as websites. In order to access this information from around the world, our devices, such as computers and mobile phones, need to be able to connect to these servers.

Broadband is the technology that lets our devices connect to the internet. Broadband can be delivered by different connection types — NBN, fibre, ADSL, satellite, mobile network — and the name ‘broadband’ comes from the wider bandwidth data being transmitted through these connections, which allows for faster speed of that data transmission. Older forms of internet connections, such as old dial-up connections, were not broadband.

These days, you’ll need a broadband connection, whether that’s fixed line like most NBN connections, or wireless such as mobile broadband or home wireless broadband, in order to access the internet at your home. Once you’ve chosen which type of broadband you want at your home, you’ll be able to connect to the internet, either via a WiFi signal emitted by your modem or router, or via cable connected to your modem or router. In the case of broadband using mobile technology, the mobile network (3G, 4G or 5G) delivers broadband either directly to your device (mobile phone or tablet with SIM card) or to a modem in the home. This modem can either be plugged directly into your device (such as a USB dongle plugged into a computer) or be used to emit a WiFi signal that other devices can then connect to.

What is the NBN?

The National Broadband Network (NBN) is an Australia-wide program rolling out a fixed line network to replace existing ADSL and cable technology. Generally, you can expect NBN connections to be more reliable and offer faster speeds than what your old internet type was capable of.

You can check your address on the NBN Co website to find out if or when the network is expected to be connected in your area, as well as which type of NBN you will get.

If you want to learn more, we’ve explained everything you need to know about the NBN.

NBN connection types

There are seven different NBN connection types:

Hybrid Fibre Coaxial and FTTP are typically the NBN connections that deliver the fastest speeds, although FTTN has become the most widely used type. Finding out which NBN connection you have to your home will help you determine which NBN plans are available to you.

Need more information? Check out our guide on the different NBN connection types.

NBN Connection Types

NBN speed tiers

There are plenty of NBN providers and plans to choose from. Here are the four main types of NBN plans based on the different speed tiers:

NBN 12: 12 Mbps download, 1 Mbps upload. Also known as Home Basic I or Basic Evening Speed.
NBN 25: 25 Mbps download, 5 Mbps upload. Also known as Home Basic II or Standard Evening Speed.
NBN 50: 50 Mbps download, 20 Mbps upload. Also known as Home Standard or Standard Plus Evening Speed.
NBN 100: 100 Mbps download, 20 or 40 Mbps upload. Also known as Home Fast or Premium Evening Speed.
NBN 250: 250 Mbps download, 25Mbps upload. Also known as Home Superfast.
NBN 1000: 1000 Mbps download, 50 Mbps upload. Also known as Home Ultrafast.

How you use your internet (whether you just browse the web or do a lot of video streaming), and how many people are in your home, can help determine which speed tier is best suited to your household.

You may receive a letter in your mailbox notifying you of when you can connect to the NBN. While switching to the NBN isn’t compulsory, old ADSL connections will eventually be switched off.

Want to know more? Check out our guide on the different NBN speeds and find which one is right for you.

NBN Speeds Explained

What is the best internet for streaming video?

If you do a lot of video streaming at home, you’ll want an internet plan that is fast enough and includes unlimited data, to let you stream all the Netflix, Disney+, Stan and YouTube that you want.

Video can be streamed in different quality, with Standard Definition (SD), High Definition (HD) and Ultra HD all available across most streaming platforms. In order to stream at any of these quality levels, you’ll need an internet connection that delivers high speeds and reliability.

Generally for video streaming, you’ll need:

2.0Mbps for good-quality picture
3.0Mbps for Standard Definition (SD) quality
4.5Mbps for High Definition (HD) 720p quality
7.5Mbps for High Definition (HD) 1080p quality
15.0Mbps for Ultra High Definition 4K (UHD 4K) quality

Access to these speeds are also determined by your device capabilities. For example, you will need a 4K-compatible TV in order to stream UHD 4K to your TV. You might find that streaming in standard definition looks fine on your mobile phone, while it might not look as good on your computer or large TV.

When it comes to internet speeds, you’ll have a choice between the NBN 12, NBN 25, NBN 50 and NBN 100 speed tiers. It’s recommended that the minimum NBN speed for SD video streaming is NBN 25, for HD video streaming is NBN 50 and for Ultra HD 4K is NBN 100.

Looking for the best internet for streaming? Check out our guide.

Best Internet For Streaming

About our Internet Comparison Service

How Canstar Blue compares internet plans

Canstar Blue compares hundreds of broadband plans from 30 internet service providers across Australia to help you find a better deal. Prices are updated as soon as we are made aware of any changes. We also publish customer satisfaction ratings to help you compare providers on factors including customer service, billing, and value for money.

Our comparison tool includes a unique ‘value score’ feature that lists plans based on which offer the best overall value, rather than just the cheapest prices. The value score is a rating out of 10, combining price and features data to help you make an informed decision about your next broadband provider. Click here for more details on our pricing and value scores methodology.

Our internet comparison service includes plans and prices from over two dozen Australian providers. They are:

Our comparison tool is free to use, and we’ll never ask for your phone number or personal details.

How to use our internet comparison service

Canstar Blue exists to help you compare broadband plans on the premise of both price and overall value. By selecting your desired monthly data allowance and your preferred speed tier, you’ll receive a selection of plans and prices that match your preferences, taken from our long list of Australian internet service providers.

To compare NBN plans, use the sliders on our comparison tool to select how much data you’ll need each month, and how fast you’d like your plan to be. If you’re looking to compare specific providers, you can select the telcos you’d like to see from the drop-down menu to the right of the tool. If you want to see plans from all listed providers, you don’t need to click this menu.

You also have the option of filtering your results to only show plans which feature a link to a referral partner’s website. You can toggle this option on or off under the data and speed sliders. Once you’ve made your adjustments, hit the green Compare NBN Plans button, and you’ll be taken to your matching list of NBN plans.

Once your result screen loads, you can make further changes to your plan requirements (including adjusting data, speed, and monthly pricing), and filter results by contract length, bundles and inclusions, and preferred providers. You can also sort your results by Canstar Blue’s value score, as well as the feature score, monthly cost, included data, customer satisfaction score, and by provider.

If you find a plan you like, you can see more in-depth information by selecting the blue More Details link. This will bring up additional plan, billing, and account management information. To go to a provider’s website for further information, click the green Go To Site button featured on plans from Canstar Blue’s referral partners.