The internet space has become increasingly confusing over the recent years, as various different options have entered the fray and given consumers various options to choose from. While there’s a fair few internet options, two of the most commonly compared are ADSL and NBN.
But what’s the best out of these two? Does the trusty, time-tested ADSL still have benefits, or does the new-age NBN give ADSL a run for its money? Canstar Blue has broken down the two internet selections, and will go through the benefits and detriments of each in this article.
On this page:
What is ADSL?
Transmitted through copper wire, Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line, or ADSL, is a form of broadband connection that funnels data from a box to your device. This technology generally comes in three different categories: ADSL1, ADSL2, and ADSL 2+. ADSL2+ is the fastest and most common nowadays, although the ADSL range in general has been phased out due to the presence of NBN.
What is NBN?
NBN is the newer of the two, and uses optical fibre instead of ADSL’S copper wire. It was rolled out across Australia as an eventual ADSL replacement. NBN plans still require a modem, but offer high speeds and reliability.
The following table shows a selection of sponsored unlimited data Standard Plus Evening Speed (NBN 50), and Premium Evening Speed (NBN 100) plans on Canstar Blue’s database with links to referral partners. 1 Month Contract (1 month min. cost $79.99) Typical evening speed of 97Mbps 1 Month Contract (1 month min. cost $85) Typical evening speed of 50Mbps 1 Month Contract (1 month min. cost $99.99) Typical evening speed of 97Mbps The following table shows a selection of published unlimited NBN 50 plans on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of standard monthly cost (excluding discounts), from the lowest to highest, and then by alphabetical order of provider. Use our comparison tool above to see plans from a range of other providers. This is a selection of products with links to referral partners. The table below shows a selection of published unlimited NBN 100 plans on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of monthly cost, from the lowest to highest, and then by alphabetical order of provider. Use our comparison tool to see plans from a range of other providers. This is a selection of products with links to referral partners.
Unlimited
Data/month
$79.99
Cost/month
Go to Site
Unlimited
Data/month
$85.00
Cost/month
Go to Site
Unlimited
Data/month
$89.99
Cost/month
Go to Site
Unlimited Home Standard (NBN 50) Plans
Unlimited Home Fast (NBN 100) Plans
Is ADSL cheaper than NBN?
Given the gradual phasing out of ADSL plans, they are becoming harder to find and are being offered by fewer companies. While ADSL plans used to be cheaper, coming in at around $30 to $40 per month, the heavy market competition of NBN has actually caused ADSL plans to be more expensive in some cases. The average NBN plan will come in at around $80 per month, while ADSL plans tend to hover anywhere from $60 to $90 a month.
For this reason (and due to the fact that the government is putting an end to ADSL lines), NBN is the far superior option in a bang-for-your-buck scenario.
Is NBN faster than ADSL?
The main reason for the government’s aggressive push of the NBN is the faster speeds available on NBN connections. The average Australian ADSL plan has speeds of 8Mbps, while NBN plans are available with a top download speed of 1000Mbps. The quickest possible ADSL plan, which would be the ADSL2+ plan, is around 24Mbps.
NBN also gives customers the option of choosing their plan speeds, with six main residential speeds tiers available (depending on your location). Entry-level plans feature a maximum download speed of 12Mbps, while 25Mbps, 50Mbps, 100Mbps, 250Mbp and even 1000Mbps speeds are also available, meaning you can tailor your plan to your usage needs and budget.
Is ADSL or NBN better for you?
The answer is easy for this one: NBN is the way to go. The government has made it clear that the future is NBN for Australia, and its low price and high speeds are hard to look past. The ADSL range once served a purpose, but the technology is now outdated and overpriced.
If you’re looking to get connected to the internet, the NBN is likely to be the fastest and most convenient option available at your address. If you’re keen to switch, we’ve identified the best NBN plans available in the market using our unique Value Score methodology
Photo Credits: Dean Drobot/shutterstock.com
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