- FTTP connections in Australia have the fewest outages and best performance in terms of latency and packet loss.
- Most NBN fixed-line connections deliver download speeds close to advertised rates, with Telstra leading during peak hours.
- ACCC continues to watch underperforming services to ensure consumers get the speeds they pay for.
Australians with fibre to the premises (FTTP) broadband have fewer outages compared to other NBN connection types, according to the ACCC’s latest Measuring Broadband Australia report.
The report compared the performance of different NBN fixed-line technologies, focusing on outage frequency, latency, and packet loss.
Key findings include:
- FTTP: Least frequent outages.
- Fibre to the Node (FTTN) and Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC): More frequent outages.
During testing, FTTN connections accounted for nearly half (48%) of daily outages, despite making up 34% of all NBN fixed-line connections. In contrast, FTTP connections, representing 36% of connections, accounted for only 12% of daily outages.
ACCC Commissioner Anna Brakey stated, “All NBN fixed-line connections have some outages, but FTTN and HFC have noticeably more.”
Why FTTP offers the best broadband experience
Beyond outages, your broadband quality also depends on latency and packet loss.
- Latency: The time it takes for data to travel from your device to a server and back.
- Packet loss: When some data doesn't reach its destination while using online applications.
High latency means delays in data transfer. Both high latency and high packet loss can seriously affect your online experience.
The report found:
- Average latency: 10.7 milliseconds.
- Average packet loss: 0.16%.
These averages are unlikely to disrupt common online activities. However, FTTP connections had the lowest latency and packet loss, making them the most reliable for applications needing very low latency and packet loss.
Broadband speeds: What you pay for is what you get
In March 2024, broadband providers delivered download speeds close to their advertised maximums.
For the first time, Telstra recorded the highest average download speed during busy hours (7-11pm), reaching 102.3% of plan speed. On average, NBN fixed-line connections across all providers achieved 99.8% of plan speed, up from 99.3% last quarter.
Underperforming services dropped to 4.1%, the lowest ever recorded. However, FTTN connections still had more underperforming services compared to other types.
“We’ll keep an eye on underperforming services because consumers deserve the speeds they’re promised,” said ACCC Commissioner Anna Brakey.
Contact Compare Broadband
If you’re not sure what type of connection you currently have, give our team a call on 1300 764 000 and we can talk you through it.
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