- Typical evening speeds are displayed on NBN plans to tell you what speed to expect.
- You can choose between slow and simple plans or fast plans by looking at the typical evening speed.
- Learn what a typical evening speed is and what it’s for.
The NBN offers Internet plans with various speed tiers, so understanding what typical evening speeds are can help you to choose one that fits your household's Internet usage.
If your current speed tier isn't fast enough, you might experience slow and unreliable Internet. However, if you're paying for ultra-fast speeds you don't need, you might be spending more than necessary.
Figuring out different NBN speed options and the technical jargon that comes with them can be confusing. Finding the best plan involves knowing the average speeds along with what typical evening speeds are offering. In this article, we’ll talk about how NBN speeds work, why typical evening speeds matter, and compare the average speeds from popular NBN providers.
What is a typical evening speed?
According to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), Internet service providers must show typical evening speeds for their NBN plans. This speed shows the average Internet speed users can expect during peak hours, from 7 pm to 11 pm, when most people are online.
During these busy hours, activities like streaming, gaming, and browsing can cause network congestion, similar to a traffic jam, leading to slower Internet speeds. Typical evening speed reflects this congestion and gives a realistic idea of performance during peak times.
Unlike the NBN speed tier, which represents the maximum possible speed of a plan, the typical evening speed provides a more accurate expectation of your Internet performance during the busiest periods.
Current typical evening speeds
There are seven primary residential NBN speed tiers, each of them have maximum download and upload speeds, measured in Megabits per second (Mbps).
Here are the speed tiers along with their maximum speeds:
| Speed tier | Download speed (Mbps) |
Upload speed (Mbps) |
| NBN 12 | 12 | 1 |
| NBN 25 | 25 | 5 |
| NBN 50 | 50 | 20 |
| NBN 100/20 | 100 | 20 |
| NBN 100/40 | 100 | 40 |
| NBN 250 | 250 | 25 |
| NBN 1000 | 1000 | 50 |
Everything you need to know about the NBN speed tiers
NBN 12 (Basic I)
NBN 12 is best suited for basic Internet use. It’s great for those who use the Internet lightly, such as those who check their emails or scroll through Facebook. If you’re a single-user household, you might find that this is the optimum plan speed to look for. It can handle some video streaming but it may struggle with more than one device connected.
Limitations:
- Performance may slow right down if multiple devices are streaming or downloading simultaneously.
- May not provide a satisfactory experience for high-definition streaming or online gaming, where higher speeds are beneficial.
- With only 1 Mbps upload speed, activities like video conferencing and large file uploads can be slow and less efficient.
Typical users:
- Suitable for individuals, seniors or those with minimal Internet demands.
- Attractive for those looking to save on Internet costs while meeting basic connectivity needs.
NBN 25 (Basic II)
NBN 25 is best for those who love to stream content on Netflix or YouTube and are planning to use the Internet for general, efficient browsing. NBN 25 can comfortably support one to two users for light to moderate activity online, and it’s capable of handling video conferencing and other remote work or learning activities.
It’s worth noting, though, that higher tiers might be preferable for multiple simultaneous users or higher-quality video calls. You should also be aware that some NBN 25 plans aren’t much cheaper than NBN 50 options, so upgrading wouldn’t be too hard.
Limitations:
- May struggle with HD streaming if multiple devices are connected simultaneously.
- Provides a decent experience for online gaming, but higher tiers would offer more stability and lower latency.
- Not ideal for households with several users engaging in high-demand activities like large file downloads or streaming HD content simultaneously.
Typical users:
- Suitable for small households where Internet usage is moderate.
- Provides a balance between cost and performance, offering reasonable speeds at a lower cost compared to higher tiers.
NBN 50 (Standard)
NBN 50 is the most popular of Internet plans across most providers. It’s supportive of streaming on multiple devices at the same time, with a reliable connection offering lower latency for gamers. This makes it a suitable choice for online gaming and for remote workers.
This is the tier that supports both medium to large households, with sufficient bandwidth capable of supporting smart home systems and security cameras.
Limitations:
- While it can handle several devices, extremely heavy usage by many devices might still experience some slowdown during peak times.
- For extremely high-demand activities like simultaneous 4K streaming on multiple devices, higher tiers might provide better performance.
Typical users:
- Ideal for families or shared living situations where multiple people are online at the same time.
- Suitable for users who want to take full advantage of their smart home setups and high-quality streaming services.
NBN 100/20 (Fast)
NBN 100 - also known as NBN 100/20 - is a faster speed ideal for seamless streaming of high-definition and 4K content on multiple devices simultaneously. It’s the speed that is well suited for competitive gaming, offering low latency but solid connections. If you’re working from home, you’ll find it excellent for video conferencing, large file uploads and downloads, and remote desktop applications.
NBN 100 can support multiple users and a variety of Internet-connected devices without experiencing significant slowdowns.
Limitations:
- Although very capable, in extremely data-intensive environments with many concurrent high-bandwidth activities, performance could still be affected.
- While the 20 Mbps upload speed is adequate for most tasks, those who need higher upload bandwidth for activities like live streaming or frequent large file uploads might prefer higher upload speed options.
Typical users:
- Perfect for families or households with multiple members who engage in high-bandwidth activities.
- Suitable for users who want to make the most out of their smart home technologies and high-definition media streaming services.
NBN 100/40 (Fast Plus)
This is very similar to the 100/20, but with a faster upload speed which makes it perfect for streaming high-definition and 4K content on several devices at the same time without buffering. The high upload speed is beneficial for activities like live streaming, video production, and uploading large files.
Limitations:
- Higher monthly cost compared to lower speed tiers, which may not be necessary for households with lighter Internet usage.
- Although capable of high speeds, performance can still be affected during peak hours due to network congestion.
Typical users:
- Ideal for households with multiple members who frequently engage in high-bandwidth activities.
- Good for those who work from home, engage in online education, or require high upload speeds for content creation and live streaming.
- Great for users who have a lot of smart home devices and want to make the most out of their high-speed Internet.
NBN 250
NBN 250 is largely something that business owners might look into, especially if starting up from home. It supports Ultra HD 4K content on multiple devices at once without lagging, and it’s brilliant as a speed for large file uploads and downloads. NBN 250 can handle numerous users and it’s great for smaller businesses who need fast, reliable Internet.
Limitations:
- Not available in all areas; primarily offered in locations with NBN infrastructure capable of supporting higher speeds, such as FTTP (Fibre to the Premises) and some HFC (Hybrid Fibre Coaxial) connections.
- Higher monthly cost compared to lower speed tiers, which may not be necessary for households with moderate Internet usage.
Typical users:
- Ideal for large households with multiple members who frequently engage in high-bandwidth activities.
- Great for those who work from home or operate small businesses, requiring high-speed Internet for daily operations.
NBN 1000 (Ultrafast)
This is the speed tier that is usually reserved for businesses as it can support a huge number of connected devices and is amazing for remote work.
Limitations:
- Limited availability, primarily in areas with FTTP (Fibre to the Premises) and some HFC (Hybrid Fibre Coaxial) connections. Not all regions can access these speeds due to infrastructure limitations.
- Significantly higher monthly cost compared to other speed tiers. This plan may be unnecessary for households with moderate Internet usage.
- To fully meet these speeds, compatible modems and routers that support gigabit speeds are required.
Typical users:
- Ideal for large households where multiple people are engaging in high-bandwidth activities simultaneously.
- Suitable for businesses that require high-speed Internet for daily operations, including extensive cloud services, VoIP, and video conferencing.
- Perfect for users who want the latest and fastest Internet technology to future-proof their home network.
- Beneficial for content creators and professionals who require fast upload speeds for streaming and large file transfers.
Which NBN speed offers the best value?
Choosing the best NBN speed tier depends on your household's Internet needs. For most households, NBN 25 or NBN 50 plans offer good value, providing sufficient speed for streaming, browsing, and working from home.
If you have higher demands, such as multiple users or 4K streaming, NBN 100 might be necessary to avoid slowdowns. Your connection type can also affect available speed tiers and actual download speeds.
It's a good idea to test different tiers to find the best balance between cost and performance for your household.
What if your plan isn’t meeting typical evening speeds?
If your NBN plan isn't delivering the advertised typical evening speeds, several factors, including hardware issues, could be responsible.
First, reach out to your provider to understand the cause and seek assistance in resolving the problem. Should your provider be unhelpful, you can escalate the issue by contacting the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO), which offers dispute resolution services.
Contact Compare Broadband
Additionally, consider comparing NBN plans from different providers. Switching to a more reliable provider might offer a better and more consistent Internet connection - and that’s where you can contact Compare Broadband.
We’ll talk you through your options to determine which NBN speed would be best for your household.
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