Skip to main content

What nbn® speed do you really need?

Sick of the buffer? Find out what nbn® speed you need to stream, work and game seamlessly.
5 min read
Published on 12 Jun, 2025

There are few things more annoying than your screen freezing during that important virtual meeting or your favourite TV show buffering at a pivotal moment in the story. If you’re regularly frustrated by your internet’s performance, it might be time to up your speed.

B​ut b​efore you splash out on the fastest connection, learn about how to find the right nbn plan to make sure you’re not paying for speed you don’t need. 

But first, let’s look at what you should think about when choosing your ​​​​plan.

 

Your users and devices

 

The number of people and devices connecting to your network will impact the internet’s performance – and the speed you need to manage it. 

The more people and devices you have online at the same time, the faster your nbn will need to be to keep up. While you might only have two people in your household, there could be 10-15 devices connected to your internet.

Think about the number of people in your household and what devices they use regularly and at the same time. And don’t forget to consider all your smart devices (eg: smart fridges, security systems, speakers) that rely on the ​​internet.

Senior woman working on her laptop from her couch lorem ipsum dolor sit amet

Your home setup

Your Wi-Fi setup​​ can affect your nbn speed and connectivity. The NBN Co's info below* shows the various Wi-Fi generations and their typical maximum Wi-Fi speeds. Make sure to check if your Wi-Fi router supports the typical speed of your nbn plan.

  • Wi-Fi 7 = Over 1Gbps, released in 2024
  • Wi-Fi 6 = Up to 1Gbps, released in 2019
  • Wi-Fi 5 = Up to 500Mbps, released in 2013
  • Wi-Fi 4 = Up to 100Mbps, released in 2009

The NBN co recommend that you​​ ensure the location of your router isn’t limiting your connection. Thick walls, metal panels, appliances, some liquids (like fish tanks or hot water systems) and other devices like baby monitors or radios, can ​​reduce your Wi-Fi signal.​​ ​​​

​​​​If your router is in a cupboard or blocked by thick walls, consider moving it to a raised, central position as close to your connected devices as possible.

*​​​Source: ​​https://www.nbnco.com.au/learn/optimisation/connected-devices#wifigeneration​​

How you use the internet

Much like users and devices, how your household uses the internet matters. 

If you’re just browsing and streaming movies in HD, you can get away with a slower, cheaper nbn connection. But if you have multiple people working from home, need to upload multiple large files and enjoy the clarity of 4K streaming, you’ll need top speeds. 

For example, the following article published on CNET in the link attached suggests that 10Mbps will get you browsing online and on social media without a hitch. But if you want a seamless gaming experience, you’re typically looking at 100Mbps.  

Your budget

How much you’re willing to spend on your internet bill each month will also impact the nbn speed that’s right for you. If you’re on a budget, the fastest option may not be right for you. But with plenty of available options, you can find an nbn plan that suits your needs. 

At AGL, you can find nbn plans at a great price along with exciting offers.

What are AGL's nbn speed tiers?

We have a range depending on your needs.

Explore our nbn plans here

Related articles