What Speeds Can I Expect From My Plan?
Wondering what speeds you should be getting? Here’s a clear breakdown of what to expect from each NBN speed tier.
Understanding NBN Speed Tiers
NBN plans are categorised by “speed tiers” which indicate the maximum download and upload speeds available on that plan. Here’s what each tier means:
| Speed Tier | Max Download | Max Upload | Typical Evening Speed | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NBN 12 | 12 Mbps | 1 Mbps | ~12 Mbps | Basic browsing, email |
| NBN 25 | 25 Mbps | 5-10 Mbps | ~25 Mbps | Light streaming, 1-2 people |
| NBN 50 | 50 Mbps | 20 Mbps | ~50 Mbps | HD streaming, small households |
| NBN 100 | 100 Mbps | 20-40 Mbps | ~100 Mbps | 4K streaming, WFH, gaming |
| NBN 250 | 250 Mbps | 25 Mbps | ~250 Mbps | Large households, heavy use |
| NBN 500 | 500 Mbps | 50 Mbps | ~500 Mbps | Power users, content creators |
| NBN 1000 | 1000 Mbps | 50-100 Mbps | ~1000 Mbps | Maximum speed households |
Coming September 2025: NBN is upgrading speed tiers! NBN 100 will become 500/50 Mbps, NBN 250 will become 750/50 Mbps, and new 2Gbps plans will be available. Learn more
What is “Typical Evening Speed”?
You’ll often see plans advertised with a “typical evening speed” – this is the speed you can expect during the busiest time of day (7pm to 11pm) when everyone’s home using the internet.
The ACCC requires providers to advertise these speeds because they’re more realistic than maximum speeds. The good news? Most providers (including GoTroppo) now deliver 100%+ of plan speeds even during peak hours!
Your Connection Type Matters
The speeds you can achieve depend on your NBN connection type:
| Connection Type | Max Possible Speed | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| FTTP | Up to 1000 Mbps (2000 from Sep 2025) | Can access all speed tiers |
| HFC | Up to 1000 Mbps (2000 from Sep 2025) | Can access all speed tiers |
| FTTC | Up to 100 Mbps | Limited by copper to curb |
| FTTB | Up to 100 Mbps | Depends on building wiring |
| FTTN | 50-100 Mbps | Depends on distance from node |
| Fixed Wireless | Up to 400 Mbps | Depends on area coverage |
Important: If you’re on FTTN and far from the node, you may not be able to achieve higher speed tiers like NBN 100. In these cases, we’ll let you know what speeds are achievable at your address.
What Affects Your Actual Speed?
Several factors can affect the speeds you experience:
1. WiFi vs Ethernet
This is the #1 reason people don’t see their full speeds! WiFi is almost always slower than a direct ethernet connection. For accurate speed tests, always test with an ethernet cable.
Learn how to improve your WiFi
2. Device Capabilities
- Older devices may have slower WiFi chips (WiFi 4 vs WiFi 6)
- Some devices have 100Mbps ethernet ports (can’t exceed 100Mbps)
- Older ethernet cables (Cat5 vs Cat5e/Cat6) can bottleneck speeds
3. Network Usage
Your total bandwidth is shared among all devices. If multiple people are streaming, gaming, or downloading, each device gets a portion of the available speed.
4. Server/Website Limitations
The website or service you’re accessing may be the bottleneck. A slow server on the other end can limit your download speed regardless of how fast your connection is.
How to Test Your Speed Accurately
For the most accurate speed test:
- Connect via ethernet cable directly to your modem
- Close other applications and pause downloads
- Stop other devices from using the internet
- Run the test 3 times and take the average
What Speed Should I Get?
When testing with an ethernet cable, you should generally see:
- 80-100% of your plan’s maximum download speed
- Similar percentage for upload speeds
- Slightly lower during peak hours (7pm-11pm), but usually 90%+
Example: On an NBN 100 plan, you should see around 80-100 Mbps download when testing via ethernet.
Not Getting Expected Speeds?
If your speeds are consistently below expectations:
- Check you’re testing correctly (ethernet, no other usage)
- Power cycle your modem
- Check your connection type supports your plan speed
- Review our slow speeds troubleshooting guide
- Contact us if issues persist