Faster Internet Coming for Millions of Australians as NBN Upgrades Roll Out
Sydney, Australia - Millions of Australian households are poised to experience considerably faster internet speeds thanks to a $3 billion government-funded upgrade to the National Broadband Network (NBN). the rollout, fulfilling a pledge made by the Albanese government before the election, aims to “finish the NBN” by moving beyond the previous Liberal government’s mixed technology model.
The upgrades will unlock speeds perhaps reaching up to 1000 megabits per second – a dramatic leap from the 25 megabit speeds once deemed ”more than enough” by former Prime Minister Tony Abbott. Currently, Australia ranks 75th globally for internet speed, averaging 88 megabits per second, placing it below countries like Oman and Jamaica, according to Speedtest’s global rankings.
These improvements are being made possible by billions in federal funding dedicated to upgrading the network infrastructure. An NBN Co spokesman stated, “Our existing investments in HFC and FTTP upgrades have laid a solid foundation for NBN to begin to unleash faster speeds and greater capacity, without NBN incurring or requiring any major additional capital investment.”
What does this mean for consumers?
Users can anticipate quicker downloads, more reliable video conferencing, and smoother streaming experiences with reduced buffering.
However,maximizing these new speeds requires ensuring home broadband equipment is up to the task.NBN recommends updating modems as frequently as mobile phones – particularly if they are older than five years. Older routers utilizing Wi-Fi 4 technology are limited to speeds around 100 megabits per second. To access the highest speeds, upgrading to a router with Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 7 is recommended.
For larger homes or areas with weak signal, utilizing Wi-Fi extenders or mesh systems – such as those offered by Eero, TP-Link DECO, or Netgear Orbi – can help eliminate dead zones and ensure consistent connectivity throughout the property.
Economic Impact
The speed increases aren’t just about convenience. Economic modelling by Accenture, commissioned by NBN Co, suggests a strong correlation between broadband speed and economic productivity. The study found that for every 1 megabit per second increase in average broadband speed between 2012 and 2022, Australia’s productivity-driven GDP rose by 0.04 percent, representing an economic uplift of approximately $122 billion.
the NBN upgrades are expected to propel Australia up the global speed rankings and contribute to broader economic benefits for the nation.
