One year after nbn boosted speeds for millions of Australians, newer routers are key to unlocking performance and value
3-minute read
In September 2025 nbn launched Accelerate Great, offering access to up to five times faster wholesale download speeds for 10 million eligible homes and businesses in the HFC and Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) footprint.
The program also launched nbn’s fastest residential speed plans ever offered, with wholesale download speeds of 2,000Mbps available for those on HFC and FTTP connections.
Since then, demand for fibre upgrades and high-speed plans has been unprecedented and by the end of last financial year:
· 47% of customers were on plans of 100 Mbps or above,
· Around 37% of customers were on plans of 500 Mbps or above,
· More than two-thirds of new orders were for higher-speed plans, and
· Multigigabit services grew to almost 9,000 – reaching 10,000 last week.
The broadband bottleneck in the home
However, new research from OpenSignal shows that while speed plans have never been higher, customer experience is being held back by in-home equipment.
The report showed that 64 per cent of customers surveyed were using older Wi-Fi generations, including Wi-Fi 3, which was introduced in 2003, Wi-Fi 4 from 2009, and Wi-Fi 5 from 2014. Those on newer Wi-Fi generations (Wi-Fi 6, 6E and 7) achieved more than double the average download speeds among those sampled.
More than a quarter (26 per cent) of customers paying for wholesale download speeds of 500Mbps are using Wi-Fi 4, which has a typical maximum speed of 100Mbps.
The next generation learning about the next generation of nbn at the Accelerate Great launch event.
Els Baert, General Manager Consumer Technology and Trends, nbn said:
“This research shows that too many Australians still need to update their in-home set up to enjoy the great experience and full benefits of their 500Mbps service, helping to power their ever-growing numbers of devices and online activities.
“That’s despite the enormous value that customers are clearly seeing in faster nbn speeds, as well as more reliable and resilient nbn connections.
“Average household downloads are up 13 per cent year-on-year, and the average home now has 25 connected devices, expected to reach 45 by 2030, so customers will need that speed more than ever in the years ahead.
“We want all Australians to be able to enjoy the full benefits of our accelerated speed plans and thankfully millions can by making some small, simple improvements in the home.”
How to get the best broadband bang for your buck
To make sure you’re making the most of your nbn connection and speed plan, check the in-home optimisation hub on the nbn website, where key tips include:
1. Check the connection at your address, and whether you’re eligible for an upgrade to full fibre,
2. Check your speed plan and make sure it still meets your needs, and
3. Check your in home set up, especially:
· The age of your Wi-Fi router,
· The position of your Wi-Fi router in the home, and
· Whether your home would benefit from a Wi-Fi mesh network to extend signal throughout the home.
Footnotes:
[i] Speeds listed are wholesale speeds. They represent the maximum speeds nbn provides to internet providers. Your experience, including the speeds actually achieved, depends on the configuration over which services are delivered to your premises, whether you are using the internet during the busy periods, and some factors outside of nbn’s control (like your equipment quality and set-up, chosen broadband plan, age of device(s) and/or how your provider designs its network). Service availability including timing will depend on phone and internet providers offering nbn® Hyperfast and is subject to service qualification
[ii] Open Signal Data. August 2026.
[iii] Open Signal Data. January 2026.