As a gamer, you know the importance of having a fast and reliable internet connection. Whether you’re playing competitively or just for fun, a slow and unreliable connection can really stunt your gaming experience. If you’re looking for a guide on choosing internet for gaming in Australia, you’ve come to the right place. 

Understanding the Internet Requirements for Gaming

Latency

To have a great gaming experience, you need an internet plan with low latency, high bandwidth and reliability. Latency refers to the time it takes for your computer to communicate with the game server. High latency can result in delays and lag in your gameplay, making it difficult to enjoy a smooth gaming experience.

Bandwidth

Bandwidth refers to the amount of data that can be transferred in a certain amount of time. For gaming, high bandwidth is crucial to ensure that the game runs smoothly and the graphics look good. 

Speed

The minimum speed requirement for online gaming is usually around 3 Mbps for download and 0.5 Mbps for upload. However, this minimum requirement may vary depending on the specific game and the number of players involved. Some games, such as first-person shooters, may require higher speeds for smooth gameplay.

Connections

The type of internet connection available in your area can affect the quality of online gaming. In most cases, you can’t choose the type of nbn connection available in your area, however, nbn is slowly rolling out upgrades to bring faster connections to the whole country.

nbn Broadband is the most common type of connection in Australia. Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) is arguably the best broadband option here in Australia, but depending on your place of residence and building type, you may have a Fibre to the Node (FTTN), Fibre to the Curb (FTTC), Hybrid-Fibre Coaxial (HFC), or Fixed Wireless connection. These connection types represent how or where the connection links to your home. 

• • FTTB (Fibre to the Building) connects to a building’s connection room where it is then redistributed throughout the apartments. 
  • FTTC (Fibre to the Curb) connects to a distribution unit outside the home (usually on the street), from which point existing copper networks connect to the premises.
  • FTTN (Fibre to the Node) is similar to FTTC in that it connects to a unit outside of the premises and utilises copper networks to connect to the home. Rather than a distribution unit, FTTN connects to a node in the form of a street cabinet. Depending on your location, it not have the capacity to access the same speeds as the other connection types. 
  • FTTP (Fibre to the Premises) is the most reliable option, bringing a faster internet connection directly to your home.
  • HFC (Hybrid Fibre Coaxial) utilises Pay TV networks to connect to a fibre node.
  • Fixed Wireless is typically used in rural and regional areas of Australia where the distance between premises can be many kilometres. In this circumstance, data travels from an nbn transmission tower located as much as 14kms from your home to a rooftop antenna.

You can identify your nbn connection quickly on the nbn website.

MATE’s Solutions for Gaming

At MATE, we understand the importance of having a reliable internet connection for gaming. That’s why we offer a range of nbn plans with typical evening speeds of up to 208 Mbps. Our plans are designed to give you a solid, all-round gaming experience. 

Whether you’re playing a fast-paced first-person shooter or a massive multiplayer online role-playing game, a MATE internet plan will give you what you need to enjoy the game to its fullest.

Comparing MATE with Other Providers

If you’re a gamer looking for a solid and reliable internet provider in Australia, MATE’s the ISP you’ve been searching for. Our unlimited data nbn plans are designed to give you the reliability, cost-effectiveness, and typical evening speed you need!