Not sure which nbn speed tier is right for you? Here’s what nbn 25, 50, 100, 500, 750, 1000 and 2000 actually mean for streaming, gaming, working from home, and how many devices you can run at once.
Working from home and wondering if your internet can keep up? The question most remote workers want answered is “will my video call drop if my partner’s on a call too and the kids are streaming?” Below, we start with real work-from-home scenarios, explain why upload speed matters more than most plans let on, then break down every nbn speed tier so you can pick the right one for your household.
TL;DR – Quick Takeaways
Upgrading is easy with MATE — change plans anytime, no contract penalties
- NBN 50 is the sweet spot for most households — it can handle 2-3 people streaming, browsing, and video calling at once
- NBN 100 (or NBN 500 on FTTP and HFC) suits 4+ people, serious gamers, or anyone working from home with large file uploads
- Your connection type matters — FTTP installations can deliver all speeds reliably; FTTN might cap at NBN 50-100
- Working from home? Upload speed matters as much as download. Video calls, VPNs and cloud backups all send data out, not in
NBN Speed Tiers: Quick Comparison
Here’s what each NBN speed tier actually delivers in real life:
| Speed Tier | Download/Upload | Connection Types | Best For | Users |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NBN 25 | 25/5 Mbps | All | Light browsing, email, SD streaming | 1-2 |
| NBN 50 | 50/20 Mbps | All | HD streaming, video calls, casual gaming | 2-3 |
| NBN 100 (Legacy tier) |
100/20 Mbps | FTTN/FTTC/FTTB only | 4K streaming, gaming, WFH | 4-6 |
| NBN 500 (Replaced NBN 100) |
500/50 Mbps | FTTP/HFC only | Multiple 4K streams, fast downloads | 4-8 |
| NBN 750 (Replaced NBN 250) |
750/50 Mbps | FTTP/HFC only | Heavy usage, large households | 6-10 |
| NBN 1000 | 1000/100 Mbps | FTTP/HFC only | Zero slowdowns, instant downloads | 8-10+ |
| NBN 2000 | FTTP: 2000/200 HFC: 2000/100 |
FTTP/HFC only | Professional content creation | 10+ or pros |
What Internet Speed Do You Need to Work From Home?
For most people working from home, NBN 50 is enough for one person, and NBN 100 (or NBN 500 on FTTP and HFC) is the safer choice once two people are working at the same time. But the real answer depends on who else is online while you’re on the clock. Here’s how it plays out in real homes.
One Person Working From Home
Email, documents, Teams or Zoom calls and a work VPN are all comfortably covered by NBN 50. Its upload speed of around 20Mbps has plenty of room for an HD video call, even while someone else in the house is watching Netflix.
Two People on Video Calls at the Same Time
Is 50Mbps enough for two people working from home? Two HD calls use less than 8 Mbps in total upload, so NBN 50 can handle it. The trouble starts when everything else piles on top: kids streaming after school, game downloads and phones backing up photos. If you’re both on calls most days, nbn 100 (FTTN/FTTC) or nbn 500 (FTTP/HFC) gives you breathing room.
Working While the Rest of the House Streams and Games
In the afternoons and evenings, your work laptop is competing with TVs, consoles and tablets. Streaming mostly uses download, while your calls rely on upload, so a plan with more of both keeps everyone happy. For a busy household with at least one person working from home, look at nbn 100 or nbn 500.
Uploading Big Files and Running Cloud Backups
If you send large files, sync design or video work, or back up to the cloud, upload speed is the number to watch. nbn 500 and nbn 750 upload at up to 50Mbps, nbn 1000 at up to 100Mbps, and nbn 2000 on FTTP at up to 200Mbps.
Why Upload Speed Matters When You Work From Home
Most nbn plans are sold on their download speed, but working from home leans heavily on upload. Every time your camera is on, you save a file to OneDrive or Google Drive, or your laptop runs a cloud backup, you’re sending data out rather than pulling it in.
On most plans, upload is much lower than download. nbn 25 uploads at up to 5Mbps and nbn 50 at around 20Mbps, even though their download speeds sound healthy. Here’s what that means for a 10GB cloud backup:
- 20Mbps upload (nbn 50 and nbn 100): around 67 minutes
- 50Mbps upload (nbn 500 and nbn 750): around 27 minutes
- 100Mbps upload (nbn 1000): around 13 minutes
How Much Upload Speed Do I Need for Zoom?
According to Zoom, a 1080p HD video call needs about 3.8Mbps up and 3.0Mbps down, whether it’s one-on-one or a group call. A 720p call needs around 1.2 Mbps each way. Microsoft recommends 2.5Mbps up and 4Mbps down for Teams meetings, and up to 4Mbps each way for the best quality. So a single HD call needs roughly 3 to 4Mbps of upload, and every extra person on a call at the same time adds the same amount.
Why Do My Video Calls Drop When Someone Else Is Streaming?
Streaming uses download bandwidth, while video calls need upload bandwidth. On connections with a low upload ceiling, the call is the first thing to suffer, even when your download speed looks fine. Wifi is often part of the problem too.
Plugging your work computer into your modem with an Ethernet cable gives you a steadier connection, and our guide to Ethernet vs. Wi-Fi explains why. For more fixes, work through our home network spring clean or get your home office network set up properly.
Does a VPN Slow Down My Internet?
Usually a little, because your traffic is encrypted and routed through another server first. If your work VPN keeps dropping out rather than just running slower, that’s usually an upload or connection stability issue, not a speed issue. Our guide on why your work VPN isn’t connecting covers the common fixes.
Test Your Upload Speed Before You Upgrade
Before you change plans, check what you’re actually getting. Plug a computer straight into your nbn connection box and follow our guide to running an nbn speed test with a direct connection. If your upload is close to your plan’s limit but calls still struggle, it’s time to upgrade to a plan with more upload bandwidth. Compare MATE’s nbn plans to find the right fit.
September 2025 Speed Upgrades: What Changed?
In September 2025, nbn Co launched the “Accelerate Great” program, dramatically increasing speeds on FTTP and HFC connections at no extra cost. NBN 100 became NBN 500, NBN 250 became NBN 750, NBN 1000’s upload doubled to 100Mbps, and a new NBN 2000 tier launched.
Important: If you have FTTN, FTTC, or FTTB, these upgrades don’t apply to you. Your maximum speed is still nbn 100/20. However, you might be eligible for a free upgrade to FTTP (see below).
NBN 25: Basic Speed
What You Get
Download speeds up to 25Mbps, upload speeds up to 5Mbps.
For working from home: fine for email and documents, but the 5Mbps upload only has room for about one HD video call at a time. Not the pick if you’re on camera most days.
Honest take: NBN 25 is the most affordable entry point, but it’s best suited to people who don’t rely on being online. If your household streams, video calls, or works from home regularly, NBN 50 delivers a noticeably better experience for a small step up in price.
NBN 50: The Sweet Spot
What You Get
Download speeds up to 50Mbps, upload speeds around 20Mbps.
For working from home, 20 Mbps upload comfortably supports HD video calls for one or two people. It’s the go-to choice for one person working from home.
Honest take: nbn 50 is the most popular speed tier in Australia for good reason. It handles everything most households do without slowdowns, and the price is reasonable.
nbn 100: Legacy Tier (FTTN/FTTC/FTTB Only)
What You Get
Download speeds up to 100Mbps, upload speeds around 20Mbps.
Important: As of September 2025, nbn 100 is only available on FTTN, FTTC, and FTTB connections. If you have FTTP or HFC, you get nbn 500 instead (5x faster for the same price).
For working from home: handles two people on calls at once, with the same 20Mbps upload as nbn 50. If uploads are your bottleneck, a full fibre upgrade opens up faster tiers.
Honest take: nbn 100 is good, but if you have FTTP or HFC, you should be on nbn 500 instead (5x faster for the same price). If you’re on FTTN/FTTC and nbn 100 is too slow, check if you’re eligible for a free upgrade to FTTP.
nbn 500: The New Sweet Spot (FTTP/HFC Only)
What You Get
Download speeds up to 500Mbps, upload speeds up to 50Mbps.
This tier replaced nbn 100 for FTTP and HFC customers in September 2025. If you had nbn 100 on FTTP/HFC, you were automatically upgraded to nbn 500 at no extra cost — that’s 5x faster downloads and 2.5x faster uploads.
For working from home: 50Mbps upload means several people can be on calls while large files sync in the background. The best fit for most multi-person WFH households on FTTP or HFC.
Honest take: nbn 500 is incredible value. It costs about the same as nbn 100 used to cost but delivers 5x the speed. For most households, NBN 500 is the “never worry about it” tier.
NBN 750: Superfast Speed (FTTP/HFC Only)
What You Get
Download speeds up to 750Mbps, upload speeds up to 50Mbps.
This tier replaced nbn 250 in September 2025. Existing nbn 250 customers were automatically upgraded to nbn 750 — that’s 3x faster downloads and 2x faster uploads at the same price.
For working from home: the same 50Mbps upload as nbn 500, so it won’t make calls or uploads any faster. Only worth it for very heavy download use.
Honest take: nbn 750 is fast. Like, genuinely fast. But the jump from nbn 500 to nbn 750 is less noticeable than the jump from nbn 100 to nbn 500. For most households, nbn 500 is the better value. Get nbn 750 if you know you need it (professional work, huge household, hate waiting) — otherwise, stick with nbn 500.
NBN 1000: Ultrafast Speed (Gigabit)
What You Get
Download speeds up to 1000Mbps (1Gbps), upload speeds up to 100Mbps.
Upload speed was doubled in September 2025 from 50Mbps to 100Mbps.
For working from home: the 100Mbps upload makes a real difference if you move large files or run big cloud backups every day.
Honest take: nbn 1000 is overkill for most people, but it’s amazing if you can justify the cost. The jump from nbn 750 to nbn 1000 is noticeable but not life-changing for typical use. The real value is the 100Mbps upload if you’re uploading large files regularly — that’s double nbn 500/750’s 50Mbps upload.
NBN 2000: Next-Level Speed (2Gbps)
What You Get
Download speeds up to 2000Mbps (2Gbps).
Upload speeds depend on your connection type:
- FTTP (Fibre to the Premises): Up to 200Mbps upload
- HFC (Hybrid Fibre Coaxial): Up to 100Mbps upload
This is a critical difference if you upload large files regularly.
For working from home: on FTTP, the 200Mbps upload suits video editors and creatives uploading huge files daily. For everyone else, it’s more than you need.
Honest take: nbn 2000 is a specialist speed tier for professionals and extreme power users. The download speed difference between nbn 1000 and 2000 is noticeable, but not life-changing for most tasks.
Which Speed Should You Get? Quick Recommendations
| Your Situation | Recommended Speed |
|---|---|
| Single person, light usage, tight budget | nbn 25 |
| Couple or small family (2-3 people) | nbn 50 |
| Family of 4-5 people | nbn 500 (FTTP/HFC) or nbn 100 (FTTN/FTTC) |
| Working from home (1 person) | nbn 50-100 |
| Multiple people WFH | nbn 500 (FTTP/HFC) or nbn 100 (FTTN/FTTC) |
| 4K streaming on multiple devices | nbn 500 (FTTP/HFC) or nbn 100 (FTTN/FTTC) |
| Large household (6+ people) | nbn 750 |
| Content creator (video editing, uploading) | nbn 750-1000 |
| Professional video editor uploading 4K/8K daily | nbn 2000 (FTTP preferred for 200Mbps upload) |
How to Know What Speed You Need
Count Your Users
As a general rule:
- 1-2 people → NBN 25 or 50
- 2-33-4 people → NBN 50 or 100
- 5-6 people → NBN 100
- 7+ people → NBN 250 or 1000
Think About Peak Usage
What happens in your house during the busiest internet time (usually evenings)?
- If multiple people stream different shows while someone games → you need NBN 100+
- If everyone’s just browsing or watching one show → NBN 50 is fine
Consider Work From Home Needs
Working from home changes your requirements:
- Video conferencing all day → NBN 50 minimum
- Large file uploads (design files, videos) → NBN 100+
- Multiple people WFH → NBN 100 minimum
Check Your Connection Type
Your NBN connection type limits your maximum speed:
- FTTP: Can get any speed up to nbn 2000
- HFC: Can get speeds up to nbn 1000, and nbn 2000 in some areas
- FTTN: Typically maxes out at NBN 50-100 (depending on how far your home is from the node)
- FTTC: Usually can get up to NBN 100
You can find out what type of connection your home has by searching your address on the NBN Co website. Or pop your address into MATE’s address checker to see which speeds and plans are available at your place.
How to Upgrade Your nbn Speed with MATE
Upgrading your nbn speed with MATE is straightforward:
- Log into your MATE account: visit your account dashboard
- Select ‘Change Plan’: Choose your new speed tier
- Confirm the change: The upgrade usually happens within 24 hours
- Your new speed activates: No technician visit needed, no service interruption
No penalties, no fees: Because MATE plans have no lock-in contracts, you can upgrade your service or jump to lower speeds anytime without exit fees or penalties.
Pro tip: If you’re unsure which speed you need, start with NBN 50 and upgrade if it’s too slow. With no plan change fees, moving up to the right plan costs nothing.
Can’t Get Faster Speeds? Upgrade Your Connection
If you’re on FTTN or FTTC and want NBN 500 or faster internet speeds, you might be able to upgrade to full fibre (FTTP) through NBN’s upgrade programs.
NBN Co offers full fibre upgrades to eligible homes, and you can also request a paid upgrade. Conditions and eligibility apply, so check NBN Co’s upgrades page or chat to our team about your options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I actually get the advertised maximum speed?
▼
Why is my WiFi slower than my NBN speed?
▼
Can I get NBN 1000 on any connection type?
▼
What’s the difference between download and upload speed?
▼
Will a faster NBN plan improve my WiFi coverage?
▼
How much speed do I need for Zoom calls?
▼
Is 50Mbps enough to work from home?
▼
Can I downgrade if the speed is too fast?
▼
What speed do I need for smart home devices?
▼
Does the weather affect NBN speeds?
▼
What’s the typical evening speed?
▼
Can I get faster speeds than NBN 1000?
▼
What’s the best NBN speed for a family?
▼
