What is a good download speed and what is the right nbn speed tier for you and your home? What are typical evening speeds? How will network congestion affect my nbn speeds? Are all internet service providers the same? These are questions that many people are asking as they switch to nbn internet in Australia through an internet service provider offering fast nbn plans.

The truth is, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to these questions when it comes to maximum speeds, the way you check nbn speed, speed tiers, evening speeds and your internet provider. Different users will require different a different nbn internet speed in order to get the most out of their nbn connection and the download speeds needed will vary depending on the requirements of each household. A good nbn speed for one household may not be ideal for heavy internet users.

The maximum speed, both download speeds and upload speeds, available through internet service providers will also vary depending on a number of factors including what type of nbn technology connects your house. For example, if you live in a rural or regional area you may only have access to Fixed Wireless or satellite nbn plans which offer a slower speed than fixed-line services like Hybrid Fibre-Coaxial (HFC) or Fibre to the Premises (FTTP). The nbn network is complicated and whether you can achieve a good nbn speed on your nbn connection will be determined by your location and what nbn co technology is available.

All in all, there are a lot of variables to consider and discuss when it comes to nbn speeds, the speed tier that you choose, maximum download speed and upload speeds and your internet connection at home when you switch to the national broadband network with an internet provider.

In this blog post, we will discuss the different nbn speed tiers that are offered by internet service providers and what this means for your internet speed, what these speed tiers mean in terms of the maximum nbn speeds you can achieve, and even what a typical evening speed means! This will help you determine which speed tier or speed tiers are right so you get the best broadband speeds possible with your chosen internet service provider!

What are nbn speed tiers?

The benefit of nbn broadband services offered by internet service providers is that they offer a range of wholesale speeds to internet services providers designed to suit different households’ needs. Whether you have multiple people streaming content at once and you need a standard plus evening speed, or you simply like using the internet to email friends or send photos, there is an nbn speed tier or an nbn basic evening speed that would suit your needs and not all speed tiers are the same! The connection speed will vary and so will the actual internet speeds you will achieve, so it’s important to choose the right speed with your internet service provider based on your use case.

To clarify this further, if you just want to send emails and make phone calls with an nbn home phone service, then the Home Basic nbn speed tier has been designed for this purpose. On the other hand, if you have a household full of people who like streaming content simultaneously using your internet connection, then the Home Superfast speed tier with unlimited data has been designed for you. Let’s go through all the speed tiers and the nbn plans available through most internet providers.

Home Basic II nbn speed tier – Crikey nbn 25/10 plan

The Home Basic II nbn speed tier has been designed for a household with minimal users online. This nbn speed tier is ideal for browsing the internet, sending emails and standard definition (SD) video streaming. This speed tier is recommended for one or two people online at the same time, basic browsing the web and social media, sending emails and streaming music.

The maximum nbn speed on this speed tier is 25/5​ – which means that the theoretical maximum speed or peak download speeds (from the Internet) is up to 25 Megabits per second, and the theoretical peak upload speeds (to the Internet) is up to 5 Megabits per second. The typical busy period download speed (7 pm to 11 pm) on this service would be referred to as a standard evening speed.

Home Standard nbn speed tier – Ripper nbn 50/20 plan

The Home Standard nbn speed tier has been designed for a household with a number of users and devices. This speed tier is ideal for high-definition (HD) streaming, playing games online and working from home. This speed tier is recommended for three or four people online at the same time, high-definition video streaming (1080p), downloading files, playing online games and working from home (e.g. video conferencing).

The maximum nbn speed on this speed tier is 50​/20 – which means that the theoretical peak download speeds (from the Internet) is up to 50 Megabits per second, and the theoretical peak upload speeds (to the Internet) is up to 20 Megabits per second. The typical busy period download speed (7 pm to 11 pm) on this service would be referred to as a standard plus evening speed.

Home Fast nbn speed tier – No Worries nbn 100/20 plan

The Home Fast nbn speed tier has been designed for a household with a number of users and devices. This speed tier is ideal for those who enjoy 4K video streaming, downloading files and using multiple devices online at the same time. This speed tier is recommended for five or more people online at the same time, streaming high-definition video (4K) and downloading large files – it’s perfect for users who want fast internet plans.

For Home Fast, the maximum nbn speed on this speed tier is 100/20 – which means that the theoretical peak download speeds (from the Internet) is up to 100 Megabits per second, and the theoretical peak upload speeds (to the Internet) is up to 20 Megabits per second. The typical busy period download speed (7 pm to 11 pm) on this service would be referred to as a premium evening speed.

100/40 nbn speed tier – You Beaut nbn 100/40 plan

For Home Fast+, the maximum nbn speed on this speed tier is 100/40 – which means that the theoretical peak download speeds (from the Internet) is up to 100 Megabits per second, and the theoretical peak upload speeds (to the Internet) is up to 40 Megabits per second. The typical busy period download speed (7 pm to 11 pm) on this service would be referred to as a premium evening speed.

Home Superfast nbn speed tier – Fair Dinkum nbn 250/25

The Home Superfast nbn speed tier has been designed for a household with a number of users and devices. This speed tier is ideal for those who enjoy concurrent 4K and 8K video streaming, downloading large files and using multiple devices online at the same time. It’s recommended for five or more people online at the same time, simultaneous 4K and 8K streaming, faster downloading of game updates and faster downloading and uploading of large files.

The maximum nbn speed on this speed tier is 250/25 ​– which means that the theoretical peak download speeds (from the Internet) is up to 250 Megabits per second, and the theoretical peak upload speeds (to the Internet) is up to 25 Megabits per second. The typical busy period download speed (7 pm to 11 pm) on this service would be referred to as a superfast evening speed.

What do typical evening speeds mean?

When you start looking at internet service providers and the plans and nbn speed tiers they offer, you will quickly notice that all nbn plans and nbn speed tiers include a typical busy period download speed, sometimes also called typical evening speeds. This is information about the typical speed of each nbn broadband plan in the busy evening period which is classified as 7 pm – 11 pm nightly. It’s an important fact to consider when you start looking at nbn speeds.

Information on typical busy period or typical evening speeds are provided by internet providers so you can see how an nbn service should perform at the times you are most likely to use the connection on your speed tier with actual speeds.

It also allows you to easily compare services and speed tiers between internet providers offering the best fast internet deals`, so you can choose a speed tier and an nbn plan that suits you best. Whether it’s a standard plus evening speed, a premium evening speed or a standard speed, it’s important to understand the difference between the various speed tiers, how the internet speed will affect you and your household and what internet speed is right for you!