We’ve all been there. You’re in the middle of a riveting movie, an intense gaming session, or an important video call, and suddenly your internet slows to a crawl. The buffer icon appears, turning your immersive experience into a frustrating waiting game. You can’t help but wonder: ‘Why is my WiFi so slow?’. Well, we at MATE are here to help you unravel the mysteries behind slow internet speeds in this crash course blog article. Let’s get started!

Understanding internet speeds 

Before we dive into the reasons why your internet might be slow, it’s crucial to have a basic understanding of internet speeds. When you take an internet speed test, you’re essentially measuring two main components: download speed and upload speed.

Download speed 

Download speed refers to how quickly data from the internet can be downloaded to your device. This is what affects your ability to stream videos, download files, load webpages, and more. If you ever find yourself asking, “Why is my download speed so slow?”, it could be because of several factors that we’ll get to in a moment.

Upload speed 

On the other hand, upload speed is how quickly data can be sent from your device to the internet. If you’re having trouble with video calls, uploading files, or posting content online, your uploading speed is likely the culprit.

Understanding nbn speed tiers: The key to optimal internet experience

As we navigate an increasingly digital world, a reliable and speedy internet connection has never been more critical. Whether you’re working from home, streaming your favourite show, or engaging in intense gaming sessions, your online experience hinges heavily on your internet connection speed. So, if you’ve ever found yourself asking, “why is my internet slow today?” It’s important to understand that your chosen nbn speed tier is a significant determining factor.

The National Broadband Network (NBN) in Australia provides various speed tiers, each designed to cater to different household sizes and internet usage requirements. Understanding these tiers and their capacities is crucial. It allows you to gauge the speeds you can expect and determine if your current plan aligns with your usage needs.

NBN 12 (Basic I) tier: The light usage solution

The NBN 12 (Basic I) tier offers up to 25 Mbps download speeds and up to 5 Mbps upload speeds. This tier is tailored for light usage, making it an ideal choice for 1-2 person households. It comfortably handles basic online activities like browsing, emailing, and standard-definition video streaming.

However, keep in mind that this tier may not suffice if you’re trying to stream HD content or engage in bandwidth-intensive activities. You may experience buffering or slower speeds due to the limitations of this speed tier. As such, you should manage your expectations and troubleshoot any speed-related issues accordingly.

NBN 25 (Basic II) tier: The light usage solution

The NBN 25 (Basic II) tier offers up to 25 Mbps download speeds and up to 10 Mbps upload speeds. This tier is tailored for light-to-moderate internet usage, making it an ideal choice for 2-4 person households. It comfortably handles online activities like social media, HD streaming, and gaming. 

However, keep in mind that this tier may not suffice if you’re trying to stream 4K content or have multiple people in the home gaming. This speed should work well for most activities and even with multiple people using the internet. However, it has its limits if you have multiple heavy internet users in the home.

NBN 50 (Standard) tier: Balancing speed and usage

With the NBN 50 (Standard) tier, you can expect up to 50 Mbps download speeds and up to 20 Mbps upload speeds. This tier is a popular choice among Australians and is suitable for small to mid-sized households with moderate to high internet usage.

The NBN 50 tier can comfortably handle multiple devices connecting simultaneously, supporting high-definition video streaming, online gaming, and video conferencing. But remember, the more devices connected and the more data-intensive activities you perform, the more strain it places on your bandwidth, which might cause slower speeds.

NBN 100 (Fast) tier: For high demand households

The NBN 100 (Fast) tier offers up to 100 Mbps download speeds and up to 20 or 40 Mbps upload speeds, depending on your specific plan. It’s designed to cater to large households or sharehouses, where multiple users are often online simultaneously.

This tier is ideal for superfast HD or 4K streaming, responsive online gaming, and smooth, high-quality video conferencing. It’s important to note that while this tier offers higher speeds, the actual speed you experience can still be influenced by factors like network congestion and the performance of your devices and WiFi setup.

NBN 250 (Superfast) tier: The speed powerhouse

Finally, the NBN 250 (Superfast) tier delivers up to 250 Mbps download speeds and up to 25 Mbps upload speeds. This tier is for ultra-heavy users who require exceptionally fast internet speeds for their demanding online activities.

Whether it’s multiple devices streaming 4K or 8K content simultaneously, competitive online gaming, or extensive large file downloads and uploads, the NBN 250 tier is designed to handle it all. But remember, to fully leverage this superfast speed, you need devices and a network setup that can handle such high speeds.

Why understanding nbn speed tiers matters

Recognising and understanding your NBN speed tier is a fundamental step in managing your internet performance. It allows you to set realistic expectations and troubleshoot any speed-related issues effectively. If your internet seems slow, it could be because the speed tier of your connection isn’t suitable for your usage needs.

For instance, if you are on the NBN 25 tier but often stream 4K content or use multiple devices at the same time, you are likely to experience slower speeds—because your internet usage exceeds what the tier can provide.

Conversely, if you have a superfast NBN 250 plan but only use the internet for light browsing and emailing, you might be paying for more speed than you need. In this case, downgrading to a lower tier could save you money without compromising your internet experience.

What speed tier can you get?

Another critical factor to consider when it comes to nbn speeds is the specific nbn technology your residence has access to. Depending on the infrastructure in your area, you might have access to one of several nbn technology types, including Fibre to the Node (FTTN), Fibre to the Premises (FTTP), or Fibre to the Curb (FTTC), among others.

For instance, if you have FTTN, your internet speed might be influenced by the distance from your residence to the node, which could impact the maximum speed achievable. In contrast, a FTTP connection, where the fibre optic cable reaches your premises, can support higher speed tiers, like the NBN 250, thanks to its superior technology.

Similarly, a FTTC connection, a hybrid of the FTTN and FTTP technologies, where the fibre reaches a mini-node close to your premises, can potentially support high-speed tiers like NBN NBN 100 or even NBN 250, depending on the quality and length of the copper line from the curb to your premises.

Common causes of slow internet

Several factors can contribute to slow internet speeds. Here are the most common ones:

Network congestion

Just like roads during rush hour, internet networks can get congested. If many people are using the same network at the same time, it can lead to slower speeds for everyone. This is especially noticeable during the internet ‘busy period’, which is typically between 7.00pm and 11.00pm daily. During these hours, a greater number of users are online, streaming, gaming, and video calling, all of which can put a significant strain on network resources.

In a shared household, you might notice that your internet slows down when multiple people are using the internet simultaneously. This is because all the devices connected to your network are sharing your connection’s bandwidth. If one device is using a large amount of bandwidth (for example, to stream a 4K movie), there might not be enough left for other devices, leading to slower speeds overall.

Type of connection: The nbn effect 

The type of internet connection you have can also significantly impact your connection speed. For instance, if you’re using an older technology like ADSL2+, your upload and download speeds will be linked, so when you max out one, the other gets throttled and slows significantly.

On the other hand, the National Broadband Network (NBN) provides various tiers of speeds, offering separate upload and download speeds. Depending on your plan, you might have an NBN 25, NBN 50, NBN 100, or even an NBN 250 connection. Each of these provides different maximum download and upload speeds, which should be sufficient for different usage scenarios. However, if your internet usage exceeds the capabilities of your plan (for example, if you’re trying to stream 4K video on an NBN 25 connection), you might experience slower speeds.

Distance from router

Your physical location within your own home or office can also significantly influence your internet speeds, particularly when considering your distance from the router.

Modern technology has made it incredibly convenient for us to connect to the internet wirelessly, thanks to WiFi. This technology allows us to access the internet from our phones, laptops, gaming consoles, and other devices without needing a physical wired connection. However, like any technology, WiFi has its own set of limitations—one of them being the range and strength of the signal.

In simple terms, the further your device is from the WiFi router, the weaker the signal strength. This weakening is due to the nature of WiFi signals, which degrade over distance and through obstacles. With this in mind, it’s important to consider your WiFi setup. For example, if your router is hidden away in a corner, or if there are many walls or objects between your router and your wireless devices, this may be the culprit of a slow connection.

Network outages and line faults

Network outages and line faults can cause significant disruptions to your internet connection. If there’s an issue with the infrastructure that delivers the internet to your home, it can lead to slow speeds or even a complete loss of connectivity. If you suspect that this might be the case, it’s a good idea to check with your internet service provider for any reported outages or known issues affecting your area.

Hardware and software issues

Your hardware (like your router or modem) and software (like your operating system or applications) can also significantly impact your internet speed. Outdated hardware may not be able to handle higher internet speeds. Similarly, outdated or buggy software might not be optimised for your connection, leading to a slower internet experience. Therefore, it’s a good idea to regularly update your devices and software.

The speed of your internet connection can also be affected by applications running in the background on your device. These applications could be using up bandwidth without you even realising it. Regularly checking for and closing unnecessary applications can help ensure that your bandwidth is being used efficiently.

Device performance

Finally, the performance of your individual devices can affect your internet speed. Older devices may not be able to process data as quickly as newer ones, leading to slower loading times. This could be the case if you’ve noticed that your internet seems slow on one device but not on others.

Your device’s performance can also be impacted by the number of applications or processes it’s running. If your device is trying to do too many things at once, it might not have enough resources to load webpages or stream videos quickly.

Diagnosing and improving your internet speed

Now that we’ve covered the common causes of slow internet, let’s look at some steps you can take to diagnose and improve your internet speed. These steps can help you get the most out of your connection, whether you’re dealing with slow speeds on a single device or on your entire network.

1. Conduct a speed test

The first step in diagnosing slow internet is to conduct a speed test. This will give you a snapshot of your current download and upload speeds, allowing you to compare them with the speeds you should be getting based on your internet plan.

When conducting a speed test, be sure to turn off any other activities or applications that might be using up your bandwidth. This will give you a more accurate picture of your internet speed when it’s not being used for anything else.

If your speed test results are significantly lower than the speeds you’re supposed to be getting, it could indicate an issue with your internet connection. On the other hand, if your speeds are as advertised but your internet still feels slow, the issue might be with your device or your network setup.

2. Check your devices

If your internet is slow only on one device, the issue might be with that device rather than your internet connection. Here are a few things you can check:

• Check for any applications running in the background that might be using up bandwidth. These could be things like updates, cloud storage syncs, or streaming services.
• Make sure your device’s operating system and applications are up to date. Outdated software can often cause performance issues.
• If your device is older, it might not be able to handle higher internet speeds. In this case, you might need to consider upgrading your device.

3. Check your network setup

If your internet is slow on all your devices, the issue might be with your network setup. Here are a few things you can check:

• Check your router’s location. If your router is tucked away in a corner, it might not be providing a strong signal to your devices. Try to place your router in a central location in your home, and keep it away from any obstacles that could interfere with the signal.
• Check your WiFi channels. Other devices in your home, like cordless phones and microwaves, can interfere with your WiFi signal. You might be able to improve your internet speed by changing your WiFi channel.
• If possible, consider connecting your devices to your router using an ethernet cable instead of WiFi. A wired connection is often faster and more reliable than a wireless one.

4. Consider your internet plan

If you’ve checked your devices and network setup and you’re still experiencing slow speeds, it might be time to consider your internet plan. If your current plan doesn’t provide enough bandwidth for your needs, you might need to upgrade to a higher tier.

Consider how you use the internet. If you’re frequently streaming videos, playing online games, or working from home, you might benefit from a plan with higher speeds. At MATE, we offer a range of unlimited data nbn plans to suit different needs, from casual browsing to heavy internet usage. We’re always happy to help you find the right plan for you.

Improving wireless coverage

For an in-depth guide on how to speed up your internet without touching your modem, check out our previous MATE blog here for 5 ways you can boost your internet speed without fiddling with your hardware.

Frequently asked questions