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5G home internet connects to nearby mobile towers to deliver internet to your home. Instead of connecting directly via mobile devices, you use a 5G modem and then connect to the internet via that.
While there are theoretical speeds for 5G that vary from 1000Mbps and up, most 5G home internet plans have their download speed capped at 50Mbps or 100Mbps. There are a few uncapped plans, which have download speeds that range from 225-240Mbps.
We've outlined the different speeds available from 5G home internet providers below.
| Provider | Speed description |
|---|---|
| Telstra | No speed caps |
| Optus | Capped at 50Mbps and 100Mbps, also plan with no speed caps available |
| Vodafone | Capped at 50Mbps and 100Mbps |
| TPG | Capped at 50Mbps and 100Mbps |
| iiNet | Capped at 50Mbps and 100Mbps |
| SpinTel | No speed caps |
| Westnet | Capped at 50Mbps and 100Mbps |
| Internode | Capped at 50Mbps and 100Mbps |
| Yomojo | Capped at 50Mbps and 100Mbps, also plan with no speed caps available |
The fastest 5G home internet plan on offer is Telstra's, which has an average download speed of 336Mbps. Keep in mind though, Telstra says the speed on its plan ranges from 50–600Mbps overall, so you might not always achieve the average download speed.
While varying speeds are a factor in all internet connections, it's especially the case with 5G home internet. Speed can be affected by things such as:
There are only 9 5G home internet providers currently in Australia, but that will likely change as coverage of the network expands throughout the country:
Telstra is the biggest player in 5G home internet. It claims to have 5G in selected areas of more than 400 cities and regional towns across Australia, which is more than any other network. It offers just one plan.
The Telstra 5G home modem comes free with the plan, but if you cancel before 24 months, then you'll have to return the modem in "good working order" within 21 days to avoid a non-return fee. This fee is worked out as $29 multiplied by the number of months remaining. That's a maximum of $696.
The modem is free if you stay with Optus for 36 months, or up to $576 separately. If you leave early, you'll need to pay $16 multiplied by how many months you have remaining on the plan.
Vodafone also has 2 plans, each with a $5 monthly discount if you already have a phone plan with the company.
The modem is free as long as you stick around for 36 months. Otherwise, you'll either need to return the modem in "good working order" or pay $17 per month for the remaining period (which adds up to a max cost of $612).
TPG offers 2 plans similar to Vodafone, which is not surprising considering they are owned by the same parent company. However, TPG's plans are slightly cheaper.
Like Vodafone (which is owned by TPG), the modem is free if you stay connected for more than 36 months, or returned in "good working condition" when you leave the provider. Otherwise, it's $17 a month for the rest of the remaining months (max cost $612).
SpinTel has 3 5G home internet plan options, all of which have unlimited data and 3-month introductory deals. What differs is the how much you pay and the plan speed.
Unlike other providers, SpinTel actually rents its 5G modem to you for a small monthly fee ($4 a month). But if you leave, you'll need to return it in "good working order" within 21 days or pay $935. That technically makes SpinTel's 5G modem the most expensive.
iiNet and subsidiaries Internode and Westnet each offer the same 2 5G home broadband plans.
Like most providers, the 5G home broadband modem comes free with the plan but you'll need to return it in "good working order" if you leave within the first 36 months. If not, you'll need to pay out $17 multiplied by the number of months remaining. The maximum cost of the modem is $612.
Yomojo offers 3 options when it comes to 5G home internet.
Unlike other 5G home wireless providers, you have to pay for the modem upfront with Yomojo. They don't have any plan where you can get it free if you stay connected for a certain period of time. That means you're up for an extra $820 in your first month to cover the cost of the modem in addition to your monthly fee.
Technically, the coverage map for 5G home internet should be similar to the 5G mobile coverage map, but this isn't always the case.
To see if you can access a 5G home internet plan, you'd need to see if you are in the coverage area. The best way to go about this is to type in your address on a provider's website. You should be given confirmation to continue signing up if you can access 5G home internet at your address.
New areas are being added all the time and some providers will allow you to sign up for notifications for when it becomes available at your address.
Yes, 5G should suffice for most users for home internet usage. At a maximum download speed of 50Mbps, that would suit a household with 2 to 3 people or devices online at the same time.
You can undertake common activities on the internet such as browsing, emailing, using social media and streaming HD video.
There are also a few 5G home internet plans available at a maximum download speed of 100Mbps. This would be suitable for a household with 3-5 people or devices online at the same time. You would be able to do more streaming in 4K at this speed without too many issues.
As the 5G network is still rolling out around the country, you may not be able to get 5G home internet even if you want to.
If you want to connect to the internet wirelessly, you could look at getting a 4G home internet connection. It is more readily available as the 4G network is accessible to over 95% of the population.
Another alternative to 5G home internet is to connect to the NBN. This is more widely available than 5G, available to over 12 million premises in Australia.
If you're unable to get a fixed line NBN connection, there might be an option for you to connect via NBN fixed wireless or NBN satellite.
If 5G home internet is available in your area and offers enough speed for your needs, then you can use it as a replacement for the NBN.
However, it's unlikely to be rolled out at such a scale to replace the NBN for everyone in the country.
5G home internet doesn't come with a home phone, so keep that in mind if a home phone is important to you. A lot of NBN plans allow you to add a phone line.
5G home internet plans work out to be cheaper than NBN plans based on cost relative to speed. The average cost of a 5G home internet plan in Finder's database is $70 a month.
As most 5G home internet plans have download speeds of either 50Mbps or 100Mbps, this compares favourably to the average cost of fixed line NBN plans in Finder's database. For NBN 50 plans (maximum download speed of 50Mbps) the average is $72 a month, while for NBN 100 (100Mbps) it's $90 a month.
5G internet is also less readily available than the NBN. Presently the 5G rollout is concentrated around the capital cities and other high population areas. There are big gaps in its coverage, whereas an NBN connection would be more accessible to most people.
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