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While the NBN is the "norm" for connecting to the Internet, other options do exist if you're unhappy with your connection or just want to avoid the NBN altogether.
Home wireless broadband is one of the best alternatives to the NBN, offering similar speeds at reasonable prices.
Home wireless broadband connects you to the Internet via existing 4G and 5G mobile networks. All you need for it to work is:
 
By placing the modem in one spot with a good signal, you'll get a more consistent connection than you would on mobile broadband.
There is no single best plan that works for everyone, but there are 3 main factors to consider when you pick a plan.
Unlike NBN plans, most home wireless plans have data caps. Consider how much data you're likely to use in a month.
As a guide, the average Australian uses 258GB of data per month. If you're a heavy streamer, you might want to get more data just in case.
Your speed on a home wireless plan is likely to vary depending on the strength of your connection.
Most home wireless plans use Optus's mobile network, but iiNet is on Vodafone and offers less coverage in rural and regional areas.
If you're looking to get a 5G home wireless plan, you'll also need to check whether you're in Optus's 5G footprint or not.
Home wireless broadband has the advantage of being quick to set up, and one of the most reliable alternatives to fixed-line Internet.
In the case of the NBN, all NBN technologies except for fixed wireless and satellite work through fixed lines.
However, a mobile network is completely wireless.
Here's a summary of the pros and cons:
One of the best features of home wireless is that you can get it up and running within minutes of getting your modem, with little to no extra configuration required.
4G home wireless is also available at mostly the same quality everywhere. However, those with NBN connections will have to take what they can get.
The biggest drawback to home wireless versus fixed-line Internet is how variable your connection can be.
No matter how perfectly you position your modem, mobile networks are prone to interference from weather and congestion.
Fixed-line Internet, on the other hand, is usually only interrupted by network faults and heavy congestion and tends to be more stable.
 
By its nature, home wireless is a mobile Internet connection. No matter how fast your download speeds are, it's unlikely you'll get a low, stable latency, which is very important for online multiplayer games.
Even on 5G home wireless, plenty of gamers report lag spikes and an unplayable experience compared to a fixed-line connection.
Yes, there are a handful of unlimited home wireless plans available from iiNet, SpinTel and Optus.
iiNet is currently the only provider to offer unlimited 3G/4G home wireless, which is more accessible.
Optus and SpinTel only offer unlimited home wireless broadband on Optus's 5G network. You'll need to verify your address with both providers to make sure you're within the coverage area.
The majority of home wireless providers offer data-capped plans, ranging from 200-500GB a month.
 
It's worth making sure your plan has enough data for your household, or else you'll find that these extra blocks add up fast.
Coverage is split into 2 kinds: 4G and 5G.
The majority of home wireless providers use the Optus 4G network, which covers 98.5% of the population.
iiNet uses the Vodafone network which covers 96% of the population and may provide worse coverage in rural and regional towns.
Currently, 5G home wireless plans are only accessible through the Optus 5G network.
They are only available in major cities and other urban centres, but expansion plans across Australia are ongoing.
You can check your address on Optus's site to see if you're eligible for 5G wireless.
No, not really. The NBN rollout was declared "complete" in December 2020, meaning nearly every property in Australia has access to it.
Mobile networks are available to nearly all Australian homes too, meaning they have about equal coverage.
Home wireless plans are not widely offered. Here are some of the main providers:
Optus has both 4G and 5G home wireless options available to customers in covered areas.
Telstra's home wireless plans are 5G only, but they aren't available to the general public quite yet. The initial trial of the service has operated on an invite-only basis.
Vodafone has a set of 4G home wireless plans, but they're available in "selected areas of Australia at approved addresses only".
You'll have to call up Vodafone's support team to see if you're eligible for one of its plans.
SpinTel has both 4G and 5G home wireless plans available on the Optus network. It's the first smaller provider to sell 5G home wireless.
iiNet has only a single home wireless plan, which uses the Vodafone mobile network.
The best home wireless plan will depend on your needs. This will vary depending on how much data you're looking for, what kind of speeds you're after and what your budget is.
You can check out our latest expert picks for the best Internet plans, which includes the best home wireless plan, here.
So long as you don't get a plan that's speed-capped at 12Mbps, home wireless can give NBN plans up to NBN 50 (or NBN 100 or NBN 250 if you get 5G) a run for their money.
Home wireless is a great alternative if you can't get good fixed-line Internet or need a temporary solution.
The main downside of home wireless is that it usually comes with data caps, and is generally less reliable because it depends on mobile networks.
Also, home wireless tends to perform poorly if you play multiplayer games online due to instability in latency.
Home wireless is a less portable but more reliable version of mobile broadband.
Home wireless modems are larger and require a constant power source to work, whereas mobile broadband works with a variety of different devices (portable modems, mobile phones, laptops, tablets and more).
Mobile broadband also tends to be more expensive per bit of monthly data, in exchange for portability and flexibility.
Most providers will make you buy their specific home wireless modem when you purchase a plan, or provide it as part of their set-up costs.
SpinTel's modems are available as rentals, where you pay a certain monthly fee for them and have to return them if you cancel your plan.
It's rare that you will be able to use an existing modem with a new home wireless plan.
One of the main advantages of home wireless broadband is how easy it is to set up. You'll be provided specific instructions from your provider, but here's the gist of it:
Yes, to an extent. Your home wireless modem should work anywhere you get coverage, but it may be a little difficult to carry around and will need a power outlet to function.
This depends on how much data you need, and what you'll be using the Internet for.
Assuming you're in an area with 5G coverage, you'll benefit from much higher average speeds for an extra chunk of money each month.
If you have modest Internet needs, you're probably better off going for a cheaper 4G plan, instead.
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Sam Baran is a writer for Finder, covering topics across the tech, telco and utilities sectors. They enjoy decrypting technical jargon and helping people compare complex products easily. When they aren't writing, you'll find Sam's head buried in a book or working on their latest short story. Sam has a Bachelor of Advanced Science from the University of Sydney.
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