Every quarter, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) speed tests NBN connections from the top 11 providers. It measures speeds for all hours of the day including the crucial peak period (7–11pm) when most people are online.
The results in the ACCC Measuring Broadband report come from a month-long test period.
For its most recent report in December 2023, the testing period took place during September 2023. Around 449,505 download speed tests were performed across 1,313 fixed-line NBN services.
Users attained an average download performance of 100.4% of plan speed during all hours. This decreased to 98.8% during busy hours (between 7pm and 11pm), when networks experience higher activity.
These results are ever so slightly higher than the previous report from September 2023, where the corresponding figures were 100.1% of plan speed during all hours and 98.5% during busy hours.
What's changed in the latest ACCC report?
Overall the results in the latest December report were a fraction better than those in the September report. The average download performance for users was 98.5% of plan speed during the busiest hours in September, now improving to 98.8% during busy hours in December.
Vodafone was the biggest improver in this report, moving from 11th to 7th, with its percentage of plan speed during busy hours increasing from 96.1% to 98.1%. Superloop is the lowest-ranking provider, delivering 96.9% of plan speeds during peak hours. It dropped from 9th in the September 2023 report to 11th in the December 2023 report.
For the most part there was a shake-up of the placings for performance during busy hours compared to the September 2023 report. Launtel held strong at the top, while Optus was steady at number 4. Telstra, Dodo, iPrimus, Vodafone and iiNet gained in the rankings, but Exetel, TPG, Aussie Broadband and Superloop fell.
The gap has closed between the lowest-performing and highest-performing NBN providers during busy hours. In the December 2023 report, the difference was 6.9 percentage points (Launtel's 103.8% vs Superloop's 96.9%) compared to September 2023, where the difference was 9.4 percentage points (Launtel's 105.5% vs Vodafone's 96.1%).
You can see the historical data of the 5 top-performing NBN providers below. Keep in mind that Launtel was not included in reports prior to 2022.
Is the fastest NBN provider also the best?
Not necessarily. While having a fast and reliable connection will be a factor to consider when choosing NBN plans, there will be other things you need to look at like price, data limits, added extras and more. You can check out our top picks for the best NBN plans to decide what might be right for you.
But if it's speed reliability that you're after, the ACCC's quarterly report is about as official as you can get for a seal of approval. We've broken down the 5 top-performing providers from the December 2023 report to see what they've got to offer.
1. Launtel's fastest NBN plans
Launtel maintains the top spot in December 2023 during busy periods. It's now the fourth time in the 5 most recent ACCC Broadband Performance reports that it has been number 1.
Launtel offers plans with typical evening speeds between 95Mbps and 600Mbps. Launtel also offers:
Per day pricing. Unlike other providers that offer monthly pricing, Launtel does it per day (we've calculated the approximate monthly prices in our tables to make comparing a bit easier). This allows you to switch between speed tiers daily, should you wish to.
First week free. Your first 7 days are at no charge when you sign up.
The option to BYO modem. Or you can call Launtel to ask what modem it suggests will work best for you.
Are you happy with your internet speed?
45% of Australians are somewhat satisfied with their broadband speeds, according to our Consumer Sentiment Tracker (November 2023). Tasmanians had the highest number of people very satisfied with their internet speed (32%). Somewhat surprisingly, 29% of people in regional locations were extremely satisfied with their internet speeds compared to only 25% in metro areas.
We update our data regularly, but information can change between updates. Confirm details with the provider you're interested in before making a decision.
A solid performer in ACCC's Broadband Performance reports, Telstra has made it back into the top 2 for the first time since the April 2021 report. For the December 2023 report, it has delivered over 100% of its maximum plan speed during peak hours for the second time, with 101%.
Telstra has NBN plans with typical evening speeds between 25Mbps and 700Mbps. Telstra also offers:
Rewards. You can earn Telstra Plus reward points to spend on things like movie tickets, tech and more.
Free home phone line. Telstra plans come with a home phone line at no extra cost, which includes unlimited calls to Australian mobiles and standard lines.
Free streaming. Depending on your NBN plan and whether you're a new customer to certain services, you could be eligible for free access to streaming services such as BINGE and Spotify.
We update our data regularly, but information can change between updates. Confirm details with the provider you're interested in before making a decision.
Exetel is now third in the December 2023 report by the barest of margins – 0.1%. It still gets full marks though for its speeds during all hours of the day and during the peak period, hitting 100.9% during busy hours of the day.
Exetel offers plans with typical evening speeds that range from 25–400Mbps. Exetel also offers:
Speed boosts. Certain plans allow you to temporarily boost your NBN speed for 5 days each month.
Free Home Secure trial. 2-month free trial of Exetel's Home Secure, which offers cybersecurity and parental control.
Bundle and save. You can bundle additional eligible Exetel services such as a mobile SIM plan or a home phone plan with your NBN service and get a discount.
After struggling with slow NBN speeds for months, I decided to switch to Exetel after seeing their consistent high results in the ACCC Broadband Report. Turns out they've topped the report for a reason - after switching, I was no longer buffering on video calls, and my internet speed test results were close to the advertised typical download speed.
We update our data regularly, but information can change between updates. Confirm details with the provider you're interested in before making a decision.
In the December 2023 report, Optus held at fourth. It improved its performance though, as it delivered 100.6% of maximum plan speeds during busy hours, a minor increase on 100.2% from the September report.
Optus offers NBN plans with typical evening speeds between 25Mbps and 600Mbps. Optus also comes with:
4G back-up. Optus NBN plans come with the option of a 4G back-up modem, which is handy in case there's an outage.
Entertainment savings. Through Optus SubHub, you can bundle subscriptions to services such as Netflix and Prime Video to get a discount. Optus subscribers also get a discount to Optus Sport, which has exclusive access to the English Premier League and other football leagues.
We update our data regularly, but information can change between updates. Confirm details with the provider you're interested in before making a decision.
Dodo and iPrimus make it back into the top 5 in the December 2023 report. This is the first time it has been there since the December 2021 report. It was found to have delivered 98.7% of plan speed during busy hours, which is its highest ever figure.
Dodo offers NBN plans with typical evening speeds between 15Mbps and 200Mbps. Dodo also features:
Sign-up bonuses. Dodo frequently has sign-up bonuses for new customers, including a discount on your NBN plan or modem if you purchase one through it.
Bundle discount. You can save up to $10 a month when you bundle your NBN plan with a Dodo energy plan.
iPrimus has NBN plans with typical evening speeds that range from 25–350Mbps. iPrimus also comes with:
Free modem. A free Wi-Fi modem comes with every iPrimus NBN plan and it will cover the cost if you stay connected for 12 months.
Home phone included. A pay as you go home phone is included with each NBN plan. You can choose to add a call pack for $10 a month extra.
We update our data regularly, but information can change between updates. Confirm details with the provider you're interested in before making a decision.
We update our data regularly, but information can change between updates. Confirm details with the provider you're interested in before making a decision.
If you want a faster and more reliable NBN experience, you can easily find what's available at your location. Just put your address in below and you can see what connections are available at your residence.
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Frequently asked questions
According to the latest Measuring Broadband Australia report from December 2023, the fastest internet provider in Australia is Launtel. It achieved 103.8% of its advertised maximum speeds during peak hours.
The best NBN provider will depend on what you're after in terms of speed, price and plan features. You can find our top picks for the best NBN plans in Australia in our guide.
The fastest NBN speed tier in Australia is NBN 1000, also known as "Ultrafast". This would mostly suit small businesses, but of course your household could very well have a need for the fastest speeds available so choose what works best for you.
On Finder, the fastest NBN plan is Bendigo Telco's NBN UltraFast plan with a typical evening speed of 850Mbps.
There is currently no other internet plan in Australia that offers faster speeds than an NBN 1000 plan.
Your best alternative to the NBN for fast speeds would be a 5G home internet plan. You can expect speeds of 200–300Mbps on uncapped plans.
Keep in mind that 5G coverage isn't widely available in Australia yet so you may not be able to access it until it's rolled out in your location.
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Your need for speed could be met at no additional cost to you.
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Get the cheapest NBN 100 deal that's available on Finder.
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It's time to sort out your NBN plan for the new year.
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SPONSORED: Upgrade your internet before the end of 2023 and get ahead on your life admin! We take a look at some of the benefits of a faster internet connection.
Mark Neilsen is a writer at Finder, specialising in streaming, broadband and mobile. He looks for deals on all those services and keeps you abreast of any changes to see what's worth it for you. He has over 20 years' experience in print and digital media and while at Finder, Mark’s expertise has been featured in Yahoo Finance, The New Daily, Ad News, Tech Guide and news.com.au. In his time at Finder he has done over 300 articles on streaming, mobile and broadband. In his time away from Finder he is trying to get through the watchlists of the 11 streaming services he is currently subscribed to.
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