Upload speeds are talked about way less than download speeds, but they're still important for a range of online activities. Things like conferencing, video uploads and more are often part of our daily lives.
Whether you're looking for a fix for your slow connection or simply want to know if your upload speed is up to scratch, we'll explain what a good upload speed is and what you can do to improve yours.
Upload speed is how quickly you can send files or information to another server or device on the Internet, measured in Mbps. It is usually much lower than your download speed, where you're downloading information from the Internet, instead.
The easiest way to check your upload speed is by running an Internet speed test. It works by selecting a server that's close to you, then determining how quickly your connection can send and receive data from that server.
You can use the upload speed number from the test to get a sense of how well your Internet connection is performing, as we'll explain in the next section.
What counts as a good upload speed will depend on what you're trying to do with your connection, as well as how many people are online. Each NBN speed tier has a maximum upload speed, but your actual upload speed will be a little lower than that.
Here's how each speed tier would go uploading a 1GB file at max speed:
| Speed tier | Maximum upload speed | Time to upload a 1GB file |
|---|---|---|
| Basic I (NBN12) | 1Mbps | 2 hrs 13 mins |
| Basic II (NBN25) | 5Mbps | 26 mins 40 secs |
| Standard (NBN50) | 20Mbps | 6 mins 40 secs |
| Premium (NBN100) | 40Mbps | 3 mins 20 secs |
| Superfast (NBN250) | 25Mbps* | 5 mins 20 secs |
| Ultrafast (NBN1000) | 50Mbps* | 2 mins 40 secs |
*The upload speeds listed for Superfast and Ultrafast are the default speeds available, but faster upload speeds are available on these speed tiers.
If you know what speed tier your NBN plan is on, then great! Simply compare the upload speed you go in our speed test to the maximum speed in the table above, and see how big the difference is. For example, if you're on an NBN 50 plan, your upload speed should hopefully be around 15-20Mbps. This would mean your connection is actually delivering the promised speeds (remember, the speeds in the tables are maximums, so speeds a little lower are to be expected).
If you're not sure what speed tier your NBN plan is on, you can either check your most recent Internet bill where your speed tier should be stated, or you can guess your speed tier based on your download speed and whether it's close to 25Mbps (you'd likely be on NBN 25), 50Mbps (NBN 50) and so on. Obviously, we'd recommend you using the first method to check as it's more accurate.
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.
If you're like most people, your biggest upload demands will be things like videos for social media, video conferencing, or perhaps uploading files for work or to share with friends. It may surprise you, but an upload speed of 5Mbps should be plenty for all of these activities, so an NBN25 plan should suit you fine.
There are a few cases where you might consider a beefier speed tier like NBN50 or even NBN100, such as:
There are plenty of reasons why your upload speed might be slow. Here are the major ones:
Network congestion
The more people using the network at once, the slower it runs for everyone. If you're using the Internet at a busy time, both your downloads and uploads may slow down significantly. Australia's busiest time is 7pm-11pm.
Connection Type
The type of NBN connection you have will affect your maximum upload speeds. The more copper cable there is in your connection, the worse it will be. Fibre to the Node is usually unreliable, while Fibre to the Premises is the best you can get. You won't get faster than NBN25 speeds on Fixed Wireless or Satellite.
Provider and plan
Not all providers offer the same quality of connection. While providers don't have typical evening benchmarks for upload speeds like they do for downloads, you'll find that good uploads usually go hand-in-hand with good download performance.
Wi-Fi and hardware
A poor or unstable Wi-Fi connection can slow down your connection significantly. Old or outdated hardware may be unable to process signals properly.
These connection types rely upon older technology and are limited to about 2Mbps maximum upload speed. There really is no way to fix this, as it's a limit of the technology itself.
Your best option for improving your upload speed would be to switch to an NBN plan should it become available, or invest in mobile broadband or home wireless, which may deliver a better upload speed.
If you're experiencing slow upload speeds and want some in-depth advice, you can check out our guide to fixing slow NBN speeds. These are some quick tips for you to try:
Providers usually publish their plans' typical evening speeds for downloads, but they don't do the same for uploads.
The best way to approach this is to know what speed tier you want (one higher if you think your tier is too low) or selecting a provider with faster evening speeds. Remember your results from the speed test above? Check out what your download speed clocked in at - that's the evening speed you'd want to beat. Good download performance usually translates into good upload performance, too.
Upload speed is only really important for a few activities. All but the most demanding won't require particularly high upload speeds, but you may find that you need them for:
Upload speeds for streaming depend upon your video quality and your streaming platform. Remember that the below numbers are general guides, and consistency is important – you may want to invest in higher average upload speeds to make sure your stream is stable.
Icons made by Smashicons & Freepik from www.flaticon.com
Elon Musk’s Starlink promises to bring high-speed, satellite-based internet Australia-wide.
Figure out how much your Zoom calls are eating up and how you can use less data.
If you're suffering from slow download speeds or choppy Netflix streams, Internet congestion may be to blame.
Trying to decide between VDSL and NBN? Here’s what you need to consider.
Not on the NBN? The OptiComm network also offers high-speed internet to select Australians.
You don't have to cheap out to save money on your broadband.
Inspired Broadband ADSL plans actually help make the world a better place, while also providing affordable access to broadband internet.
Stop getting charged for going over the limit. Avoid getting your speeds slowed down with these unlimited Internet plans.
NBN wholesaler nbnco offers four NBN speed tiers to ISPs, which dictates how fast your Internet connection will be, and here's how to choose the best plan.
What ISP or solution can I approach in order to gain the highest and consistent upload performance. Our business is NBN ready but we are prepared to look at other options if NBN is limited, which it seems that it is?
Hi Mal,
It’s hard to say as it depends on your location and how much bandwidth the ISPs that service that area have bought from NBN with respect to the number of customers they have.
There are a few ISPs, like Aussie Broadband, that are transparent with this information and provide real-time data of demand vs bandwidth in your area. Perhaps you should start by taking a look through those first to see if it gives you the confidence you need to make a purchase.
Cheers
Chris