ADSL internet providers and alternatives

Can you still get ADSL in Australia?

ADSL and ADSL2+ still exist in Australia, but only in pretty limited situations. As the NBN completed its rollout, copper connections were scheduled to be cut off 18 months later. The last of those copper connections were due to be cut off in June 2022.

However, anywhere where a fixed-line NBN connection wasn't made, ADSL copper line connections were left undisturbed. With the NBN rollout basically finished now, the remaining copper lines are mostly in rural Australia. If you're not in one of those areas, your provider should have already switched you over to an NBN service by this point.

Alternatives to ADSL internet

For most Australians, the replacement to ADSL was fixed-line NBN, which is faster and more reliable. However, if you still have ADSL at your place, then you're probably not able to get a fixed-line connection. In that case, you have 3 alternatives - fixed wireless, Sky Muster or home wireless.

Fixed wireless vs ADSL

Fixed wireless is one of the NBN's technologies made for rural Australia. Fixed wireless sees the internet broadcast out via radio waves, then picked up by an antenna that's installed on your roof. Despite radio waves feeling a little old-school, fixed wireless can be a lot faster than ADSL.

• Speed: Up to 100Mbps on a Fixed Wireless Plus plan, rising to 250Mbps or 400Mbps in upgraded areas on the Home Fast and Superfast tiers (compared to the ADSL2+ maximum 25Mbps).
• Price: Starting around $50 a month, up to around $125 for high speed plans.
• Providers: Fixed wireless is available from most of the usual NBN providers.

Sky Muster vs ADSL

Sky Muster is the NBN satellite internet technology, literally beaming down memes from space. It's not a terrible tech these days, with decent speeds and unlimited data caps available on plans costing around $100 a month. It's not cheap, but it's a nice experience to not count your gigabytes.

Sky Muster requires the installation of a dish at your home, but the cost will be covered by NBN co, which is cool. There are other satellite internet providers, namely Starlink, which offer higher speeds, but they're also a lot more expensive, including several hundred dollars for a satellite dish.

• Speed: Generally up to 50Mbps (compared to the ADSL2+ maximum 25Mbps).
• Price: From around $40 to $120 a month, based on speed and download limits.
• Providers: Sky Muster is available from a few providers, including Activ8me and Southern Phone.

Home Wireless vs ADSL

Home wireless is a non-NBN technology that's now a very viable alternative to fixed-line NBN, as well as ADSL connections. It uses the same 4G and 5G services that your mobile phone uses, which offer the same data speeds that many fibre connections do.

The catch is that you need good coverage where you live to get service. Providers won't even send you a modem to try it unless you pass their fairly high standards for coverage. This means it's going to mostly be limited to regional cities, as opposed to truly rural Aussies.

• Speed: Generally up to 100Mbps, up to 300Mbps on the Telstra network (compared to the ADSL2+ maximum 25Mbps).
• Price: From around $45 to $100 a month, based on speed and download limits.
• Providers: Home Wireless is offered by the mobile telcos, including Optus, Vodafone, Telstra and resellers.

"The last time I had ADSL internet was when I lived in rural South Australia. It cost me $60 a month with the phone, but I was also charged a $299 setup fee and a break of contract fee. All for just 250GB a month and a speed of less than 25Mbps. I now pay $100 a month for an unlimited 500Mbps NBN connection, with no lock-in contract or setup fees. ADSL was super important when I had no other option, but it's NBN all the way these days."

Tim Bennett

Insurance expert

Who still sells ADSL in Australia?

There are very few ADSL providers remaining in Australia. Some of the smaller telcos that still offer ASDL in a limited number of areas include the following:

Note that even among those providers, Telstra is the only one we've found that seems to offer plans to new customers. Even then, you have to call to order.

Larger telcos including Optus, TPG, iiNet and Vodafone offered ADSL connections in the past, but they are no longer accepting new customers.

Frequently asked questions

• What is ADSL internet?

  ADSL or Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line is a type of cable internet technology that allows you to make phone calls and use the internet over a single copper line.

  It replaced "internet via dial-up telephone lines" and in turn has largely been replaced by faster NBN or wireless connections.

• Is ADSL fast?

  No, not compared to new technologies like NBN and home wireless. Even ADSL2+, which was the fastest ADSL type, is considered slow today.

• Is ADSL better than the NBN?

  No, ADSL is an older technology type that cannot compete with the speed of NBN. Because it's no longer widely available, ADSL costs have gone up too.

  It replaced "internet via dial-up telephone lines" and in turn has largely been replaced by faster NBN or wireless connections.

• Is ADSL fast enough for Netflix?

  Yes, an ADSL2+ connection should be able to deliver standard and high-definition Netflix streaming. According to Netflix, a minimum of 1Mbps is recommended for standard definition, 3–5Mbps for high definition and 15Mbps minimum for 4K/Ultra HD.

  That said, it won't be as good a streaming experience as any of the NBN technologies. You'll probably get more frequent drop outs and lower bitrates on ADSL than the NBN. Netflix recommends a faster connection for improved video quality.

• How much is ADSL?

  Depending on whether you're in what's considered a metro or regional area, ADSL2+ prices differ. In a metro area, you can expect to pay between $60–$80 per month.

  Regional prices start at $80 and can go over $100.

  With an introductory NBN deal, you can expect to pay around $50–60 a month, then $70 a month.

• Does naked DSL still exist in Australia?

  There are no providers on Finder currently offering naked DSL plans.

  Naked DSL was a type of connection that allowed you to connect to the internet without also having a phone service.

  It was a cheaper type of connection, so people who didn't need a phone line didn't have to pay for one.

Written by

Tim Bennett

Insurance expert

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A seasoned journalist with over 10 years of experience in news, politics and finance reporting, Tim has previously held roles at the ABC, SBS and Fairfax Media. Tim’s expert insights have been quoted in The Australian, The Daily Telegraph, The Courier Mail and more. He regularly appears on TV and radio, and has been interviewed on 7 News, Sunrise, SBS News, ABC Local, 3AW and 5AA. Tim is passionate about simplifying complex insurance topics for Australian consumers. He holds a Bachelor of Arts (Politics) from Macquarie University and a Tier 1 General Insurance (General Advice) certification, which meets the requirements of ASIC Regulatory Guide 146 (RG146). If you’re interested in a media interview with Tim, please reach out to our PR team at aupr@finder.com. See full bio

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