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NewsThe Goldilocks rule: why NBN 50 plans are just right
The Goldilocks rule: why NBN 50 plans are just right

The Goldilocks rule: why NBN 50 plans are just right

Tags: Telco & Broadband
Last updated by Joe Hanlon on

Choosing an NBN plan can seem like a minefield of jargon.. We all want NBN that works well but doesn't cost a fortune each month. Happily, like Goldilocks found when she pilfered porridge, there is a sweet spot and it tends to be right in the middle. 

Firstly, a bit of jargon-busting. NBN plans are divided by numbered speed tiers, and these speeds are measured in Megabits per second (Mbps). The options from slowest to fastest are NBN 12, NBN 25, NBN 50 and NBN 100, and plan pricing follows; where NBN 12 plans are cheapest and NBN 100 plans are the most expensive.

Megabits per second is a pretty useless measurement for most of us, but as a point of reference, current ADSL2 services deliver speeds of around 5 to 10Mbps, meaning the slowest NBN plan isn't much faster, but NBN 50 and 100 are a huge improvement.

From recent comments made by NBN Co, the team is aware that one of the major reasons people are dissatisfied with the NBN is that a whopping 80 percent of NBN customers so far have chosen one of the slowest plans. To address this, NBN Co reduced the wholesale price of the faster plans in December, and we're finally seeing these discounts trickling down to the prices offered by the service providers.

Now, for just $10 per month, you can step up from the slowest option to a service that is over four-times as fast. This is a big bump in performance for a small bump in price.

With an NBN 50 plan you'll find the internet loads faster and runs smoother. YouTube videos will begins instantly and your Facebook feed will update without interruption. You'll be able to download large files attached to emails, and more importantly, you'll be able to share files, like a bunch of photos, much faster as well.

Faster NBN speeds really come into their own when you have multiple people using the internet at the same time. If you have kids and grandkids who often hog the internet, you'll find there is plenty to go around on an NBN 50 plan.

The NBN is still a year away in my neighbourhood, but I know which plans I'll be looking at when it arrives. I'll find the cheapest and the fastest, then look for somewhere between the two.

 

Joseph Hanlon is the publisher at Australia's most comprehensive telco comparison site WhistleOut

Originally posted on .

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Someone
Someone from NSW commented:

Try Australia Online - Unlimited Data, Speed boost 25 - $79 per month - No contract, Australian support centre, landline phone calls free (charges for mobile calls. 

Someone
Someone from VIC commented:

I have a25Mb plan and the cost is OK for me. What is far from OK is the download speeds at night. After 4pm, speeds drop dramatically, and later in the night down to between 1 and 3 MB, not enough to make a phone call or refresh a page. Lately has been so bad that the router says: no internet, but the modem has all the right lights on! (maybe I should connect the modem directly to the PC and see what the status is then. But then off course there is no WIFI or phone.) Luc De Keulenaer. Durham Lead. Vic. 

Someone
Someone from VIC commented:

Kerry from Williamstown Vic. As an existing customer (home phone)Telstra offered me an NBN Pensioner Bundle. Cost: $59month, includes 25gbs data with access to top ups of three individual lots of data 25gbs each year at no extra cost. Includes unlimited calls to Australian local,national and mobile phones. Free modem, 2 year contract or pay $120 for no contract. Activation fee $59. For an additional $5 month I can get an additional 50gbs (total of 75gbs). I can move up and down the plan as needed. As a total dinosaur can anyone tell me if this sounds reasonable/slow speed/good or totally useless. Thanks for your help. . 

Elaine
Elaine from NSW commented:

If you spend any time on the internet looking at utube videos or streaming movies, even 75gb doesn’t sound like very much. I used 8gb in 3 days when I was in hospital recently. It would possibly be ok if you only use the internet for short periods. I am a pensioner too, but I will be looking for at least 200 -500gb of data! 

Peter
Peter from NSW commented:

Goodonya Margaret, will be interesting to see how it works out for you. But the NBN seems to be good for some , & not so good for others, even though they pay the same price. Peter B. 

Someone
Someone from VIC commented:

How much will NBN50 cost per month 

David
David from SA commented:

Reading the fine print in the plans listed above is interesting. Few providers want to be bothered with maintaining your old landline service. All telephony backup is being pushed onto the mobile service. Some of us are in dead spots, even in inner metro locations. A great many elderly dont have nor want mobile phones. I dont believe that the mobile network can handle the volume of calls that was previously achieved by the fixed line service. A lot of people are going to find that they have crashed through the gaping holes in this project. Don't expect anything to work in a blackout. Befriend your local bee keeper, so you can get quality smokeless candles!!! Not convinced, read about SA's big blackout, mobilenet started dying after 90 minutes!!! 

David
David from SA commented:

Experience has told me that these are just offers. There needs to be an independant rating system, that shows us what level of performance we can expect from these suppliers. We ALL know what happens in peak periods, largely useless services from many suppliers. This is really important, as there is NO 30 day trial period where you can get out of the contract if performance and expectation dont match. 

Ken
Ken from NSW commented:

Can't see what all the fuss is about, I"ve had the NBN for 6-7 years at 100mbps and usually get 85 actual mbps. I pay a little extra with Internode but internet is great. Sorry if I upset anyone. 

Peter
Peter from NSW commented:

Thanks Paul & Robert for your input. Seems the NBN is out of date before it gets going. I think wireless is the future, & NBN will die a natural death. You'd think that all the study tours our pollies do, someone would check how its done in other countries. But I'll look into that Telstra plan. Thanks again. Peter B. 

sharon
sharon from NSW commented:

not all members live in towns or cities ,some of us live in the country[no adsl service only dialup or mobile network], some of us only get to have sat nbn which sucks price wise/down load and speed wise. you dont know how lucky you areif you live in the city 

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