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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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margaret
margaret from NSW commented:

Was supposed to have it connected yesterday -instead my landline & internet have died-not looking good!! 

Anthony
Anthony from QLD commented:

Could have added a place in the survey for those who have had it and would like to say "NEVER AGAIN' 

margaret
margaret from NSW replied to Anthony:

Another name change.??? The above comment was from Margaret of NSW who forgot to check 'top of page' to see who she was at that point. 

Peter
Peter from NSW commented:

Seems the nbn is a sacred cow, & nobody will talk about dropping the landline, & having all mobile calls & data. Peter B 

Paul
Paul from QLD replied to Peter:

When installing FTTP in South Brisbane many people dropped home phone as you can now get unlimited talk & text with some data on mobile plans for $10 on the Telstra network http://www.lycamobile.com.au/sysimages/mediamanager/CIS%20-%20All%20in%20one%2010_NEW.pdf or this on Optus network ( think the kid plan is only a selling point ) https://ovo.com.au/products/mobile-phone/plans/kids-mini 

Robert
Robert from NSW replied to Peter:

Hi Peter, Have never really checked the details if it was a good deal or not, but I have a bundle with Telstra - NBN + landline + mobile. Kept the landline only for the reason of incoming & outgoing overseas calls. Telstra charges 2 cents / min for calls to the UK and 5 cents / min for calls to NZ ( go figure that one ). Was recently in the UK, switched to a local service provider via Telstra, and used my mobile for texts only back to Oz @ 75 cents ea. 

margaret
margaret from NSW replied to Peter:

Peter, this time around that is exactly what I will do when the time comes. Anyone want a little blinking (literally) black box that cost me a fortune when 5 months into my plan my landlord sold up and I had to move to an area that, at that time did not have NBN?. Oh it has not had 5 months usage. For the first 5-6 weeks it it was not correctly connected, so I had no phone or internet. Never again. 

Alan
Alan from NSW commented:

Would also consider whether to bundle a landline with unlimited national and local calls which I currently have or drop the landline altogether and just have unlimited calls including to mobiles via pre-paid or month by month mobile plan. Very difficult to drop your landline number when you've had it forever (like part of the family). 

Paul
Paul from QLD replied to Alan:

No reason to depart with your number under NBN, most providers will let you keep it at no cost on PAYG or offer a plan with included calls. 

Don
Don from QLD commented:

Why are the different plans tell us the amount of data but not the speed? (you can have enormous data . If you have no speed it’s useless, hence the frustrations). What speed is the NBN 50.? So that we can compare apples with apples. Don Qld. 

Paul
Paul from QLD replied to Don:

TRUE, this is the problem. TELL ME THE SPEED please. NBN 50 should be the NBN service of 50Mbps download with 20Mbps upload speeds. It's confusing when they advertise NBN 50GB as this is only how much data is included with the plan. READ FINE PRINT, if it's under $50 month chances it will be 12Mbps down and 1Mbps up. 

Don
Don from QLD replied to Paul:

You would think the NBN people, do the right thing. And listen to consumers, before the government step in and forces them to do it. People want a guaranteed speed that does not to drop to zero because it’s Sunday or whatever. Totally disgusted with all suppliers so far. 

Paul
Paul from QLD replied to Don:

Under this mix technology, only FTTP can almost guarantee the speeds but we got a 3rd world country mixture. So sad. 

Greg
Greg from NSW replied to Don:

What they're talking about here (NBN50) IS the speed, well in theory anyway. The speed you actually get will be slower depending on connection type, distance, data capacity. I'm with TPG 50 Plan and getting 47 mbps consistently. 

Paul
Paul from QLD replied to Greg:

One of the plans was called NBN 50GB and this is misleading as NBN call the 50MB download plan NBN50. Tricks of the trade, make the illusion look the same and you end up with only NBN12. Sad sales pitch. 

Alan
Alan from NSW commented:

I'm only getting up to 3MBs on ADSL2+ with Spintel so I think even the cheapest NBN plan would offer a significant improvement. 

Paul
Paul from QLD replied to Alan:

That should increase as you are some distance from current Telstra Exchange. With NBN you will have that virtual Exchange much closer so this would help. Most providers have stopped 25/5 and offering 50/20 at same price so if you need the extra speed, that is a good option to look for. 

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