If you're thinking about making the leap from your NBN plan to 5G home internet (and the potential power that it holds), then you've come to the right place.
If you live in an eligible 5G internet coverage area or you can't access a standard NBN fixed-line connection, you may achieve high speeds via a 5G home broadband plan. 5G home internet plans offer Aussie households a true alternative to the NBN, especially when competitive pricing and great value are added to the mix.
This is because the big three telcos — Telstra, Optus and Vodafone — have invested more in 5G technology and have rolled it out in five of Australia's major cities: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Canberra (but only in select areas within these).
Therein does lie limitations of 5G home broadband. To truly take advantage of the technology, you need to reside in an area with good 5G network coverage. Telstra currently offers the farthest-reaching 5G coverage, claiming to cover 80% of the Australian population. Optus and Vodafone claim to cover Australian cities, but not to the same extent as Telstra.
If you live in an area with 5G network coverage and 5G home internet is available (5G mobile coverage doesn't necessarily mean there's decent 5G home internet coverage), it might be worth reconsidering your home internet options. It could give you speeds similar to NBN for a cheaper monthly price or internet speeds faster than NBN for a similar fee.
Best 5G home internet plans
Because 5G is still in its relative infancy, there's only a small number of telcos who currently supply it. The three major telcos of Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone all offer plans, along with a handful of mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) including Spintel and iiNet.
Here are some of the best 5G home internet plans on offer right now.
What is 5G home internet?
5G home internet works in much the same way as 5G mobile internet. It relies on 5G data signals being sent from antennas to a modem in your home, which receives the signal and sends it out as a Wi-Fi signal. You then connect your devices to the Wi-Fi network in the same way you would if you had an NBN connection.
5G has the capability to support greater capacity and faster speeds than the previous 4G technology, and can even achieve speeds greater than the NBN.
How fast is 5G home broadband?
5G home broadband can theoretically achieve speeds up to 1,000Mbps, although in reality, you're unlikely to experience such speeds. Telstra offers some of the fastest average 5G home broadband download speeds, at 378Mbps. However, the telco says real world speeds can range from anywhere between 50Mbps - 600Mbps.
5G home internet plans may cap speeds at 50Mbps or 100Mbps, but some offer uncapped speeds. The speed you can get will depend on the strength of the network in your area.
Is 5G home internet better than NBN?
While 5G home internet can potentially achieve much faster speeds than NBN, its availability is currently far more limited. However, if 5G home broadband is available in your area, it is much easier to get connected to the internet. You don’t need to have a technician come to your address to install any equipment – instead, when your 5G modem arrives, you just need to plug it in, wait for it to connect to a 5G signal, and you’re done.
It’s not necessarily better than NBN, but if you are in an area that can take advantage of 5G, then we definitely recommend it as something to consider.
What is the cheapest 5G home internet?
The cheapest 5G home internet currently available is from Spintel, offering an AU$59p/m plan for 50Mbps capped speeds. If you require more speeds, the cheapest 5G plan with 100Mbps belongs to TPG for AU$64.99p/m.
When will 5G internet be available in my area?
If you live in one of Australia's major cities, there's a pretty good chance you'll already have access to a 5G network. If you're not currently in an area served by 5G, then you will almost definitely be able to connect to a 4G signal.
The major telcos have all said they're working to make 5G available around the country, but naturally, these things take time. And, to make matters a little more confusing, just because you might be able to get a 5G connection on your smartphone, doesn't necessarily mean you will be able to get 5G home internet.
Click the links below to check the current 5G network coverage maps of each 5G home internet provider.
