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Australia's NBN Could Reach 100x Faster Speeds
27 Mar
Summary
- NBN fibre infrastructure demonstrated 230Gbps download speeds in lab trials.
- This potential speed is over 100 times faster than current maximum residential plans.
- Customer interest in 2Gbps plans has declined due to cost and sufficient slower options.
In September 2025, Australia's NBN introduced 2Gbps plans, marking a significant speed upgrade. However, recent lab trials revealed the current fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) technology can achieve astonishing download speeds of 230Gbps, over 100 times faster than available residential services. This was achieved using coherent optics, an advanced technology that enhances data transmission efficiency over existing fibre.
While this demonstrates the future potential of the NBN's infrastructure without requiring new cabling, widespread availability of such speeds is distant. Significant hardware upgrades would be necessary. Furthermore, there appears to be diminishing customer demand for ultra-high-speed plans, evidenced by a decrease in providers offering 2Gbps services. The high cost, averaging AU$173 per month, and the sufficiency of slower plans for most homes are likely contributing factors.
Despite the limited uptake of the fastest tiers, data consumption continues to rise. As of December 31, 2025, average monthly downloads reached 557 gigabytes per service, with FTTP users downloading an average of 668 gigabytes. This increasing demand suggests a potential future need for faster services, though many users remain satisfied with NBN 50 plans.
