5G Versus the National Broadband Network (NBN)

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What is 5G?

What is the NBN?

What’s the difference between 5G and the NBN?

What equipment do you need for 5G or NBN internet?

Is NBN or 5G better for me?

What does the future hold for 5G and the NBN?

Where can I find and compare NBN plans?

Long story short

5G is the latest wireless tech, with growing coverage across Australia

It’s faster than its 4G predecessor, more reliable and is expanding quickly from cities to regional areas.

NBN is Australia’s national network for high-speed internet

It uses fibre, copper and other tech to connect over 8 million properties.

Check availability and usage before choosing NBN or 5G Check availability and usage before choosing NBN or 5G

Your location, internet needs and plan options will help you decide which is best for you.

What is 5G?

5G internet is the fifth and latest generation of mobile network technology, offering faster speeds, lower latency and smoother, more reliable connections than previous generations. Around 74% of mobile sites (such as mobile towers and rooftop sites) in major cities were equipped to deliver 5G as of January 2025, depending on the service provider. In regional Australia, 5G was only available at around 33% of sites, while only around 12% of 5G sites in remote areas were capable.¹ACCC – Mobile Infrastructure Report 2025

5G is offered as a part of many home broadband plans, including home wireless internet plans. This has essentially seen 3G internet retired and 4G pushed to a more supportive role.

What is the NBN?

The NBN is Australia’s national internet network. It’s a massive project spanning the country that uses a mix of fibre-optic cables, existing copper cables, satellite and 4G/5G tech to deliver high-speed internet to homes and businesses. As of March 2026, over 8.6 million homes and businesses were connected to the NBN network while more than 12.5 million were ready to connect.²nbn – Australia, we’ve taken action; Monthly progress reports

NBN technology isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach in order to ensure as many people as possible can connect. While some NBN connections rely on fixed lines and cables, like Fibre to the Node (FTTN) or Fibre to the Premises (FTTP), Aussies in regional and rural areas can also jump on the NBN via a satellite connection or wirelessly through 5G/4G with the right router and equipment.

What’s the difference between 5G and the NBN?

While the NBN is a mix of fixed line, wireless and satellite internet technologies, 5G is only a wireless mobile internet network. The main differences between the 2 are their connection types, speed, reliability, installation and availability. NBN is more stable and faster than 5G and can come with fewer connection issues. 5G installation, on the other hand, is simpler and can be cheaper, but its signal and speed will depend on how many towers are near your home.

Differences between 5G and NBN

Helpful tip

When it comes to choosing your internet service, think about what you need day to day. If you want something reliable, the NBN is a safe bet. It’s more stable, so you’re less likely to encounter any outages, which makes it a good fit for anyone who does a lot of online meetings or gaming. Basically, if interruptions drive you crazy, NBN is the reliable choice.

That said, 5G is all about convenience and flexibility. So, if you don’t have time to wait for a physical connection to be set up you can usually hop onto a mobile network with just a modem and router.

Alex Kidman

Tech Journalist

What equipment do you need for 5G or NBN internet?

For 5G internet all you’ll need is a 5G-capable modem, while you’ll need some external and internal equipment for the NBN. Both connections will require a wi-fi router if you want to connect your various devices wirelessly.

Connecting to a 5G network on your mobile phone will look a bit different from a 5G home internet plan and that goes for the different types of NBN connections, too. Sometimes, you’ll get all the equipment you’ll need to connect as part of your fixed wireless NBN or 5G plan, but this isn’t always a given. Here’s a list of what you’ll usually need to get set up:

Fixed-line NBN

Fixed-line connections, like Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) or Fibre to the Node (FTTN), use cables to bring high-speed internet into your home. An NBN technician, usually organised by your internet provider, will install an external NBN utility box and internal NBN connection box. However, you’ll require a router in addition to this if you want wi-fi.

Wireless NBN

Fixed-wireless NBN will require a technician to install an NBN-compatible outdoor antenna and connection box in your home. You’ll also need a router and an ethernet cable to connect your devices wirelessly.

Satellite NBN

For satellite NBN, you’ll need a satellite dish on the roof of your home and an NBN- connection box, both which will be set up by an NBN-approved technician. This type of connection is mostly useful for people in rural or remote areas, allowing connection via the Sky Muster satellite service.

5G mobile

If you have a 5G mobile phone plan, connecting to the internet is easy. You just need a 5G-compatible mobile phone and to be in a 5G coverage area to access that sweet high-speed internet!

5G home

For 5G home internet, you’ll generally need a 5G modem. You’ll also need a router to broadcast your 5G internet through your home via wi-fi. 5G mobile broadband connections are generally designed for use in your home or business premises and are usually separate from your phone plan.

Remember, it’s a good idea to speak to your provider to find out what kind of internet setup you’ll need at your house, including whether they’ll supply you with all the necessary equipment to get online. Some plans will need a compatible modem or router, which means you might need to upgrade and pay for this separately.

Is NBN or 5G better for me?

NBN is better for homes that need stability and speed, while 5G is better for homes in urban areas with established 5G networks that want a simpler setup process and no fixed line installation. Whether one is better for you than the other depends on availability, internet plans on offer and whether stability, speed and unlimited data are important.

Checking if your home is ready for both 5G and NBN, and whether they are available at your place, should be your first step. Depending on where you live, you might get to pick between the 2 or you might have the decision made for you.

From there, you can think about how you intend to use the internet. If you’re just looking to watch Netflix or scroll through Facebook, 5G speeds will be able to handle it. On the other hand, if you’re working from home and sending big files back and forth or are a big-time gamer, NBN and its stable speeds may be the better option.

Finally, the internet plans available to you may impact your decision, too. While you might be able to choose between 5G or NBN, the respective plans may mean one is a clear winner for you. This can include pricing, data limits, bundles and more. It’s worth comparing plans out there. Using iSelect to compare, for example, you’ll be able to which NBN plan offers you the most value from our range of providers.

What does the future hold for 5G and the NBN?

The future of 5G and NBN will likely see both options seeing expanded and upgraded, along with increased competition across available internet plans . 5G is expected to evolve as a flexible wireless internet option, while NBN will continue to focus on connecting more Australians through its range of options, delivering stable and reliable connections for homes across the country.

Where can I find and compare NBN plans?

With 5G just reaching its prime and NBN ever expanding and upgrading its coverage areas, there’s lots of choice when to comes to connecting your home to the internet. With iSelect you can take the hassle out of comparing internet plans, instead you can compare online from a range of brands and providers in a matter of minutes. Discover what’s possible for your home internet today.