High speed internet

If you’re thinking about connecting high speed internet to your home, then you’ve come to the right place. At iSelect we've partnered with our friends at CIMET to help Australians compare a range of internet providers and plans every day, so you can save time and effort.

Follow the link here if you’d like to get started, or keep reading to learn more about high speed internet.

How is internet speed measured?

The speed of your internet is measured in much the same way as the speedometer in your car records how fast you’re going.

But instead of measuring in kilometres per hour, internet speed is measured in kilobits and megabits per second (Mbps).

What are kilobits and megabits?

This is where it gets a bit technical. In the world of computers, a kilobit normally represents 1,000 bits of data, while a megabit represents 1,000 kilobits.

In Australia, the NBN is fast becoming the most popular way to connect to the internet. As of the September 2021 NBN monthly report, there are now at least 8.3 million households and businesses that are connected to the NBN.

Because the NBN is so fast, most connections are measured in megabits per second – this is due to the fact that lots of data is being transferred at a much quicker rate. If you’re looking for fast internet speeds, an NBN plan might be a suitable choice for you.

What factors can affect internet speed?

• NBN connection type

  The type of NBN connectivity you choose for your home can affect your speed.

  For example, you might choose a Home Standard connection because you need to work from home. But over time, you may find that you actually need to use the internet on other devices at the same time, including uploading and downloading image or video-heavy files.

  In this case, your speed could slow down and affect your ability to complete your work, so you might want to reconsider your usage needs.

• Wi-Fi issues

  Your in-home setup can affect your internet speed too, which is why it’s important to follow the steps correctly when you connect with a new internet provider.

• Provider issues

  Each provider configures their network and manages traffic in their own way, and if you have NBN access in your local area, then the type of connection could also vary.

  This is because all types of fixed line NBN connections have a physical line of power that connects to your home. These connections are known as Fixed Line connections, and you can learn more about them at the NBN website.

• Network congestion at peak times

  Remember that the speed you choose for your internet plan is shared between everyone who lives in your home with you.

  So when everyone’s online, internet speed can slow down. And if everyone’s watching Netflix after dinner on separate devices, then you may experience some delay in your video streaming.

  According to the NBN’s September 2021 monthly report, on average, only 0.065% of homes and businesses experience network congestion on a Fixed Line NBN network.

  And the good news is that the NBN network is available and operating 99.96% of the time, which was fairly consistent in 2020 and 2021.

• Copper telephone lines

  A disadvantage of having an NBN connection can occur when there’s a copper cable involved.

  As signals travel through copper they weaken, so generally speaking, the longer this distance, the more your connection speed could slow down.

What are the higher speed NBN options?

The NBN offers a range of speeds as listed in the table below. We’ve simplified the differences between each option to give you an overview of what’s available, and what might suit you.

The speed you can choose will depend on the technology available at your address. While you can choose between different speed tiers, your choice will ultimately depend on how and those who live with you use the internet.

So, before you choose a provider, it could be worth sitting down with those you live with to get a better understanding of everyone’s internet needs.

Who can fast and high speed internet be helpful for?

Everyone! High-speed internet is transforming the world beyond recognition – from how we work to how we live, learn and communicate.

Where once, many download speeds reached a maximum of 20Mbps, connecting to the NBN can deliver speeds of 150Mbps or more!

Entertainment is being revolutionised. Technology is improving all the time. Even the way we develop new products has been taken to a whole new level thanks to high-speed internet connectivity.

Ready to connect or switch internet plans?

iSelect have partnered with CIMET to help you compare a range of internet plans and providers*. ​

​To start comparing, you can hop online or call our friendly team on 13 19 20.

Last Updated: 09/05/2022