5G home internet uses the mobile network to connect you to the internet. So if your phone gets good reception and your address is covered by 5G, it's actually a good option to consider.
In fact, 5G home internet is what's come to be known as an alternative to the NBN. There are no wires, either copper or fibre-optical cable and no installation required as such.
All you have to do is plug in the modem supplied by the provider, pop in a SIM card into the modem itself and voila, you're online!
This will depend on where you're based. Sometimes it can be a good alternative to the NBN but on the whole, fixed-line NBN connections are more reliable and widespread.
But let's run through some scenarios for when 5G home internet is a good option, and when it's not.
When 5G home internet is better than the NBN
When the NBN is better than 5G home internet
How many people use home wireless internet?
According to our consumer sentiment tracker 19% of Aussies are signed up to a 4G or 5G home wireless broadband plan.
"I'm living in an apartment in Sydney that doesn't have access to NBN (shocker, right!). My choices on the Opticomm network are ridiculously limited so I can't really switch providers. But that's where 5G home internet has opened a few doors for me, especially since mobile network receptions have drastically improved at my address in the last year and I now also get 5G coverage. I've taken Optus 5G home internet for a spin and had zero issues with download speeds or poor reception. Plus, it was so easy to set up. I just had to pop in a SIM, plug in the modem and voilà , all good to go."
Home internet isn't good for everything. Most plans are limited to 50Mbps - 100Mbps, though some networks get higher. In any case, 50Mbps will suit households with 2 to 3 people using the net at the same time. However, there are some things 5G is better for:
Most 5G home internet plans have their download speed capped at 50Mbps or 100Mbps, but this is getting higher all the time. For instance, Optus and Telstra have typical speeds above 200Mbps and 500Mbps respectively.
What speed is available will mostly depend on the provider's network and the plan you're on. Here are some of the top speeds available from 5G home internet provider:
| Provider | Typical speeds on top plan |
|---|---|
| Telstra | 548Mbps |
| Optus | 210Mbps |
| Vodafone | 100Mbps |
| TPG | 100Mbps |
| iiNet | 100Mbps |
| SpinTel | 240Mbps |
| Yomojo | 225Mbps |
While varying speeds are a factor in all internet connections, it's especially the case with 5G home internet. Speed can be affected by things such as:
Here are the main 5G home internet providers currently in Australia. We're always seeing more coming into the market as coverage of the network expands throughout the country.
Internode and Westnet used to offer 5G home internet, but they've stopped selling new policies, directing users to iiNet instead.
Technically, the coverage map for 5G home internet should be similar to the 5G mobile coverage map, but this isn't always the case.
To see if you can access a 5G home internet plan, you'd need to see if you are in the coverage area. The best way to go about this is to type in your address on a provider's website. You should be given confirmation to continue signing up if you can access 5G home internet at your address.
New areas are being added all the time and some providers will allow you to sign up for notifications for when it becomes available at your address.
As the 5G network is still rolling out around the country, you may not be able to get 5G home internet even if you want to.
If you want to connect to the internet wirelessly, you could look at getting a 4G home internet connection. It is more readily available as the 4G network is accessible to over 95% of the population. 4G home internet delivers much slower download speeds than 5G. Expect typical evening download speeds of around 16-20Mbps.
Another alternative to 5G home internet is to connect to the NBN. This is more widely available than 5G, available to over 12 million premises in Australia.
If you're unable to get a fixed line NBN connection, there might be an option for you to connect via NBN fixed wireless. This will see you have a radio antenna installed on your roof, which will carry the internet signal the last stretch to your home.
If you're really out there in the regions, NBN Sky Muster is now a real, usable option. Sky Muster uses satellites to beam the internet down to you from space. You can get speeds up to 50Mbps, with potentially unlimited data, for quite reasonable monthly prices.
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