Fastest NBN providers in Australia to match your need for speed

Which internet provider is the fastest?

Every quarter, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) speed tests NBN connections from the top providers in Australia. It measures speeds for all hours of the day including the crucial peak period (7–11pm) when most people are online.

• How did the ACCC test the providers?

  The ACCC Measuring Broadband report results come from around a month-long test period.

  For its most recent report in September 2024, the testing period took place between 1 May and 31 May 2024. Around 420,103 download speed tests were performed across 1,256 fixed-line NBN services that offered download speeds of up to 500Mbps.

  Users attained an average download performance of 101.6% of plan speed during all hours. This decreased to 100.4% during busy hours (between 7pm and 11pm), when networks tend to experience higher online activity.

  These results are slightly better compared to the previous quarterly report (June 2024), where the corresponding figures were 100.8% of plan speed during all hours and 99.8% during busy hours.

What's changed in the latest ACCC report?

The major change in this report is Exetel reclaiming the number one spot after Telstra took it last quarter.

In a surprising shift, Superloop has leapt from 11th place to a strong fourth.

You can see the historical data of the 5 top-performing NBN providers below. Keep in mind that Launtel was not included in reports before 2022. Leaptel was only added in March 2024.

"After struggling with slow NBN speeds for months, I decided to switch to Exetel after seeing their consistent high results in the ACCC Broadband Report. Turns out they've topped the report for a reason - after switching, I was no longer buffering on video calls, and my internet speed test results were close to the advertised typical download speed."

Michelle Kwong

Publisher

Is the fastest NBN provider also the best?

Not necessarily. While having a fast and reliable connection will be a factor to consider when choosing an NBN plan, there are other things to factor in such as price, data limits, added extras and more.

You can check out our roundup of the best NBN plans to see which providers are making the cut.

Otherwise, if it's speed reliability that you're after, the ACCC's quarterly report is about as official as you can get for a seal of approval. We've broken down the 5 top-performing providers from the September 2024 report to see what they offer.

Australia's fastest internet providers

1. Exetel

Exetel has a bunch of things for it such as:

• Speed boosts available on the majority of its plans. With this feature, you'll get 5 Speed Upgrade Days every month.
• You can BYO modem or purchase one for $151.
• You can bundle NBN with other Exetel services such as a SIM-only plan or a home phone plan and get up to $15 off your monthly broadband bill.
• It won Best Budget NBN Provider in the 2024 Finder Product Awards.

2. Telstra

Telstra's NBN plans come with a bunch of perks such as:

• Access to Telstra Plus for discounted movie, sports and concert tickets, plus the option to earn points to spend towards rewards.
• A free home phone line at no extra cost, which includes unlimited calls to Australian local and standard lines.
• Telstra Smart Modem with 4G backup will be included in your plan. If you leave before 24 months, simply return the modem to avoid a $200 non-return fee.
• 4 months of Spotify Premium, 2 months of BINGE standard and McAfee Telstra Device Security subscription for 3 months.

3. Optus

Optus has some similar as well as unique features on its NBN plans such as:

• You can BYO modem or get a 4G-backed one from Optus for $0 if you stay connected for 36 months. You can leave early but you'll have to pay off the remaining cost of the device.
• Access to discounted Optus Sport as well as the option to save on other eligible streaming subscriptions when you bundle them via Optus SubHub.
• Netflix Standard included on its family entertainer plans.

4. Superloop

Signing up with Superloop means:

• 5 Speed Upgrade Days each month. This will come in handy if on some days you need a speed boost. You can rollover unused days to a max of 30 days.
• Option to bundle mobile and internet with Superloop and get $5 a month off your NBN plan.
• The option to BYO modem or buy one from Superloop for $170. You can get it for $0 if you stay connected for 24 months.
• It won Best NBN Provider - Superfast Speeds at the 2024 Finder Product Awards.

5. Dodo and iPrimus

Dodo's NBN plans feature:

• Option to BYO modem or buy one from Dodo for $99.90. This is lower than the average cost of modem prices in our database.
• You can bundle internet and energy and save up to $10 a month on your NBN bill.

iPrimus's plans come with:

• A free modem when you stay connected for 18 months. If you leave early you'll need to pay off the remaining cost of the device.
• You can bundle mobile and internet with iPrimus to get a discount on your phone bill.

Find the fastest NBN plans in your suburb

If you want a faster and more reliable NBN experience, you can easily find what's available at your location by popping in your address below.

Always remember, the type of NBN connection at your property plays a big role in determining your internet speed and reliability - it's not just about the provider you choose.

Frequently asked questions

• Who is the fastest NBN provider in Australia?

  According to the latest Measuring Broadband Australia report from September 2024, the fastest internet provider in Australia is Exetel. It achieved 102.5% of its advertised maximum speeds during peak hours.

• Which NBN provider is the best in Australia?

  The best NBN provider will depend on what you're after in terms of speed, price and plan features. You can find our top picks for the best NBN plans in Australia in our guide.

• What is the fastest NBN plan in Australia?

  The fastest NBN speed tier in Australia is NBN 1000, also known as "Ultrafast". This would mostly suit small businesses, but of course your household could very well have a need for the fastest speeds available so choose what works best for you.

  You can also read our guide on choosing the right NBN speed tier.

• Is there faster internet than NBN?

  There is currently no other internet plan in Australia that offers faster speeds than an NBN 1000 plan.

  Your best alternative to the NBN for fast speeds would be a 5G home internet plan. You can expect busy period speeds of up to 300Mbps on uncapped plans.

  • Keep in mind that 5G coverage isn't widely available in Australia yet so you may not be able to access it until it's rolled out in your location.

Written by

Mariam Gabaji

Editor I Tech and utilities expert

Mariam Gabaji is an editor and tech and utilities expert at Finder with 12+ years of experience as a journalist. She's committed to helping households cut through the industry jargon and save money on their bills. Her expertise is often featured in media including the ABC, Yahoo Finance, 9News, 7News, A Current Affair, The Guardian, SBS and Money Magazine. See full bio

Mariam's expertise

Mariam has written 296 Finder guides across topics including:

• Energy
• Mobile
• Broadband
• Consumer tech