Average internet speed in Australia

Find out which state has the fastest Internet in Australia.

Mark Neilsen's headshot

By

Mark Neilsen

Updated

Fact checked

We analysed more than 9,569 speed tests conducted on Finder between December 2022 and December 2023 to find out which state has the fastest speeds and the best time to get your streaming, download or gaming fix.

Key statistics

  • Queensland has the fastest internet in the country
  • Tuesday is the best day of the week to use the internet
  • Download speeds are fastest during the hours of 12am and 4am
  • The average download speed in Australia is 58.9Mbps
  • The most popular NBN speed tier in Australia is NBN 50

Which state has the fastest internet?

The average download speed in Australia is

59.8Mbps

Those in the Sunshine State have a reason to smile beyond the weather - Queensland ranks first place when it comes to download speeds in Australia according to speed tests conducted on Finder.

The average download speed for those in the state was 70.5Mbps.

Not too far behind were residents of South Australia, whose average download speed of 67.3Mbps put them in second place. Rounding out the podium finish was Western Australia, with an average download speed of 59.7Mps giving the state third.

At the other end of the spectrum, spare a thought for ACT residents. It's not enough they have to put up with politicians, but also the lowest average download speed out of all states in Australia. Its average download speed was just 49.6Mbps.

When is the best time to use the internet?

The time with the highest average download speed in Australia is between

12am-4am

If you're a night owl, you're in luck. That's because Finder discovered that download speeds in Australia reach their fastest between 12am and 4am, averaging 74.2Mbps.

The period between 4am and 8am is the slowest time to download, with speeds averaging 54.3Mbps. So maybe don't do that major downloading before you head off to work or study.

The most popular speed tier is

NBN 50

held by 42.5% of Australians

The NBN 50 speed tier is the most popular speed category in the country, as it accounts for 42.5% of Australians with an NBN connection.

However, its popularity is slowly decreasing with time given people's need for speed seems to be going. The cost of NBN 100 has also gone down following price changes at the end of 2023. NBN 50 has become more expensive meaning the price gap between the 2 speed tiers is now smaller.

Only 2.9% of Aussies are signed up for the fastest NBN plans available (NBN 250 or NBN 1000).

Good to know: Most Aussies are on the NBN via fixed-line connections, and only 3.3% have fixed wireless or satellite internet.

How satisfied are Australians with their home broadband speed?

Based on data from Finder's Consumer Sentiment Tracker, Australians with an NBN connection were the most satisfied with their broadband speeds compared to other connections such as home wireless, mobile broadband and others.

Around 80% of people surveyed said they are either extremely satisfied or somewhat satisfied.

Those with an NBN 100 plan were the most satisfied out of the lot. On the other end of the spectrum, people with an NBN 25 plan were the least satisfied.

Mark Neilsen's headshot
Written by

Utilities writer

Mark Neilsen is a writer at Finder, specialising in streaming, broadband and mobile. He looks for deals on all those services and keeps you abreast of any changes to see what's worth it for you. He has over 20 years' experience in print and digital media and while at Finder, Mark’s expertise has been featured in Yahoo Finance, The New Daily, Ad News, Tech Guide and news.com.au. In his time at Finder he has done over 300 articles on streaming, mobile and broadband. In his time away from Finder he is trying to get through the watchlists of the 11 streaming services he is currently subscribed to. See full bio

Mark's expertise
Mark has written 53 Finder guides across topics including:
  • Entertainment streaming
  • Sports streaming
  • Broadband
  • Mobile

More guides on Finder

  • Launtel review

    Looking for an NBN provider with reliable speeds? Launtel could be right for you.
  • Compare home wireless broadband deals

    Home wireless broadband can be a good alternative to the NBN for some households, offering fast setup, similar speeds, and unlimited data.
  • Compare unlimited internet plans

    Unlimited internet plans are everywhere and fit every budget, so you’d have to go out of your way to find anything else.

  • Dodo NBN review

    Dodo offers its customers affordable access to the Internet on a wide range of connection types, including the NBN and mobile internet.
  • Best internet deals for December 2024

    Our team of experts has narrowed down the best internet deals this month to help you find the right one.
  • Superloop NBN review

    Superloop has its own fibre network in Australia and offers plans at fast speeds.
  • Exetel NBN review

    Exetel offers a wide range of internet plans, with reliable performance according to the ACCC.
  • Vodafone internet review

    Vodafone is Australia’s third-largest mobile network carrier behind Telstra and Optus.
  • iPrimus review

    With 20 years of experience in the Australian market, iPrimus offers customers a compelling, quality broadband service.
  • iiNet internet review

    iiNet is a household Internet name, offering decent speeds with the option of adding Fetch entertainment on your plan.

Ask a question

You are about to post a question on finder.com.au:

  • Do not enter personal information (eg. surname, phone number, bank details) as your question will be made public
  • finder.com.au is a financial comparison and information service, not a bank or product provider
  • We cannot provide you with personal advice or recommendations
  • Your answer might already be waiting – check previous questions below to see if yours has already been asked

Finder only provides general advice and factual information, so consider your own circumstances, or seek advice before you decide to act on our content. By submitting a question, you're accepting our Terms Of Service and Finder Group Privacy & Cookies Policy.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Go to site