76,000 Aussies ditch Telstra, TPG NBN plans: Should you join them?
Aussies are turning their back on the bigger NBN providers and changing their download speeds.
Fresh figures from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) NBN Wholesale Market Indicator Report show Aussies are searching around for a better deal on their NBN plans.
According to the report, 2 of Australia's largest NBN providers, Telstra and TPG, lost 76,000 customers during the June quarter.
At the same time smaller providers Vocus (responsible for Dodo and iPrimus) and Aussie Broadband have added more than 62,000 new customers.
Aussies push for broadband plans that match their needs
Not only are consumers looking for a new provider, they are also changing the speed of their NBN plans.
The report points out that the NBN 50 speed tier is falling in popularity, with 44.2% Aussies signed up to it compared to 52% from the March 2023 quarter.
It also found that in the June 2023 quarter:
- 650,000 Aussies have changed from NBN 50 to another speed tier since the March quarter 2023
- The number of Aussies with an NBN 25 plan increased by around 200,000
- NBN 100 reached nearly 450,000 extra subscribers
| NBN Speed | Subscriber difference between Mar 2023 and Jun 2023 | % difference |
|---|---|---|
| NBN 25 | 206,264 | 15% |
| NBN 50 | -649,444 | -14.36% |
| NBN 100 | 449,678 | 27.50% |
Finder's tech expert Angus Kidman points out some are changing their download speeds due to higher costs.
"Broadband's essential for most of us, but when cost-of-living pains really bite, paying less is worth exploring. If you're not a heavy internet user and funds are tight, dropping a speed tier can help you save," he says.
"But remember, a big drop in speed will feel painful. Compare first - you may find you can keep your current speed while paying less."
With 55,000 premises also upgraded to higher capacity fibre to the premises (FTTP) services in the June quarter, that could likely explain people stepping up a speed tier.
FTTP is considered the fastest and most reliable NBN connection.
Should you join the 76,000 Aussies switching plans?
Like with most products, it doesn't pay to be loyal to your broadband provider.
In fact, if you've been on a plan for a while now, you should compare NBN plans and switch for potentially big savings.
If you're with one of the larger NBN sellers like Telstra, TPG or Optus, chances are you're missing out on savings offered by some smaller providers.
Finder has highlighted a few smaller providers below with NBN plans that are cheaper than the equivalent from Telstra, Optus or TPG.
| NBN plan and provider | Typical Evening Speed | Cost | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tangerine NBN 25 | 25Mbps | $44.90 per month for the first 6 months, then $59.90 per month ongoing | |
| Dodo NBN 50 | 50Mbps | $53.85 per month for the first 6 months, then $75 per month ongoing | |
| Southern Phone NBN 100 | 100Mbps | $65 per month for the first 12 months, then $85 per month ongoing |
Not only are these plans good value, but they offer good performance, as their typical evening speeds are the maximum available for their respective tiers.
Searching for new deals like these is likely for the growth of Australians switching plans according to ACCC commissioner Anna Brakey.
"The sustained growth of smaller broadband providers shows that there is continued demand from consumers for innovative and competitive services," Brakey says.
If you're looking for even more bang for your buck, check out the full list of cheap NBN plans.
Hi I am elderly 78yrs and get muddled sometimes, I am with TPG for my mobile and IPRIMUS for internet I would like free phone calls with mobile and unlimited internet could I roll these together with one provider and if so who would be the best for me, the trouble is I keep forgetting passwords and this would be one less.
Hi Joan,
Both TPG and iPrimus offer the chance to bundle mobile and internet together, so you could go with one of your existing providers if you wanted to have your mobile and internet together.
Other providers that allow you to bundle mobile an internet together include Aussie Broadband, Australia Post Broadband, Flip, MATE, Spintel, Superloop, Telechoice, Vodafone and Westnet.
You would have to check with the providers to see if both their phone and internet plans meet your needs before signing up for both though.
Hope this helps.