Understanding the nbn™ speeds

The purpose of this article is to provide you with all the information you need to know about the speed capabilities of the different nbn™ technologies being rolled out by nbn™ Co across Australia, and the different factors which can influence the connection speed you experience on your nbn™ connection.

What determines a customer’s connection speed?
There are four key elements that determine the speed capability experienced by an nbn™ connection.

The ACN speed tier and it’s corresponding nbn speed tier that you select as part of your broadband connection
The nbn™ technology type used to connect to the users home or office
The capacity that ACN and its suppliers provide to connect to the nbn™ network
The setup of your home or office network and your internet use

What speed tiers are available from ACN#?

ACN Speed Tier	Typical Evening Speed¹	ACN Description	ACN Speed Range	Suitable For
Basic Speed	10Mbps	Provides wholesale access based upon the nbn™ 12 speed tier	Download: 1Mbps to 12Mbps Upload: 500Kbps to 1Mbps	· 1 person all the time · Email + browsing
Boost Speed	20Mbps	Provides wholesale access based upon the nbn™ 25 speed tier	Download: 11Mbps to 25Mbps Upload: 1Mbps to 5Mbps	· 2 people at same time · Email + browsing · Online gaming · SD Video streaming
Turbo Speed	40Mbps	Provides wholesale access based upon the nbn™ 50 speed tier	Download: 24Mbps to 50Mbps Upload: 1Mbps to 20Mbps	· 3 people at same time · Email + browsing · Online gaming · HD Video streaming
Max Speed^	80Mbps	Provides wholesale access based upon the nbn™ 100 speed tier	Download: 24Mbps to 100Mbps Upload: 1Mbps to 40Mbps	· 4 people at same time · Email + browsing · Online gaming · HD Video streaming

# Availability of ACN speed tiers on a customer’s nbn™ service is subject to confirmation of the actual line speed^ of the service after activation. The actual line speeds for an nbn™ connection will vary due to many different factors including the availability of nbn™ wholesale access speeds on the customer’s nbn™ access technology, the hardware and software configuration of device(s) being used, the number of users in your home, the type and source of content you are attempting to access and the WiFi performance achievable in your home or office. Access speeds are not applicable where your service has been slowed/speed limited (‘shaped’) as a result of exceeding the data quota allocated as part of your plan.

¹Typical evening speed is the typical download speed you can expect during peak busy periods (6:30pm to 11:30pm).
^ ACN does not offer the Max Speed tier (nbn™ 100) on nbn™ FTTN/FTTB or Fixed Wireless technologies.

What happens if a service cannot achieve a ACN speed tier or typical evening speed?

ACN is not able to confirm the maximum line speed of your nbn™ connection with our service provider until your service is installed and activated on the nbn™ network. This means that while you may choose to order a higher speed tier than that included in your plan, ACN is not able to verify whether your individual nbn™ connection can reach the highest speed level or typical evening speed of your connection at the time of purchase.

If we determine that your connection is not capable of supporting the speed tier you have purchased, we will contact you with an offer to move your service to a lower, achievable speed tier and credit back the associated charges or, offer you an exit from your contract.

nbn™ technology types

The nbn™ network is made up of a number of different access technology types which may be used to connect your home or business. This is the first key element which determines the maximum possible line speed you can access at your home or business. Note that you can always check the nbn™ technology available at your address on the nbn™ website available at https://www.nbnco.com.au.
The table below provides a list of the current nbn™ technologies available, the nbn speed tiers that are available from ACN and the factors which may prevent a connection using that type of technology from achieving the maximum possible line speed.
Access line speeds are offered by nbn™ as wholesale speed tiers and can be viewed at www.nbnco.com.au/learn-about-the-nbn/speed.html. It is important to note that the speeds indicated by nbn™ are the maximum line speeds achievable for each speed tier and are not available on all nbn™ technology types. It should also be noted that nbn™ does not provide any guarantee of minimum line speed as part of its wholesale service.

nbn™ technology	Description	What speed tiers are available from ACN?	What can prevent you from experiencing these speeds?
Fibre to the Premises (FTTP)	Connects to the nbn™ network via a direct connection to your premises using fibre cabling.	Basic (10 Mbps typical evening speed¹) Boost (20 Mbps typical evening speed¹) nbn™ 50 (40 Mbps typical evening speed¹) nbn™ 100 (80 Mbps typical evening speed¹)	Refer to the “Factors which may impact specific technologies” section below.
Fibre to the Basement (FTTB)^	Connects fibre from the telephone exchange to the network boundary point inside your building (known as the Main Distribution Frame). The existing copper infrastructure is then used from the MDF into your home or business	nbn™ 12 (10 Mbps typical evening speed¹) nbn™ 25 (20 Mbps typical evening speed¹) nbn™ 50 (40 Mbps typical evening speed¹)	There are a several additional factors that are unique to nbn™ FTTB (and FTTN) services that can have a significant effect on a customer’s connection speed. One of the most common factors impacting nbn™ FTTN/FTTB connections is the impact of the “Coexistence period”. During this 18-month period defined by nbn™ Co where customers are transitioning to nbn™ services, FTTN/FTTB services are limited and as a result will generally provide slower download and upload speeds. This period is required to ensure that existing DSL and legacy phone services on the copper network are able to co-exist with the newer nbn™ services. The overall length, quality and condition of the copper line from the node in the building to your premises can also have a significant effect on a customer’s connection speed. These factors are both outside of ACN’s control and may occur irrespective of the service provider a customer chooses to supply the nbn™ connection. It is for these reasons that ACN does not currently offer nbn™ 100 speeds on either FTTB or FTTN connections.
Fibre to the Node (FTTN)^	Connects fibre infrastructure from the telephone exchange to the node/street cabinet. The existing copper infrastructure is then used from the node/cabinet to your home or business	nbn™ 12 (10 Mbps typical evening speed¹) nbn™ 25 (20 Mbps typical evening speed¹) nbn™ 50 (40 Mbps typical evening speed¹)	There are a several additional factors that are unique to nbn™ FTTN (and FTTB) services that can have a significant effect on a customer’s connection speed. One of the most common factors impacting nbn™ FTTN/FTTB connections is the impact of the “Coexistence period”. During this 18-month period defined by nbn™ Co where customers are transitioning to nbn™ services, FTTN/FTTB services are limited and as a result will generally provide slower download and upload speeds. This period is required to ensure that existing DSL and legacy phone services on the copper network are able to co-exist with the newer nbn™ services. The overall length, quality and condition of the copper line from the node in the street to your premises and within your home or business can have a significant effect on a customer’s connection speed. In these situations, heavy rain or prolonged wet weather conditions can impact connection speeds. These factors are outside of ACN’s control and may occur irrespective of the service provider a customer chooses to supply the nbn™ connection. It is for these reasons that ACN does not currently offer nbn™ 100 speeds on either FTTB or FTTN connections.
Fixed Wireless (FW)^	Connects fibre infrastructure from the telephone exchange directly to a wireless base station. An antenna is fixed to your home or business to receive the signal	nbn™ 12 (10 Mbps typical evening speed¹) nbn™ 25 (40 Mbps typical evening speed¹) nbn™ 50 (40 Mbps typical evening speed¹)	Weather conditions like extreme heat and rain. Signal strength or obstruction of the antenna’s line of sight to the tower.
Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC)	Connects fibre infrastructure from the telephone exchange to a local network node. Existing coaxial copper network is used from the node to your home or business	nbn™ 12 (10 Mbps typical evening speed¹) nbn™ 25 (20 Mbps typical evening speed¹) nbn™ 50 (40 Mbps typical evening speed¹) nbn™ 100 (80 Mbps typical evening speed¹)	The overall length, quality and condition of the coaxial line from the node to your premises. Adverse weather conditions can affect in ground or aerial coaxial cable where coaxial cable taps, amplifiers or the coaxial cable itself is old or damaged.
Satellite	Connects a satellite to an antenna fixed to your home or business to receive the signal	Not Supported	Adverse weather conditions like extreme heat, rain or hail. Obstruction of the antenna’s line of sight to the satellite can cause reduced signal strength
FTTC	Connects fibre infrastructure from the telephone exchange to a small node/street cabinet. The existing copper infrastructure is then used from the node/cabinet to your home or business	nbn™ 12 (10 Mbps typical evening speed¹) nbn™ 25 (20 Mbps typical evening speed¹) nbn™ 50 (40 Mbps typical evening speed¹) nbn™ 100 (80 Mbps typical evening speed¹)	There are a several additional factors that are unique to nbn™ FTTC (and FTTN/FTTB) services that can have a significant effect on a customer’s connection speed. One of the most common factors impacting nbn™ FTTN/FTTB/FTTC connections is the impact of the “Coexistence period”. During this 18-month period defined by nbn™ Co where customers are transitioning to nbn™ services, FTTN/FTTB/FTTC services are limited and as a result will generally provide slower download and upload speeds. This period is required to ensure that existing DSL and legacy phone services on the copper network are able to co-exist with the newer nbn™ services. The overall length, quality and condition of the copper line from the node in the street to your premises and within your home or business can have a significant effect on a customer’s connection speed. In these situations, heavy rain or prolonged wet weather conditions can impact connection speeds. These factors are outside of ACN’s control and may occur irrespective of the service provider a customer chooses to supply the nbn™ connection.

Factors which may impact specific technologies

As well as the factors above, there are also a number of factors which will impact the speed that a customer will experience from their nbn™ connection.

Equipment: Hardware and software configuration of device(s) being used to access the internet.

WiFi: Your modem/router’s Wi-Fi capability, the size of your house, internals wall, baby monitors, cordless phones, other Wi-Fi networks in close proximity, Bluetooth® devices just to name a few.

Internet Content: Internet content may be sourced from anywhere around the world. Depending upon the location of the server delivering your content and the capacity is provides, may be running slowly due to a heightened demand.

Number of devices using your network: Your internet can slow when multiple device share the same connection.

Peak times: Internet speeds typically slow during busy peak times

Search the ACN Knowledge Base for answers to your questions or to troubleshoot problems