What Internet Speed Do I Need for My Home?

With so many NBN Plans and home internet providers to choose from, it can be hard to know what internet speed you need for your home. You don’t want to end up paying for more than you need – or worse, not having enough speed to do what you want to do online.

So, how do you know what speed is right for you? In this guide, we’ll give you some tips on how to choose the right internet speed for your home.
The first step is to figure out what you and those in your household will be using the internet for. Are you mostly browsing the web and checking email? Or do you plan on streaming movies and TV, gaming online, or working from home?
If you know the answer to that, you can start to narrow down your options. Let’s look at the different NBN plans and see which is right for your home:
  • NBN 12/1 Mbps (Small)
  • NBN 25/5 Mbps (Medium)
  • NBN 50/20 Mbps (Large)
  • NBN 100/40 Mbps (Extra Large)

What is Mbps?

Mbps stands for Megabits per second. It measures how much data you can download or upload in a given amount of time. More Mbps means a faster connection, less means a slower one. 

For example, if you have an NBN 12 plan, you can download 12 megabits of data per second and upload 1 megabits of data per second.

NBN 12/1Mbps (Small)

If you live alone and only use the internet for basic tasks like browsing the web, checking email, and social media, then an NBN 12 plan might be right for you. This is the slowest NBN plans speed tier, but it’s also the cheapest.

NBN 12 plans are not recommended if you have more than one person using the internet simultaneously or if you plan to play games online. With this speed, you could stream a HD video on platforms like YouTube and Netflix if there are no other internet connections.

NBN 25/5Mbps (Medium)

An NBN 25 plan is a cost effective middle-of-the-road option. It’s fast enough for most households with one to two people using the internet simultaneously. However, if you have an avid online gamer plus streamers online at the same time, you may notice a lag.  

If you have a larger household (3+ users) with multiple devices and people using the internet at the same time, then an NBN 25 plan may not be adequate. In that case, you should consider a larger plan.

NBN 50/20Mbps (Large)

A NBN 50 plan is the most popular speed tier in Australia. It’s ideal for larger households as well as small households who seek fast internet to satisfy their higher usage needs. 

Streaming movies and music, playing online games, exchanging memes and images, or making video calls to loved ones can all be done online with an NBN 50 package.

NBN 100/40Mbps (Extra Large)

An NBN 100 plan is the fastest option available for most Australian households. If you want the best possible speeds for your home internet, this is the plan for you.

NBN 100 plans are perfect for large households with multiple devices and people using the internet at the same time. Whether you’re gaming online, streaming movies in 4K, working from home, or video chatting with friends and family around the world, the NBN 100 plan will give you the speed you need.

If you frequently download or upload large files, NBN 100 plans are the ideal option for you. Everyone will be able to binge on multiple Netflix shows simultaneously plus extra online activity, thanks to the quicker download speeds.

How to decide which speed is right for you.

 The type of daily internet activities you and others in your home participate in plays a significant role in deciding which speed is right for you.

How many people in your home use the internet? Does your household frequently stream movies or TV shows? Work from home? Does anyone play a lot of online games? How many data hungry devices are connected to your home internet? How many people use the internet at the same time?

Your NBN connection is a shared resource, even if you don’t use it for any specific online activity. If you sign up for an NBN 50 plan, your 50Mbps is shared among all your household members and devices. For example, if two people in your home are streaming movies simultaneously, each person would have access to up to 25Mbps.

These are all factors to consider when choosing a speed for your home internet.

For instance, The NBN 12 plan may be appropriate if you are a single person who just uses the internet for basic tasks like browsing the web, reading email, and posting on social media. This is the slowest and least expensive NBN plan tier.

NBN 12 plans are not suitable if you have more than one person in your household using the internet simultaneously. And if you frequently stream movies or TV shows, you might want to consider a faster speed.

NBN Plans usually include unlimited data, however Pennytel offer an x-small nbn plan with 100GB Data at 12/1 speed for just $39.99 per month. Made with seniors in mind, it’s perfect for very light users that just need the essentials. 

If those in your household streams games or movies often or someone has to work from home, you should look into a NBN 25 or 50 plan. These speeds are fast enough to handle multiple devices and people using the internet at the same time without any issues.

And if you want one of the fastest home internet connection possible, an NBN 100 plan is the way to go. Keep in mind that this speed tier will cost you a bit more money. However, you will receive exactly what you pay for.

A NBN 50 package will be sufficient for the vast majority of users. But at the same time, there is no point in paying for a higher speed tier if you are not going to use it. However, if you are uncertain, it is advisable to begin with a slower speed tier and upgrade if necessary. Because we do not offer lock-in contracts, you are free to modify your plan at any time, whether you wish to upgrade or downgrade.

Once you’ve considered these factors, you should better understand which internet speed is right for your home.

Pennytel offers all four-speed tiers so you can find the perfect plan for your needs. And if you ever need to upgrade or downgrade, we make it easy to do so.

If you have any questions or need help choosing a plan, our friendly local support team is always here to assist you. Our goal is to make sure you have the perfect internet plan for your home, so you can enjoy all that the internet has to offer.

Just give us a call on 1300 232 888 or send us a message, and we’ll be more than happy to help you out.