Speed guide for Vodafone nbn®
This support article will explain the factors that affect the speed of your nbn® service. To understand the speeds you can expect with Vodafone nbn®, we’ve likened it to the speeds you go while driving a car. Even if you have a sports car, how fast you drive will depend on factors such as traffic, speed limit and the type of road you’re driving on. It’s similar to how internet speeds work.
Factors that affect the speed of nbn®.
Speed tier of your plan.
The speed tier of your plan is like a speed limit. For example, if your plan uses nbn® 25, your maximum download speed will be 25Mbps – even if your internet could potentially reach higher speeds. It’s important to note that various factors affect your internet speed. Because of this, you may not always receive the maximum speed available on your plan.
NBN FTTB, FTTN and FTTC technology types.
If your plan is delivered on NBN FTTB, FTTN or FTTC technology, your speeds are affected by the length and quality of the copper used by NBN Co. If NBN advise us that the maximum attainable speed for your service doesn’t support the speed tier of the plan you’ve chosen, then we will contact you to let you know and provide you with options including to downgrade or cancel your service for no extra charge and with a refund. In some circumstances, we may automatically change your plan to a lower speed tier that’s more suitable to you, and provide you with a refund as well (however, we will let you know about this in advance).
Typical Evening Speed.
This is the typical evening period download and upload speed that the average consumer can expect to receive between 7pm and 11pm or 9am to 5pm for business customers. This is not a guaranteed minimum speed and you may experience lower speeds during this period due to the factors discussed on this page. The Typical Evening Upload Speed is estimated by reference to the maximum upload speed.
Content that you access.
Driving somewhere that’s far away takes longer compared to somewhere that’s close. Similarly, downloading content from overseas takes longer than downloading local content. Also, you may experience slower speeds if you’re trying to access content that’s affected by congestion. This typically happens when a lot of people are trying to access the same site.
Peak hours for internet usage.
We constantly monitor the speeds of Vodafone nbn® to try and optimise the experience for our customers. However, when a lot of people are online at the same time, your internet speeds can be impacted. It’s similar to traffic during peak hour on a busy road, except that the peak time for internet use is usually between 7pm to 11pm.
Our network capacity.
Think of the nbn® as a highway, with each provider having a certain number of lanes that customers can use. When you drive on a highway in peak hour, you’re less likely to be stuck in traffic if there are more lanes. Similarly, the more network capacity your provider buys from nbn co, the faster your internet speeds will be during peak hours. We’re constantly monitoring the speeds of Vodafone nbn® to try and optimise the experience for our customers.
Number of devices connected.
If you use the internet on a single device, it can access all of your bandwidth. But when multiple devices use your internet at the same time, your bandwidth is shared between them. This may feel like you’re experiencing slower speeds, even though it’s really the effect of reduced bandwidth for each device.
Modem type.
If you’re using your own modem, it may struggle to achieve the speeds available on the nbn® Superfast, nbn® Ultrafast, nbn® Superfast BYO, nbn® Ultrafast BYO plans and existing mobile customers with a Speed Upgrade to nbn® Home Fast. You should check with your device manufacturer or check the device specifications on your Approved Device or Compatible Modem (as applicable) to identify the speed capabilities and limitations of the device, including any device you use when connecting to the NBN Service.
To learn more, go to our Compatible Modem support page.
Device Type.
Your device, such as your laptop or tablet, can also impact your speeds. Some devices may be capable of accessing the maximum speed available on your plan, while other devices may not. Devices made before 2013 may struggle to reach higher speeds. You may need to check with your device manufacturer or specifications to identify the speed capabilities of your device.
Wi-Fi performance.
Wi-Fi performance can be impacted by multiple people using the same Wi-Fi network, physical obstacles or interference from surrounding devices.
The Vodafone Wi-Fi Hub™ comes with a 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi frequency. Generally, the 5Ghz frequency can give you faster speeds at a shorter distance, while 2.4GHz offers more range but may have slower speeds.
Additional information
Vodafone nbn® supports four different types of nbn® technology. Each technology has a maximum line speed and uses a different method to connect your premises to a fibre optic line. The nbn® technology that your connection uses depends entirely on where you live.
Fibre to the Premises (FTTP)
If FTTP is available at your address, nbn® are able to run a fibre optic line all the way to your premises. While your internet speeds may still be impacted by the factors listed above, FTTP can support all Vodafone nbn® plans.
Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC)
If HFC is available at your address, nbn® will connect the nearest fibre node to your premises via a cable network. While your internet speeds will still be impacted by the factors listed above, HFC can support most Vodafone nbn® plans. Some HFC locations may not currently be eligible for high speed plans.
Fibre to the Node (FTTN)
If FTTN is available at your address, nbn® will connect a nearby fibre node to your premises with the existing copper network. Usually, this fibre node will be housed in a street cabinet. Your internet speeds will be impacted by the factors listed above, and may also vary depending on factors such as the weather and how far you live from the node. Sometimes, the maximum line speed of FTTN will not support the speed tier of the plan you’ve chosen. If this is the case, we’ll let you know. Excludes high speed plans.
Fibre to the Curb (FTTC)
If FTTC is available at your address, nbn® will connect nearby fibre to your premises with the existing copper network. Generally, the fibre will be located outside your premises within the nearby pit. Your internet speeds will be impacted by the factors listed above, and may also vary depending on factors such as the weather and how far you live from the node. Sometimes, the maximum line speed of FTTC will not support the speed tier of the plan you’ve chosen. If this is the case, we’ll let you know. Excludes high speed plans.
Fibre to the Basement (FTTB)
If FTTB is available at your address, nbn® will connect a fibre node to your premises using the network technology in your building. Usually, this fibre node will be located in the communications room of your building. Sometimes, the maximum line speed of FTTB will not support the speed tier of the plan you’ve chosen. If this is the case, we’ll let you know. Excludes high speed plans.
If your nbn® technology doesn’t support the speed tier of your plan after your service is activated, we’ll undertake a speed check and let you know. We may also change your plan to one that’s more suitable, so you’re not paying more for speeds you can’t achieve.
To find out more about these technology types, head to the nbn co network technology page.
When you choose a Vodafone nbn® plan, you should consider how you use the internet and the number of people that will be connected. You should choose the speed tier that best suits your needs.
If you want to use your own modem with one of our Vodafone nbn® BYO plans, you’ll need to make sure it’s compatible. Find out more on our Compatible Modem support page.
Consumer nbn® plans
| nbn® Basic | nbn® Essential | nbn® Essential+ | nbn® Home Fast | nbn® Home Superfast | nbn® Home Ultrafast | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| nbn® speed tier Represents maximum speed during off-peak periods |
nbn® 12 Basic Evening Speed |
nbn® 25 Standard Evening Speed |
nbn® 50 Standard Plus Evening Speed |
nbn® 100 Premium Evening Speed |
Premium Evening Speed | Premium Evening Speed |
| Typical Evening Speed period (7pm – 11pm) | ↓ 12Mbps ↑ 0.8Mbps |
↓ 25Mbps ↑ 8Mbps |
↓ 50Mbps ↑ 17Mbps |
↓ 98Mbps ↑ 17Mbps |
↓ 240Mbps ↑ 17Mbps |
↓ 750Mbps ↑ 42.5Mbps |
| Number of devices (simultaneous use) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Number of devices (simultaneous use) | X | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Number of devices (simultaneous use) | X | X | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Number of devices (simultaneous use) | X | X | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Number of devices (simultaneous use) | 1 – 3 | 1 – 3 | 3-6 | 6-9 | 9-20 | 9-20 |
| Availability | FTTC, FTTP, HFC, FTTN or FTTB | FTTC, FTTP, HFC, FTTN or FTTB | FTTC, FTTP, HFC, FTTN or FTTB | FTTC, FTTP, HFC, FTTN or FTTB | FTTP, selected HFC areas | FTTP, selected HFC areas |
Business nbn® plans
Business nbn® Essential+ |
Business nbn® Fast | Business nbn® Superfast | Business nbn® Ultrafast | Business nbn® Superfast+ | Business nbn® Ultrafast+ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| nbn® speed tier This represents the maximum possible speed that is available during off-peak periods |
nbn® 50 Standard Plus Evening Speed |
nbn® 100 Premium Evening Speed |
nbn® 250 Premium Evening Speed |
nbn® 1000 Premium Evening Speed |
nbn® 250+ Premium Evening Speed |
nbn® 1000+ Premium Evening Speed |
| Typical Busy Speed period (9am – 5pm) | ↓ 50Mbps ↑ 17Mbps |
↓ 91Mbps ↑ 34Mbps |
↓ 210Mbps ↑ 21Mbps |
↓ 894Mbps ↑ 42.5Mbps |
↓ 210Mbps ↑ 85Mbps |
↓ 894Mbps ↑ 345Mbps |
| Our usage recommendation | Good for small businesses where up to 6 people are using at the same time | Great for busy small businesses with up to 9 people using at the same time | Excellent for busy small businesses with up to 20 people using at the same time | Best for small businesses with up to 20 people using at the same time or for those that simply want the fastest speed we offer | Best for larger offices and sites with up to 20 users online at the same time or who require higher upload speeds due to larger file transfer requirements | Best for larger offices and sites with over 50 users online at the same time or who require higher upload speeds due to larger file transfer requirements |
| Example activities | Great for browsing online, sending emails and online collaboration. | Best for video conferences, cloud storage and continuous file sharing. | Connecting many devices at once, streaming video on several devices & responsive online gaming and downloading very large files quickly | Connecting many devices at once, streaming video on several devices & responsive online gaming and downloading very large files as quickly as possible | Some users that are constantly online using voice & video calls, emails, browse onlilne, stream video content in 4K & download/upload large files quickly. | Many users that are constantly online using voice & video calls, emails, browse onlilne, stream video content in 4K & download/upload large files quickly. |
| Availability | FTTC, FTTP, HFC, FTTN or FTTB | FTTC, FTTP, HFC, FTTN or FTTB | FTTP, selected HFC areas | FTTP, selected HFC areas | Selected nbn® FTTP areas only | Selected nbn® FTTP areas only |
If you find that your speed tier isn’t right for you, you can change your nbn® plan within your contract period at no extra charge once per billing cycle. For example, if you’re on a plan that uses nbn® 100 but the maximum line speed for your connection is 50Mbps, you should switch to a plan that uses nbn® 50. This is because you’ll never reach the maximum speed supported by a plan that uses nbn® 100.
Your nbn® connection.
For customers with FTTB/FTTN/FTTC technology, we’ll undertake a speed check after your service is activated.
If your maximum line speed doesn’t support the speed tier of the plan you’ve chosen, we’ll let you know. We may change your plan to one that’s more suitable, so you’re not paying more for speeds you can’t achieve.
NBN FTTB, FTTN and FTTC technology types
If your plan is delivered on NBN FTTB, FTTN or FTTC technology, your speeds are affected by the length and quality of the copper used by NBN Co. If NBN advise us that the maximum attainable speed for your service doesn’t support the speed tier of the plan you’ve chosen, then we will contact you to let you know and provide you with options including to downgrade or cancel your service for no extra charge and with a refund. In some circumstances, we may automatically change your plan to a lower speed tier that’s more suitable to you, and provide you with a refund as well (however, we will let you know about this in advance).
The best way to check your Vodafone nbn® speeds is by running a speed test (ping test).
You should test your speeds at different times during the day. It’s best to run the test while your computer is connected to the Vodafone Wi-Fi Hub™ or Compatible Modem with an Ethernet cable, as this will give you a more accurate result. You can also run the test while connected to Wi-Fi, however your Wi-Fi performance may impact your speeds.
Here’s how to run a speed test (ping test):
1. Disconnect Wi-Fi devices
Disconnect any Wi-Fi devices connected to your modem.
2. Connect your modem
Connect your modem to your computer with an Ethernet cable.
3. Use the Speedtest website
Open your browser, go to the Speedtest website and follow the prompts.
We’re committed to giving you a great Vodafone nbn® experience. If you have an issue with your speeds, give us a call on 1300 801 122 and we’ll investigate the issue for you.