Best wireless internet plans in Australia: Fixed, 5G & mobile broadband compared
Wireless internet options in Australia have improved significantly in recent years and now offer a real alternative to a landline connection. While fixed wireless is necessary for people who can’t get a landline connection, the improvements made to some of the best internet plans in Australia make a more compelling case for ditching the NBN altogether.
So, if you’re thinking your home wireless internet plan could use an upgrade, or you want to find out if there’s a potentially better internet option out there to compete with your landline NBN connection, we’re here to help. We’ve compared the best wireless internet plans, in partnership with WhistleOut, including NBN fixed wireless, 4G and 5G home internet and even 4G and 5G mobile broadband.
Current wireless internet plan offers
Looking for some quick recommendations for the best wireless broadband options in Australia? We’ve selected some of the outstanding deals currently available, which you can check out below.
Best NBN Fixed Wireless Plans
The National Broadband Network (NBN) has made it its mission to provide internet access to the entire country. The majority of Australians can access the internet via a landline connection, but for those in more remote areas of the country, NBN fixed wireless is available to keep you connected.
As with its landline counterpart, NBN fixed wireless plans are split into different speed tiers, and some may also have a limit on the amount of data you can download. So, as with any internet plan, it pays to do your homework to find out which option is best for you.
It is also worth noting that the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) found in its latest Measuring Broadband Australia report that “users of NBN fixed wireless services achieved an average download performance of 110.2% of plan speed during all hours, which dropped to 87.6%. during the busy hours.”
For NBN fixed wireless customers on the equivalent of an NBN 50 plan, which advertises up to 50Mbps download speeds, this means speeds between 56Mbps and 65Mbps were reported during most hours of the day. During the typical busy hours in the evening, between 19:00 – 23:00, download speeds of 38Mbps – 56Mbps were recorded.
So while you might initially think that a fixed wireless internet plan isn’t going to offer much in the way of performance, the opposite is actually the case.
Best NBN fixed wireless plan: our pick
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More NBN Fixed Wireless offers
Best Home Wireless Internet Plans
Australia’s 4G and 5G network coverage has steadily improved over the past few years and is now a real internet option for people looking for a fast, reliable connection.
5G home internet in particular has the potential to offer download speeds that far exceed those offered on a fixed line NBN connection.
4G home internet speeds may be slower in comparison, but they provide an easier and more convenient way to get online for people in more remote areas.
Best wireless 5G home plan: our pick
When 5G home internet first became available in Australia, only Telstra and Optus could offer it. And Telstra was by invitation only. But now Vodafone has joined the party, Telstra dropped its invite policy and overall 5G coverage increased significantly.
This means that 5G home internet is a real option for Australians who want to get online and experience super-fast download speeds. And with increasing competition, the telecom providers are starting to offer better deals to help lure you. We’ve picked our favorite plan for most people below, but check out the best 5G home internet plans for more deals.
More 5G home wireless plans
Best wireless 4G home plan: our pick
More 4G home wireless plans
Best Mobile Broadband Plans
Mobile broadband can be useful if you spend a lot of your time away from home but still need an internet connection. It is available at both 4G and 5G speeds and can serve as an alternative to using your smartphone as a personal hotspot. But mobile broadband can get expensive if you need to buy a compatible modem, as telcos charge a monthly fee for it.
You can get SIM-only mobile broadband plans, but they require you to have your own modem. For example, you can put a SIM card in an old phone and use it as a personal hotspot. The most important thing to remember with mobile broadband is that there is usually a limit to the amount of data included.
The plans we have selected below are based on the assumption that you will have to pay for the compatible modem.
Best 5G mobile broadband plans: our pick
More 5G mobile broadband plans
Best 4G Mobile Broadband Plans: Our Pick
More 4G mobile broadband plans
Frequently asked questions about wireless Internet at home
What is Fixed Wireless Internet?
Fixed wireless internet is a type of connection mainly used by people in rural and regional areas of Australia. The ACCC estimates that 4% of NBN customers are served by an NBN fixed wireless connection.
Fixed wireless broadband is served at home via base towers that emit radio waves that are received by an antenna installed on the roof of your property. The antenna connects to an NBN device within your property, which connects to a modem to send out a Wi-Fi signal that your devices connect to.
Is wireless broadband better than the NBN?
Yes and no. For some Australians, wireless broadband is the only option to connect to the internet as their property is not served by a fixed line NBN connection. Some others may find that they live in an area with good 5G network coverage and can therefore achieve faster download speeds than is possible from their landline connection.
However, wireless internet options can be affected by network congestion, wireless signal interference and the distance between the property and the base tower. Although the ACCC has found that NBN fixed wireless providers deliver 110% of download speeds across all hours, this is not a guarantee that you will experience the same. A landline NBN connection is likely to offer constant speeds.
