The latest Measuring Broadband Australia Program report reveals some encouraging data. The latest quarterly report, the thirtieth since reporting commenced, reveals that users in most states are getting slightly faster download speeds than they pay for. The exceptions are Western Australia and Tasmania. Upload speeds fall behind expectations across every state and territory.
When we look at which technologies perform best, Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC) and Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) meet or exceed promised speeds. But Fibre to the Node (FTTN) where the last part of the connection to a customer is carried by copper, struggles to deliver promised speeds on plans that are faster than 50Mbps. It’s a similar story with Fixed Wireless services where performance between base stations and a premises can fluctuate.
However, while services are not exceeding promised speeds universally, there is a steady improvement quarter by quarter. Since the May 2024 report, where download speeds averaged 100.4% of promised performance, performance now sits at 102% with improvements recorded each quarter. It’s a similar story with upload speeds which have increased from 87.7% to 90.2% over the same period.
While the report indicated that the NBN and Responsible Service Providers (RSPs) are delivering services as promised, we are still way behind the world when it comes to broadband. But that might change next week when users on 100Mbps plans are shifted to 500Mbps as part of NBNCo’s plan to boost services.
Looking at specific service providers, the report noted two providers who did not meet the expected speeds over the reporting period. These were iiNet and Vodafone. When it came to performance over each provider’s busiest hour, only half the providers covered in the report maintained promised performance.
The report’s data is based on data collected between 1 May and 31 May 2025. It includes results for
- NBN fixed-line services (fixed-line plans up to 500 Mbps download)
- other superfast access networks (fixed-line plans up to 500 Mbps download)
- NBN very high speed services
- NBN fixed wireless services and satellite services (NBN SkyMuster and Starlink)
The data is collected using a device installed by the ACCC’s reporting partner SamKnows. It is noted that the results collected may be impacted by home networking equipment.
Anthony is the founder of Australian Apple News. He is a long-time Apple user and former editor of Australian Macworld. He has contributed to many technology magazines and newspapers as well as appearing regularly on radio and occasionally on TV.