Millions of Aussies eligible for faster, more reliable internet

Millions of households and businesses are a step closer to faster, more reliable internet, with a major plan to close the digital divide reaching a significant milestone.

Upgrades to the National Broadband Network across Victoria and NSW mean two million premises now have an opportunity to move on from slower, less reliable copper internet connections to “world-class” fibre capable of delivering speeds 18 times faster and less likely to drop out.

The average data usage across Australia has increased tenfold over the last 10 years, and the average home now hosts 21 smart devices, a number set to rise to 30 by 2030.

According to the latest data from NBN, the average household in Victoria uses around 443GB of data each month, while in NSW that’s 457GB.

The latest milestone of the full-fibre rollout means eligible households and businesses can request an upgrade to fibre at no installation cost when they take out a higher-speed plan.

Compared with copper-based connections, full fibre will result in smoother video calls, more reliable streaming services, and the ability to have more devices connected at any one time.

Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said the increased eligibility for full-fibre upgrades would make a real difference.

“Fast and reliable full-fibre broadband unlocks greater social inclusion and economic productivity, it’s essential infrastructure in 2024,” she said.

“This is a fantastic milestone for two million households in NSW and Victoria who have been saddled with slow and unreliable copper technology rolled out by the former government.

“Access to this technology is a game changer for families who have had to struggle with dropouts and slow speeds over copper.”

By the end of 2025, the government and NBN’s plan is for more than 10 million homes and businesses to have access to the fastest possible internet speed as part of a $2.4bn investment to expand full-fibre access.

NBN chief customer officer Anna Perrin said a fibre upgrade could “transform your internet experience”.

“Whether you’re working from home, streaming your favourite shows, gaming online, or connecting with your loved ones, a fibre upgrade can help make a difference to your online experience, particularly when multiple users are online at the same time,” she said.

Ms Perrin said demand for full fibre, had already been strong throughout NSW and Victoria, with more than 173,000 homes and businesses already requesting an upgrade.

Residents can check whether their address is eligible for the upgrade via the NBN website.