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5G home internet can be faster than NBN, but only at some addresses. It uses a modem that connects to a mobile network's 5G towers instead of an nbn line, so speed depends on your signal and how busy the local tower is. As at September 2026, the typical evening speeds providers publish for 5G home plans range from about 19 Mbps to 297 Mbps, which puts most of them alongside nbn 50 and nbn 100 plans and well short of the 500 Mbps-plus tiers on FTTP and HFC.
5G home internet is sold by the three mobile network owners and some of their brands, only at eligible addresses. It suits renters, people on slow FTTN lines and households that move often. This page explains how it works, who sells it, how it compares with NBN on speed, reliability and cost structure, and how to test it before you commit.
By Better Rate Mate Editorial Team · Last reviewed
The provider sends you a 5G modem that you plug into a power point. It connects to the nearest 5G tower, like a phone does, and shares the connection around your home over Wi-Fi. There is no nbn installation, no technician and no connection box. You can usually be online as soon as the modem arrives.
Because it runs on a mobile network, 5G home internet is not part of the NBN. It is sold only at addresses the provider has checked for coverage and capacity, and most plans are locked to one address. Telstra, for example, says it only connects a limited number of homes to 5G Home Internet in each area.
Three companies own mobile networks in Australia: Telstra, Optus and TPG Telecom (which runs Vodafone). Every 5G home internet plan runs on one of them. These are the providers with a live 5G home internet product on their own site as at 28 September 2026, with the typical evening speeds they publish.
| Provider | Plans | Network | Typical evening download speeds | Contract and modem terms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Telstra | Basic, Essential and Premium 5G Internet | Telstra | 22, 43 and 297 Mbps (average busy period, 7–11pm) | No lock-in contract; return the modem if you leave within 24 months |
| Optus | Everyday, Everyday Fast and Entertainer Superfast 5G | Optus | 50, 87 and 230 Mbps (typical busy period); the two lower plans are capped at 50 and 100 Mbps | Month to month; the modem is free only if you stay 36 months |
| Vodafone | 5G Home Internet Basic, Plus and Premium | Vodafone (TPG Telecom) | 19, 50 and 100 Mbps (typical evening); maximums of 20, 50 and 100 Mbps | Modem cost applies if you cancel before 36 months |
| TPG | 5G Home Broadband Plus and Premium | TPG Telecom 5G network | 50 and 100 Mbps (typical evening) | No lock-in contract; modem fee if you leave within 36 months without returning it |
| iiNet | 5G Home Broadband Plus and Premium | TPG Telecom 5G network | 50 and 100 Mbps (typical evening) | No lock-in contract |
| SpinTel | 5G Unlimited (two speed options) | Not stated on its page | 50 and 240 Mbps (typical busy period) | Month to month |
It depends on which NBN connection you compare it with. Most 5G home plans are capped or tuned to deliver speeds similar to nbn 50 or nbn 100, and the fastest published typical evening speed we found was 297 Mbps. On FTTP and HFC, nbn's tiers now run from 500 Mbps to 2,000 Mbps, so a fibre or HFC home on a fast tier will usually get more speed from NBN.
The comparison flips on a slow FTTN line. If your copper line can only manage 30 or 40 Mbps, a 5G plan at an address with strong signal can be faster, with no need to wait for a fibre upgrade. The same applies to FTTB apartments, which can't yet get the individual fibre upgrade.
Upload speeds are usually modest on 5G home plans: the providers that publish them quote 11 to 20 Mbps, similar to nbn 50. If you send large files or stream video for work, compare upload speeds too.
The biggest difference is consistency. An NBN fixed line gives you a dedicated connection whose speed is mostly set by your tier and line; a 5G connection shares a tower with phones and other homes, so it moves with the signal and the crowd.
| 5G home internet | Fixed-line NBN | |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | Plug in a modem; no technician or nbn equipment | Uses the nbn connection at the address; a new connection may need an nbn appointment |
| Top typical evening speed (Sept 2026) | Up to 297 Mbps published; most plans 19–100 Mbps | Tiers up to 2,000 Mbps on FTTP and HFC; up to 100 Mbps on FTTN, FTTC and FTTB |
| Consistency | Varies with signal, distance, obstructions, weather and tower congestion | Mostly set by the tier and, on copper, the line; the ACCC measured 99.4% of plan speed on average in busy hours |
| Availability | Eligible addresses only, often limited numbers per area | Every address in the fixed-line footprint |
| Moving house | Plan is usually tied to one address; check eligibility at the new one | Move the plan to the new address's nbn connection |
| Latency for gaming and calls | Varies with signal and tower load | Steadier, especially on FTTP and HFC |
The providers' own fine print lists most of them. Telstra says speeds are affected by distance and line of sight between the tower and the modem, the number of users online, weather and congestion; Optus names signal, proximity, line of sight, congestion, geography and obstructions. The main downsides are:
It is worth considering if your NBN option is slow (a long FTTN line, FTTB in an older building), if you rent and move often, if you want to avoid an nbn installation, or if a provider's typical evening speed at your address beats the NBN plan you would otherwise buy.
It is less compelling if you are on FTTP or HFC and want 500 Mbps or more, if you game competitively or rely on steady video calls, or if your address has patchy 5G. Check the provider's coverage for your exact address, not just your suburb.
Most 5G home plans are month to month, so the risk is mainly the modem. Before you sign up, check the Critical Information Summary for what you pay if you leave early and whether returning the modem avoids it. Then, in the first days:
Yes, a 5G home internet plan can fully replace an NBN plan at an eligible address, and some households use it that way. What it can't do is give you the steadiness of a fibre line, and a phone line on 5G home internet depends on the provider offering one. If you are unsure, read about how to switch NBN provider, compare NBN speed tiers, and check whether your address could get a free fibre upgrade instead.
Sometimes. Published typical evening speeds for 5G home plans ranged from about 19 to 297 Mbps in September 2026, so 5G can beat an FTTN line or an nbn 50 plan at an address with strong signal. It rarely matches FTTP or HFC on the 500 Mbps-plus tiers, and its speeds vary more.
It is worth it if your NBN option is slow, you rent or move often, or a provider's typical evening speed at your address beats the NBN plan you would buy. It is less worth it on FTTP or HFC if you want fast, steady speeds for gaming or video calls.
Speeds vary with signal, distance, obstructions, weather and congestion; plans are only sold at eligible addresses; some modems fall back to 4G when 5G is unavailable; and modem terms can run up to 36 months with a charge if you leave early.
As at 28 September 2026, Telstra, Optus, Vodafone, TPG, iiNet and SpinTel all had 5G home internet plans on their websites. Every plan runs on the Telstra, Optus or TPG Telecom (Vodafone) mobile network, and all are sold at eligible addresses only.
The usual causes are modem placement, distance or obstructions between the modem and the tower, the modem falling back to 4G, a plan speed cap, or congestion on the tower in the evening. Try moving the modem near a window, check the signal in the modem's app, and test at different times.
The providers and typical evening speeds in the table were taken from each provider's own website on 28 September 2026. Providers change plans and speeds often, so confirm them before you buy.
