NBN Co research shows most residents do not know what speed they need

MOST WA residents need help understanding how much speed they need from their broadband connection, according to insights released today.

NBN Co commissioned Forethought to conduct the research, with 800 Australians surveyed from May to June.

It found that while 77 per cent of Western Australians knew there was a range of speed tiers on offer, 71 per cent did not know how to select a plan based on their household’s internet usage.

NBN Co launched a public information campaign on September 9 to help people select the right broadband speed tier for their household’s needs and to understand other factors that could affect their experience.

It comes as 13,500 households in Perth northern suburbs will be ready to connect in coming months, and about 37,700 homes and businesses already connected.

The three-step ‘Check, Select, Connect’ campaign will encourage people to check their internet usage habits and the number of devices connected during peak usage times between 7pm and 11pm.

It will also encourage them to select the right speed plan for their household’s needs and connect Wi-Fi routers or modems in the right place.

Head of nbn local WA Rachael McIntyre said it was important for residents to speak to their internet provider about getting the best plan to suit their needs during the evening peak periods.

“We’ve seen a significant shift in people on higher speed plans in the past year, with the amount of wholesale plans of 50Mbps or above almost tripling from 16 per cent to 47 per cent,” she said.

“At the same time, the average bandwidth network congestion has reduced from almost five hours in December to consistently less than 30 minutes per service, per week.”

Visit nbn.com.au/experience for more information.

Three steps to make sure you have the right NBN speed:

1. Check – your internet usage habits and the number of devices connected during peak usage times between 7pm and 11pm.
2. Select – the right speed plan for your household’s needs with an internet provider.
3. Connect – the right Wi-Fi router/modem in the right place and contact your provider to get help with any further in-home set up.