Full Breakdown
NBN Co Launches Free Speed Upgrade Program for Millions of Australians
9/16/2025, 11:08:22 AM
Overview of the Upgrade Program
NBN Co has initiated its "Accelerate Great" program, which will provide free broadband speed upgrades to approximately 2.77 million Australian households and businesses. This significant upgrade affects users on fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) and hybrid fibre coaxial (HFC) connections, with the rollout commencing on Sunday. The program aims to enhance download and upload speeds, with customers on existing plans seeing substantial increases: those on 100 megabits per second (Mbps) plans will experience a boost to 500 Mbps, while 250 Mbps plans will rise to 750 Mbps. Additionally, a new 2 gigabit per second (Gbps) plan will be introduced.
Eligibility and Implementation
To qualify for the speed upgrades, users must currently be on plans of 100 Mbps or higher. Those on slower plans, such as 25 Mbps or 50 Mbps, will need to upgrade to access the new speeds. The upgrades will be applied automatically, but customers must ensure their modems and home networks can support the increased speeds. Experts warn that many older modems may not be capable of handling the new speeds, potentially limiting the benefits for some users.
Impact on Internet Usage
The average Australian NBN user downloaded 508 gigabytes (GB) of data in June, reflecting a 10% increase from the previous year. NBN Co's Chief Customer Officer, Anna Perrin, emphasized the importance of speed in supporting modern data demands, stating that the upgrades will enable better access to online education, telehealth, and cloud services. The program is part of NBN Co's broader strategy to transition users from outdated technologies to more efficient FTTP connections, which are easier to manage and provide faster broadband.
Market Response and Pricing
The introduction of the upgraded plans has prompted various Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to adjust their pricing strategies. While some ISPs, like Telstra and Optus, are maintaining current prices, others, such as Aussie Broadband and Superloop, are offering introductory discounts. The competitive landscape is expected to make higher-speed plans more accessible to consumers, with the NBN 500 tier anticipated to become the most popular option among users.
Criticism and Concerns
Despite the positive reception of the upgrades, there are concerns regarding the readiness of home equipment to handle the new speeds. Andy O’Connor, General Manager of Fixed Line Products at TPG Telecom, noted that not all home modems are equipped to support the higher speeds, which could lead to some users not fully benefiting from the upgrades. Additionally, users on fixed wireless or satellite connections will not be eligible for these upgrades, highlighting a gap in service availability.
Verbatim Quotes
“Speed matters,” — Anna Perrin, Chief Customer Officer, NBN Co
“This is one of the most significant NBN upgrades in years,” — Andy O’Connor, General Manager of Fixed Line Products, TPG Telecom
“Faster broadband means better access to online education, virtual healthcare, cloud-based business tools and emerging technologies.” — Anna Perrin, Chief Customer Officer, NBN Co
“Not everybody’s home modem is capable of going at that speed right now,” — Andy O’Connor, General Manager of Fixed Line Products, TPG Telecom
The Accelerate Great program represents a pivotal moment in Australia's broadband landscape, promising to enhance connectivity for millions while also posing challenges related to equipment compatibility and service equity.
