NBN v ADSL

nbn® vs ADSL – a guide to home internet

ADSL and nbn® are the most common internet connections – but do you know which one is which?

In Australia, there are various options for home internet, with the two most commonly compared being ADSL and nbn®.

What is the difference between nbn® and ADSL? And does ADSL still offer benefits for internet users, or is nbn® really the only option?

Read on to find out.

What is ADSL?

ADSL (asymmetric digital subscriber line) is a type of broadband connection that uses copper wire to transmit data from a box to your device. This technology is available in three different categories: ADSL1, ADSL2, and ADSL2+. ADSL2+ is the fastest and is now the most common, although the ADSL range has largely been phased out due to the availability of nbn®.

What is nbn®?

nbn® (National Broadband Network) is a newer broadband technology that replaces ADSL. It uses optical fibre instead of copper wire to transmit data and was introduced in Australia as a replacement for ADSL. nbn® plans offer much higher speeds and reliability.

Are ADSL plans cheaper than nbn® plans? 

As ADSL plans are being phased out, they are becoming harder to find and are being offered by fewer companies. While ADSL plans used to be cheaper, with prices ranging from $30 to $40 per month, the heavy market competition in the nbn® space means that ADSL plans are now often more expensive. 

ADSL plans range from $60 to $100 a month, while a comparable speed nbn® plan (25 Mbps) costs $50 – $70 per month.

nbn® vs ADSL speeds 

Without a doubt, nbn® offers faster internet connections. The quickest ADSL plan available is the ADSL2+ plan, which provides speeds of around 24 Mbps, while nbn® plans offer a top download speed of 1000 Mbps. nbn® also gives customers the option to choose their plan speeds, with six main residential speed tiers available (depending on the location).

You can get nbn® plans with a maximum download speed as low as 12 Mbps, while 25 Mbps, 50 Mbps, 100 Mbps, 250 Mbps and even 1000 Mbps speeds are available. This means customers can tailor their plans to their usage needs and budget.

Can you still get ADSL in Australia?

ADSL is still available in Australia, but it’s increasingly rare. With ADSL services being discontinued and switched off in most areas where nbn® has been rolled out, you may have been automatically switched over to an nbn® plan for your home phone and internet. Eventually ADSL will be discontinued entirely.

Is ADSL or nbn® better? 

nbn® is undoubtedly the future of Australia’s internet connectivity. While ADSL technology was once the best you could get, nbn® has replaced it with more affordable plans and faster, more reliable internet.

Switch today

The nbn® network is an upgrade to Australia’s existing phone and internet infrastructure.
nbn® connects your premises to its high-speed fibre network using a variety of technology types depending on your area.