NBN 250: Everything you need to know

With the nationwide NBN rollout close to complete, attention is turning to getting the best speeds at the best price for your house. 

While the maximum speeds go up to 1000 Mbps, most households need much lower speeds than that. The NBN 250 plan is the second-fastest NBN speed available in the country for residential use and you may find that 250 Mbps is the sweet spot for your particular needs. 

With that in mind, here’s everything you need to know about NBN 250!

What is NBN 250?

First introduced in early 2020, the NBN 250 plan is the second-fastest NBN speed in Australia and should be able to provide maximum download speeds up to 250Mbps, with upload speeds of 50Mbps or 25Mbps (depending on your plan and provider).

NBN Co calls this their Home Superfast plan, and it is a huge upgrade from the next fastest NBN 100 tier.

NBN 250 plans

NBN 250 is now widely available to residential customers, provided you’re on an eligible connection type. Most providers offer residential NBN 250 plans, but prices, plan inclusions and upload speeds vary.

NBN 250 plans typically cost between $84 and $130 per month but many offer introductory discounted pricing and no lock-in contracts.

How fast is NBN 250?

NBN 250 offers incredibly fast broadband. At its maximum theoretical speed it should be able to perform downloads in lightning-fast time. For example:

• A full-length music album or a 1080p TV show episode in less than a minute

• A 30GB 4K movie download in less than ten minutes

• A 90GB video game in less than half an hour

However, these speeds are calculated from the maximum potential speed, which you are unlikely to actually experience. Along with the maximum speed, most providers will also list a typical evening speed to give you an idea of the speed you can expect during peak traffic hours of between 7pm and 11pm.

Typical evening speeds for the NBN 250 speed tier reach around the 215-240 Mbps mark. However, there are other factors that impact your internet speed outside of your provider.

Things that could impact your download speed:

• Your distance from your modem on a WiFi connection

• Your home’s distance from your neighbourhood or street’s node

• Potential damage to your modem or fixed line

Can I get nbn® Home Superfast?

To connect to nbn® Superfast, you’ll need to have a specific internet connection type to your premises. 

If your property has a fibre to the premises (FTTP) or hybrid fibre coaxial (HFC) connection, you should be able to sign up for nbn® 250 plans. You can find out whether your address is eligible at the NBN Co address checker.

If it is, you just need to place an order for one of the three highest speed tiers – which includes 100 Mbps and 250 Mbps as well as 1000 Mbps – with your provider. This will trigger an upgrade with NBN Co. 

In some cases, you may need an nbn® technician to visit your premises and install the necessary equipment. This can include replacing your existing nbn® connection box with a new FTTP box, installing new cabling and connecting your devices to the new network.

If your property isn’t eligible to be connected to FTTP technology, you won’t have long to wait. NBN Co. projects that they will have connected 10 million premises – that’s about 90% of homes and businesses across Australia – to FTTP by the end of 2025. 

Comparing NBN 250 plans

There are a few things to consider when choosing a 250 Mbps plan.

The monthly cost of an NBN 250 plan, including any additional costs like setup or installation fees.

The typical evening speeds available on the plan.

The data allowance included with the plan – while most offer unlimited data, you should always check.

The contract terms – is it locked or flexible?

Whether a modem is included or you can use one you already have.

Discounts, bundles or special deals the company is offering.

Do you need NBN 250?

An NBN 250 plan is a great option if you do a lot of high-definition streaming, intense online gaming, big file downloads and working from home. It could also be a solution for households with multiple heavy users, such as big families or sharehouses.

For example, if your connection often powers multiple devices streaming, gaming, downloading, uploading or video calling simultaneously, you may find a 250 Mbps plan keeps you running at the speeds you need.

If you’re feeling underwhelmed by your 100 Mbps, and your address is able to connect to 250 Mbps via FTTP or HTC, it may be worth considering an upgrade. 

Keep in mind that if you use your broadband plan for live streaming, file sharing or frequent content uploading, you should also consider upload speeds as well as download speeds. For example, while an NBN 100/40 plan offers slower downloads, you will get faster uploads compared to a NBN 250/25 plan.

With a typical evening speed of over 215Mbps, NBN 250 is a great way to manage busy households, congestion-proof your plan during busy evening periods, and improve your online experience.

Marshall Thurlow is the Director and Founder of Orion Marketing Pty Ltd.

He is a digital marketer with expertise in SEO, website design, content marketing and project management. With over 15 years of experience spanning government, not-for-profit and the private sector, he is well equipped to lead teams to success. He is a big proponent of environmental sustainability, critical thinking and progressive issues.