The best wireless internet plans in Australia have improved massively in recent years and now provide a genuine alternative to a fixed-line connection. When you think of wireless internet, the most common types that will likely come to mind include NBN fixed wireless and 5G home internet.
And while these certainly are the two of the best internet plan options in Australia, there is increasing competition from Starlink, Tesla founder Elon Musk's satellite internet service that has slowly but surely been attracting new customers.
So, if you think your home wireless internet plan could do with improving, or you want to find out if there’s a potentially better internet option out there to rival your fixed-line NBN connection, we’re here to help. We’ve compared the best wireless internet plans, in partnership with WhistleOut, including NBN's own fixed wireless service, 4G and 5G home internet and even 4G and 5G mobile broadband.
Current Wireless Internet Plan Deals
Looking for some quick recommendations for the best wireless broadband options in Australia? We’ve picked out some of the standout deals currently available, which you can check out below.
- NBN Fixed Wireless - Tangerine Fixed Wireless Plus for AU$54.90p/m
- 4G Home Internet - TPG Home Wireless Unlimited from AU$44.99p/m
- 5G Home Internet - TPG 5G Home Broadband Premium from AU$54.99p/m
Best NBN Fixed Wireless Plans
The National Broadband Network (NBN) has made it its mission to provide internet access to the entire country. The majority of Australians can access the internet through a fixed-line connection, but for those in more remote areas of the country, NBN fixed wireless is on hand to keep you connected.
As with its fixed-line counterpart, NBN fixed wireless plans are broken down into different speed tiers, and some may also have a limit on the amount of data you can download. So, as with any internet plan, it’s worth doing your homework to find out which option is best for you.
It’s also worth noting that the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) found in its latest Measuring Broadband Australia report, published in April 2023, that “users of NBN fixed wireless services attained an average download performance of 109.2% of plan speeds during all hours, decreasing to 84.7% during the busy hours.”
These figures are 1% and 2.9% lower compared the previous report, published in December 2022.
Despite the decrease, these figures do still paint a potentially positive picture for fixed-wireless services. However, do note that the figures obtained by the ACCC came from just 70 fixed-wireless services that were monitored during the first quarter of 2023. According to the ACCC's broadband wholesale market report, published in December 2022, there were just over 400,000 active wireless connections.
NBN Co has also previously said it plans to upgrade its fixed wireless network with new towers that can transmit over the superior 5G millimetre wave (mmWave) frequency. With the introduction of this technology, two new speed tiers, offering download speeds between 100Mbps to 325Mbps should also be possible.
These new towers are also said to improve the overall coverage area, so that around 120,000 customers who can currently only access satellite internet service will be able to move over to a fixed wireless internet plan.
Best NBN Fixed Wireless plan: our pick
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Best Home Wireless Internet Plans
Australia’s 4G and 5G network coverage has been steadily improving in recent years and is now a genuine internet option for people looking for a fast, reliable connection.
5G home internet, in particular, has the potential to offer download speeds that far exceed those offered on a fixed-line NBN connection.
4G home internet speeds may be slower in comparison, but they offer an easier and more convenient way of getting online for people in more remote areas.
Best 5G home wireless plan: our pick
When 5G home internet first became available in Australia, it was only Telstra and Optus that could offer it. And Telstra was by invitation only. But now Vodafone has joined the party, Telstra has dropped its invitation policy and overall 5G coverage has increased considerably.
This means 5G home internet is a genuine option for Australians wanting to get online and experience (potentially) superfast download speeds. And, with increased competition, the telco providers are starting to offer better deals to help entice you. We’ve picked out our favourite plan for most people below, but check out the best 5G home internet plans for more deals.
More 5G home wireless plans
Best 4G home wireless plan: our pick
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Best Mobile Broadband Plans
Mobile broadband can be useful if you spend a lot of your time away from home but still require an internet connection. Both 4G and 5G speeds are possible and perhaps the greatest benefit of mobile broadband is that it can serve as an alternative to using your smartphone as a personal hotspot. But, mobile broadband can get expensive if you need to buy a compatible modem, as telcos tend to charge a monthly fee for them.
You can get SIM-only mobile broadband plans, but these require you to have your own modem. You could, for example, put a SIM card in an old phone and use it as a personal hotspot. The key thing to remember with mobile broadband is that there is usually a limit on the amount of data included.
The plans we’ve selected below are based on the assumption that you need to pay for the compatible modem.
Best 5G mobile broadband plans: our pick
More 5G mobile broadband plans
Best 4G mobile broadband plans: our pick
More 4G mobile broadband plans
Home wireless internet FAQ
What is fixed wireless internet?
Fixed wireless internet is a connection type predominantly used by people in rural and regional areas of Australia. The ACCC estimates that 4% of NBN customers are served by an NBN fixed wireless connection.
Fixed wireless broadband is served to home via base towers emitting radio waves that are received by an antenna installed on the roof of your property. The antenna connects to an NBN device inside your property, which connects to a modem to emit a Wi-Fi signal which your devices connect to.
Is wireless broadband better than the NBN?
Yes and no. For some Australians, wireless broadband is the only option for connecting to the internet, as their property isn’t served by a fixed-line NBN connection. Some others may find they live in an area with good 5G network coverage and so can achieve faster download speeds than what is possible from their fixed-line connection.
However, wireless internet options can be affected by network congestion, interference to the wireless signal and the distance between the property and the base tower. While the ACCC has found NBN fixed-wireless providers deliver 110% of download speeds across all hours, this isn’t a guarantee that you will experience the same. A fixed-line NBN connection is more likely to offer consistent speeds.