Wireless broadband plans are worth considering in a handful of situations; if you live in a regional part of Australia, if your fixed-line NBN plan is prone to outages or is nonexistent, or if you want internet on-the-go. Going wireless is a good way of getting an internet connection for a variety of lifestyles.
It’s absolutely worth shopping around for a bargain now and again in the wireless internet world; the best 5G internet and the best 4G broadband plans tend to come with generous discounts, and you’ll often see prices slashed on NBN fixed wireless and mobile broadband offerings too.
Just keep some things in mind. Firstly, you might want to consider the best NBN plans if you do in fact have a reliable fixed-line connection to your home, as it’ll offer lower latency and competitive prices from a wider range of providers. NBN fixed wireless is also included in this article, but note that this is a form of NBN intended for those living in regional and rural Australia where cabled internet isn’t provided.
Let’s get into the best wireless broadband options in Australia.
Best 5G home internet plans
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Let’s start with the hottest tech on the block – 5G home internet. Adoption of 5G plans across mobile and internet categories is still ongoing, however, many telcos in Australia are now offering 5G home internet plans alongside 4G plans.
The distinction could matter to you if you live in an area that’s poorly serviced by 5G but has plenty of 4G to spare (find 4G plans further down). These plans leverage networks operated by Telstra, Optus and Vodafone to beam internet into your home.
Just keep in mind that 5G home broadband isn’t meant to be portable. For that, scroll down to the mobile broadband section.
Best 5G home internet plan
Best 4G home internet plans
5G hasn’t completely replaced 4G yet. 4G home internet plans are still an attractive option if your home exists outside of 5G coverage range. 4G broadband plans are offered by internet providers which leverage the networks serviced by Telstra, Optus and Vodafone.
Keep in mind that these plans, while wireless, must stay at your home address. If you want portable internet, then you should consider a mobile broadband option as outlined below.
Best 4G home internet plan
Best NBN fixed wireless plans
Where fixed line NBN connections cannot reach, NBN providers offer fixed wireless plans, which leverage the NBN where possible and rely on wireless radio bands where not.
Speed tiers of NBN fixed wireless plans have received a buff in recent years, with plans as fast as 400 download/10-40 upload (400/10-40Mbps) to be made available this year. Let’s get into the best NBN fixed wireless plans.
Best NBN fixed wireless plan
Best mobile broadband plans
While none of these other plans allow for portability and internet on the go, mobile broadband plans do. Think of mobile broadband as an internet plan, like the internet available on your phone via your phone plan provider, without having a phone number attached. These plans leverage 4G and 5G networks serviced by Telstra, Optus and Vodafone.
The world of mobile broadband can get a bit complicated. Some providers will offer mobile broadband as coupled to a specific device or a dongle, while others will offer simply the SIM card, or offer a specialty device as an optional extra. You might want a special, portable modem-router if you’re looking to provide internet to several devices at once, or you might want a SIM if you want on-the-go internet access for your tablet or SIM-capable laptop.
Best cheap mobile broadband plan: our pick
