NBN 100 Plans Australia 2026

NBN 100 plans, now 500 Mbps free on fibre.

An Australian guide to NBN 100 plans in 2026. Why the tier became two different products in September 2025: 500 Mbps real-world speed on FTTP and HFC, 100 Mbps on FTTC and FTTN, and how to know which you'll actually get.

503.9Mbps
ACCC-verified avg on fibre
5xboost
Vs old NBN 100 speeds
$0extra
Same price as before
The short answer

NBN 100 plans in Australia are now two different products depending on your address connection type. If you have FTTP or HFC, your NBN 100 plan delivers around 500 Mbps real-world (ACCC-verified at 503.9 Mbps average peak speed). If you have FTTC, FTTN, FTTB, or Fixed Wireless, your plan still delivers around 80-100 Mbps as before. Same plan name, same monthly price ($65-$100/mo typically), dramatically different actual experience. The shift makes NBN 100 the most interesting tier in Australia right now, especially because the price gap to NBN 50 is only $10-$20/mo for 10x the speed on fibre connections.

The 2026 dual reality

Why NBN 100 means two different speeds in 2026

In September 2025, NBN Co's Accelerate Great program upgraded the wholesale speed delivered to NBN 100 plans on FTTP and HFC connections. The plan name and price stayed the same. The speed multiplied 5x for those connection types. Customers on FTTC, FTTN, FTTB, and Fixed Wireless saw no change because their infrastructure can't deliver the higher speeds. The result: NBN 100 is now two products in one tier.

FTTP or HFC
500Mbps real-world

The fibre experience

If your address has Fibre to the Premises or Hybrid Fibre Coaxial, your NBN 100 plan automatically delivers around 500 Mbps download speeds verified by independent ACCC testing. The plan didn't change. The wholesale tier delivery did. Some providers now market this as "NBN 500" but it's the same product.

Connection types
FTTP (Fibre to the Premises) · HFC (Hybrid Fibre Coaxial)
FTTC, FTTN, FTTB, Fixed Wireless
100Mbps max

The standard NBN 100

If your address has Fibre to the Curb, Fibre to the Node, Fibre to the Building, or Fixed Wireless, your NBN 100 plan still delivers up to 100 Mbps download. FTTC typically achieves 80-95 Mbps. FTTN varies with copper distance. The Accelerate Great upgrade does not apply because the infrastructure can't support higher speeds.

Connection types
FTTC · FTTN · FTTB · Fixed Wireless
80.5%of services exceed 500 Mbps

The independent Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) verified the upgrade with real-world testing in late 2025. 80.5% of NBN 100 customers on FTTP and HFC achieved an average busy-hour download speed exceeding 500 Mbps, with the overall average sitting at 503.9 Mbps during the 7-11pm peak congestion window.

Source: ACCC Measuring Broadband Australia report, December 2025
What you'll actually pay

NBN 100 pricing across Australian providers in 2026

NBN 100 plans (delivering 500 Mbps on FTTP/HFC, 100 Mbps elsewhere) cost $65 to $100 per month depending on provider and pricing structure. Cheapest intro pricing is currently around $69-$72/mo, with ongoing prices settling in the $85-$95/mo range. Here's the honest breakdown of where major providers sit.

Provider
Plan note
Intro/mo
Ongoing/mo
Tangerine
Cheapest intro pricing. 6-month discount.
$68.90
$88.90
Kogan
12-month discount (longer than most). One of the cheapest sustained options.
$71.90
$85.90
Aussie Broadband
CommBank customer offer. 36-month price lock available.
$75.00
$90.00
TPG
Bundled with Vodafone mobile plan. Mid-tier mainstream choice.
$79.00
$89.00
Vodafone
Bundle discount with Vodafone mobile customers ($89 with mobile, more otherwise).
$89.00
$89.00
Telstra
Premium tier. Includes streaming perks (Spotify, Binge trials), wide network reach.
$89.00
$99.00
Optus
Includes modem. $415 minimum cost over contract period.
$99.00
$99.00

Pricing accurate as of May 2026. Provider promotional offers change frequently. NBN Co wholesale price increase from 1 July 2026 will pass through approximately $2/mo to most retail providers. Compare current pricing on the retailer's own website before committing.

When NBN 100 is right for you

Six household profiles and the honest NBN 100 verdict

NBN 100 isn't right for everyone, even at the upgraded speeds. Match your household profile to the verdict below to know whether the tier delivers genuine value or whether NBN 50 is enough (or NBN 250 better suited).

YES, MUST HAVE

4+ person household on FTTP or HFC

Multiple users streaming 4K simultaneously, video calls, gaming, smart home devices. 500 Mbps comfortably handles 5+ concurrent activities. The $10-$20/mo premium over NBN 50 is the best-spent extra in Australian broadband.

Value vs NBN 50 10x speed for 15-25% price increase
YES, GREAT FIT

Work-from-home with cloud uploads

50 Mbps upload on FTTP NBN 100 transforms cloud backups, video meetings, file sharing. 1GB upload takes 3 minutes vs 10+ minutes on NBN 50. Essential for content creators, designers, or anyone uploading regularly.

Upload upgrade 2.5x faster on FTTP/HFC
YES, FUTURE-PROOFING

2-3 person FTTP household

Even smaller households benefit because the price gap is so small. For $10-$20/mo more you get 10x the speed and lots of headroom. The household may grow, work patterns may change, and the marginal cost is minimal.

Honest take Hard to recommend NBN 50 on FTTP at this price gap
SOMETIMES

3-4 person FTTC household

FTTC delivers 80-95 Mbps real-world on NBN 100, no Accelerate Great upgrade. The speed bump from NBN 50 (45-48 Mbps) is genuine but not dramatic. Worth it for heavy users, optional for normal usage.

FTTC reality ~2x speed of NBN 50, not 10x
PROBABLY NOT

FTTN household with copper distance issues

FTTN performance often caps at 50-80 Mbps due to copper distance from the node. Paying for NBN 100 may deliver the same real-world speed as NBN 50. Run a speed test first. Consider applying for the free FTTP upgrade program instead.

Better path FTTP upgrade unlocks the full 500 Mbps
NO, OVERKILL

Single light user

One person browsing, emailing, occasional streaming doesn't need 500 Mbps. NBN 25 or NBN 50 handles this profile comfortably at lower cost. Buying NBN 100 means paying for capacity that sits unused.

Annual saving $200-$400/yr by staying on NBN 25-50
Before you sign up

Six rules for buying NBN 100 in Australia

  • Check your connection type before assuming you'll get 500 Mbps. The Accelerate Great speed upgrade only applies to FTTP and HFC. Use NBN Co's address checker to confirm your connection type. If you have FTTC, FTTN, FTTB, or Fixed Wireless, you'll get around 100 Mbps max, not 500 Mbps, regardless of which provider you choose.
  • "NBN 500" and "NBN 100" are often the same plan. Some providers now market their FTTP/HFC NBN 100 plans as "NBN 500" to highlight the upgraded speed. Same product, same price, same wholesale tier. Don't pay extra for one branding over the other from the same provider.
  • Look for 12-month intro discounts, not 6-month. Kogan currently offers 12-month introductory pricing on NBN 100 plans, which is rare. Most providers offer 6-month intro discounts then jump $15-$25/mo. The longer the intro period at this tier, the better the year-one value.
  • Factor in the July 2026 wholesale price increase. NBN Co is raising wholesale prices from 1 July 2026, with most retail providers passing on approximately $2/mo. Plans signed up before then may still see the increase. Budget accordingly when comparing long-term pricing.
  • If you're on FTTN with poor performance, apply for the FTTP upgrade. NBN Co's free FTTP upgrade program converts FTTN and FTTC addresses to full fibre when you sign up to NBN 100 or higher. Around 7,000 homes per week are upgraded. Once done, your existing NBN 100 plan automatically unlocks 500 Mbps via Accelerate Great. Check address eligibility at nbnco.com.au.
  • Test your real-world speed during peak hours. The ACCC-verified 503.9 Mbps average is across the network. Your specific address may deliver more or less depending on local infrastructure. After signing up, test your connection between 7pm and 11pm via Speedtest.net or fast.com to confirm you're getting what you pay for. Most providers will allow you to downgrade if speeds underperform their typical evening commitment.
FAQ

Common questions about NBN 100 plans

What is NBN 100 in Australia?
NBN 100 is the second-fastest widely available Australian NBN speed tier. Historically delivered 100 Mbps download and 40 Mbps upload across all connection types. However, since September 2025, NBN 100 plans on FTTP and HFC connections now deliver 500 Mbps download and 50 Mbps upload thanks to NBN Co's Accelerate Great upgrade program. The ACCC verified in December 2025 that the average busy-hour download speed on the upgraded NBN 100 plan is 503.9 Mbps, with 80.5% of services exceeding 500 Mbps. NBN 100 customers on FTTC, FTTN, FTTB, and Fixed Wireless connections still receive 100 Mbps as before because their infrastructure doesn't support the higher speeds.
How fast is NBN 100 in 2026?
It depends on your connection type. On FTTP and HFC connections, NBN 100 plans deliver around 500 Mbps download (the ACCC measured 503.9 Mbps average during peak evening hours) and 50 Mbps upload. On FTTC, FTTN, FTTB, and Fixed Wireless connections, NBN 100 plans deliver around 80 to 95 Mbps download and 17 to 20 Mbps upload, capped by the underlying infrastructure. This means two NBN 100 customers paying the same price can experience dramatically different real-world speeds, anywhere from 80 Mbps on a copper-based connection up to 500+ Mbps on full fibre. The plan is the same; what matters is your address connection type.
How much does NBN 100 cost in Australia?
NBN 100 plans (also marketed as NBN 500 on FTTP and HFC) typically cost $65 to $100 per month in 2026 depending on provider and pricing structure. The cheapest options include Kogan at $71.90 per month for the first 12 months ($85.90 ongoing), Tangerine at $68.90 intro ($88.90 ongoing), TPG at $79 per month with a Vodafone mobile plan, and Aussie Broadband at $75 per month with CommBank customer offer. Premium providers like Telstra charge $89 per month with included streaming perks, while Optus charges around $99 per month with included modem. The market sweet spot is $70 to $90 per month from challenger providers.
Do I really get 500 Mbps on an NBN 100 plan?
Yes, if your address has FTTP or HFC connection, this is genuinely the case in 2026. The ACCC's December 2025 Measuring Broadband Australia report verified that 80.5% of NBN 100 services on FTTP and HFC achieve an average busy-hour speed exceeding 500 Mbps, with the network average sitting at 503.9 Mbps during peak 7-11pm hours. This is not marketing, it's independently measured real-world performance. The catch is your connection type: FTTC, FTTN, FTTB, and Fixed Wireless do not receive this upgrade and continue to deliver 80 to 100 Mbps. Check your address connection type via NBN Co's address checker before signing up to confirm what you'll actually receive.
What's the difference between NBN 100 and NBN 500?
Technically they are the same plan with different branding in 2026. Following the September 2025 Accelerate Great upgrade, NBN 100 plans on FTTP and HFC connections deliver 500 Mbps speeds, which some providers now market as 'NBN 500' to highlight the change. Comparison sites have started listing the upgraded plans under the NBN 500 label even though the underlying NBN Co tier code is still Home Fast (100/20 originally, now 500/50). For consumers, the practical difference is zero: NBN 100 and NBN 500 plans cost the same and deliver the same speeds on eligible connections. If you see both labels in your shopping, they're the same product.
Is NBN 100 worth the upgrade from NBN 50?
If your address has FTTP or HFC connection, absolutely yes. The price difference between NBN 50 and NBN 100 is typically only $10 to $20 per month, but you go from 50 Mbps to 500 Mbps (10x the speed). The value calculation is overwhelming for those connection types. If your address has FTTC, the upgrade gives you double the speed (50 to 100 Mbps) for $10-$20 more, worth it for 4+ person households or heavy users but optional for 2-3 person homes. If your address has FTTN, the upgrade is rarely worth it because copper distance often caps real-world FTTN speeds below 100 Mbps anyway. If you have Fixed Wireless, NBN 50 is usually the practical maximum your address supports.
Can I get NBN 100 without FTTP or HFC?
Yes, NBN 100 plans are sold to FTTC, FTTN, FTTB, and Fixed Wireless customers as well. The catch is that these connection types cannot deliver the full 100 Mbps reliably and certainly cannot deliver the 500 Mbps that FTTP/HFC customers now get. FTTC typically delivers 80 to 95 Mbps real-world. FTTN performance varies significantly with copper distance from the node, often capping at 50 to 80 Mbps. FTTB performs similarly to FTTN. Fixed Wireless rarely exceeds 80 Mbps even at the upgraded tier. The honest assessment: if you're on FTTN with copper distance issues, NBN 50 typically delivers the same real-world speed at lower cost. Check your address connection type and run a speed test before committing to NBN 100.
Should I get a free FTTP upgrade to access NBN 500 speeds?
Quite possibly worth it, yes. NBN Co's free FTTP upgrade program is actively converting FTTN and FTTC addresses to full fibre, with around 7,000 homes per week being upgraded. To trigger the upgrade you need to sign up to an NBN 100 plan or higher and be in an eligible upgrade zone. Once upgraded, your NBN 100 plan automatically delivers 500 Mbps via Accelerate Great. Check your address eligibility at nbnco.com.au. If you're not in an eligible zone, NBN Co's Technology Choice program lets you pay for the upgrade yourself, but the cost is typically $10,000+ which rarely makes sense for residential customers. The free upgrade is genuinely transformative if your address qualifies.

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See current Australian NBN 100 deals with up-to-date intro pricing, ongoing rates, and which providers automatically deliver 500 Mbps on FTTP/HFC connections.

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