Business nbn®
speed guide
Understanding nbn® speeds
Vodafone Business nbn® plans use ‘typical business hour speeds’, which indicate typical speeds during standard work hours between 9 am and 5 pm, Monday to Friday. The typical business hour speeds are estimated by reference to the maximum upload speed.
These speeds aren’t guaranteed and may vary depending on network conditions or other factors explained on this page.
Below are the typical business hour speeds for each nbn® connection type available with Vodafone Business.
Vodafone Business nbn® plan speeds
| Business nbn® speed plans | Essential | Essential+ | Fast+ | Profast | Superfast | Ultrafast | Superfast+ | Ultrafast+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Official nbn® speed tier | nbn25 | nbn50 | nbn100 | nbn500 | nbn750 | nbn1000 | nbn250+ | nbn1000+ |
| Typical busy download speeds (9am – 5pm, Mon – Fri) | 25Mbps | 50Mbps | 98Mbps | 500Mbps | 744Mbps | 894Mbps | 210Mbps (Estimated) | 894Mbps (Estimated) |
| Typical busy upload speeds (9am – 5pm, Mon – Fri) | 8Mbps | 17Mbps | 34Mbps | 42Mbps | 42Mbps | 85Mbps | 85Mbps (Estimated) | 340Mbps (Estimated) |
| Recommended usage | Small business with 1-2 people online at once | Small businesses with up to 5 people online at once | Busy small businesses with up to 10 people online at once | Medium-sized businesses with up to 12 people online at once | Busy medium-sized businesses with up to 20 people online at once | Busy medium-sized businesses with up to 50 people online at once needing high-speed nbn® access | Larger offices and sites with up to 20 people online at once who have larger file transfer requirements | Larger offices and sites with over 50 people online at once who require higher upload speeds due to larger file transfer requirements |
| Usage examples | Browsing online, sending emails and online collaboration | Browsing online, sending emails, video conferencing and online collaboration | Video conferences, cloud storage and continuous file sharing | Connecting many devices at once, streaming video on several devices and downloading very large files quickly | Connecting multiple devices, video conferencing with multiple team members, and downloading very large files quickly | Connecting many devices at once, streaming video on several devices and downloading and uploading very large files quickly | Supports users that are constantly online using voice & video calls, emails, browsing online, streaming video content in 4K & downloading/uploading large files quickly | Supports many users that are constantly online using voice & video calls, emails, browsing online, streaming video content in 4K & downloading/uploading large files quickly |
| eSLA | Not applicable | 12hr eSLA | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | 12hr eSLA | 4hr eSLA | |
Factors that may affect your nbn® speed and connection
If your Vodafone nbn® plan is delivered using FTTB, FTTN or FTTC technology, your internet speeds may be affected by the length and quality of the copper used by nbn®.
If nbn® advise us that the maximum attainable speed for your service doesn’t support the speed tier of the plan you’ve chosen, we’ll let you know and advise you of your options. These may include the following.
- Remaining on your current plan with no refund.
- Downgrading to a lower speed plan (if available) at no cost and with a refund of the difference.
- C1ancelling your service at no cost and with a refund of the difference.
In some cases, we may automatically move you to a lower speed tier that better matches your connection’s capabilities. If we do, we’ll let you know in advance and ensure you receive a refund for the difference.
The speed tier of your plan is like a speed limit. For example, if you have signed up to our NBN®100 plan, your maximum download speed will be 100Mbps – even if the internet connection at your address could potentially reach higher speeds. It’s important to note that various factors affect your internet speed. Because of this, you may not always receive the maximum speed available on your plan.
If you use the internet on a single device, it can access all of your bandwidth. But when multiple devices use your internet at the same time, your bandwidth is shared between them. This may feel like you’re experiencing slower speeds, even though it’s really the effect of reduced bandwidth for each device.
Your device, such as your laptop or tablet, can also affect your speeds. Some devices may be capable of accessing the maximum speed available on your plan, while other devices may not. Devices made before 2013 may struggle to reach higher speeds. You may need to check with your device manufacturer or review its specifications to find the speed capabilities of your device.
Wi-Fi performance can be affected by multiple people using the same Wi-Fi network, physical obstacles, or interference from surrounding devices. You’ll need a compatible high-speed modem for plans above 100 Mbps, including NBN®500 and higher.
Factors that may also reduce Wi‑Fi performance:
- Distance from your modem
- Obstacles like walls
- Number of connected devices
- 2.4GHz vs 5GHz frequencies
- Modem placement
- Speed tier of your plan
Your choice of modem and how you set it up in your home could stop you from getting the maximum speed of your internet plan.
If you’re using your own modem, ensure that is a high-speed compatible modem. Otherwise, it may struggle to achieve the speeds available on the high-speed nbn® plans with maximum speeds higher than 100Mbps. This includes NBN®500 plans or higher. You should check with your device manufacturer or check the device specifications on your Approved Device or Compatible Modem (as applicable) to find the speed capabilities and limitations of the device, including any device you use when connecting to the nbn® service.
To learn more, go to our compatible modem support page.
Driving somewhere that’s far away takes longer compared to somewhere that’s close. Similarly, downloading content from overseas takes longer than downloading local content. Also, you may experience slower speeds if you’re trying to access content that’s affected by congestion. This typically happens when a lot of people are trying to access the same site.
We constantly watch the speeds of Vodafone Business nbn® to try and optimise the experience for our customers. However, when a lot of people are online at the same time, your internet speeds can be affected. It’s like traffic during peak hour on a busy road, except that the peak time for business internet use is usually during standard business hours (between 9 am and 5 pm, Monday to Friday).
Think of nbn® as a highway, with each provider having a certain number of lanes that customers can use. When you drive on a highway in peak hour, you’re less likely to be stuck in traffic if there are more lanes. Similarly, the more network capacity your provider buys from nbn®, the faster your internet speeds will be during peak hours. We’re constantly watching the speeds of Vodafone nbn® to try and optimise the experience for our customers.
Extreme heat or rainfall, as well as the length and quality of copper lines used for nbn® FTTC, FTTB and FTTN connections, can also affect performance in your area.
Additional information
The best way to check your Vodafone nbn® speeds is by running a speed test.
To get a better understanding of your internet performance, check your speeds at different times throughout the day, during peak (9 am to 5 pm) and off-peak times. For the most accurate results, connect your computer to your Vodafone-supplied or BYO compatible modem using an Ethernet cable before running the test. You can also run the test while connected to Wi-Fi, but keep in mind that Wi-Fi performance may affect your speed results.
Ways to test your connection speed:
Run a speed test over Wi-FI
Go to the Speedtest website and follow the prompts.
Run a speed test over Ethernet
Physically connect your computer to your modem using an Ethernet cable and run a speed test.
Disconnect Wi-Fi devices
Disconnect all the devices connected to Wi-Fi and run a speed test.
You can find all your speed tests on the Results page of the Speedtest website. You may need them if you call support.
Vodafone Business nbn® supports five different types of nbn® technology. Each technology has a maximum line speed and uses a different method to connect your premises to a fibre optic line. The nbn® technology connected depends on where your business is located.
Fibre to the Premises (FTTP)
If FTTP is available at your address, nbn® run a fibre optic line all the way to your premises. While your internet speeds may still be affected by the factors listed above, all Vodafone nbn® plans are compatible with FTTP connections.
Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC)
If HFC is available at your address, nbn® connect your premises using a high-speed coaxial cable that connects to the nearest fibre node. While your internet speeds will still be affected by the factors listed above, all Vodafone nbn® plans are compatible with HFC connections. However, some locations may not currently be eligible for high-speed plans without upgrading the nbn® Connection Box or other infrastructure.
Fibre to the Node (FTTN)
If FTTN is available at your address, nbn® connect a nearby fibre node, usually found in a street cabinet, to your premises using the existing copper network. Your internet speeds will be affected by the factors listed above and may also vary depending on factors such as the weather and how far you live from the node. Sometimes, the maximum line speed of FTTN will not support the speed tier of the plan you’ve chosen. If this is the case, we’ll let you know. This technology excludes high-speed nbn® plans with maximum speeds greater than 100Mbps.
Fibre to the Curb (FTTC)
If FTTC is available at your address, nbn® connect a nearby Distribution Point Unit (DPU), usually found inside a pit on the street, to your premises using the existing copper network. Your internet speeds will be affected by the factors listed above and may also vary depending on factors such as the weather and how far you live from the pit. Sometimes, the maximum line speed of FTTC will not support the speed tier of the plan you’ve chosen. If this is the case, we’ll let you know. This technology excludes high-speed nbn® plans with maximum speeds greater than 100Mbps.
Fibre to the Basement (FTTB)
If FTTB is available at your address, nbn® connect fibre to a node inside your building, usually found in the communications room, then uses the building’s existing internal wiring to deliver internet into each unit. Your internet speeds will still be affected by the factors listed above and may also vary depending on factors such as the weather and how far you live from the node. Sometimes, the maximum line speed of FTTB will not support the speed tier of the plan you’ve chosen. If this is the case, we’ll let you know. This technology excludes high-speed nbn® plans with maximum speeds greater than 100Mbps.
To find out more about these technology types, head to the nbn® co network technology page.
Support articles for Vodafone Business nbn®
Frequently asked questions
Yes, in most cases you will need to be at your business premises during installation as the technician will need access to your premises to connect, activate, and test the service.
If you miss your scheduled installation appointment, your service activation will be postponed until a new appointment is booked and completed. Contact Vodafone as soon as possible on 135 888 to reschedule your appointment.
If something goes wrong during your Vodafone Business nbn® installation, you have several options:
Check the connections
- Make sure your modem is powered on.
- Confirm the cabling between the nbn® device (if provided) and your modem is set up correctly.
- If you have 4G Backup included, your service should automatically connect to Vodafone’s mobile network until nbn® activation is complete.
If an issue persists, contact Vodafone Support
- Call 1300 801 122 to report your issue.
- Our nbn® specialists will help troubleshoot your connection issues and may organise a technician visit if needed.
Not necessarily. Your installation date is when the nbn® hardware and cabling is completed at your business premises, while your activation date is when your Vodafone Business nbn® service is activated on the network. Your internet will not work over nbn® until activation occurs.
Our fibre upgrade plans require a high-speed compatible modem. Devices that don’t support Wi-Fi 6 and Gigabit Ethernet may not be able to achieve the speeds available on our high-speed business nbn® plans with maximum speeds higher than 100Mbps.
All Vodafone Wi-Fi Super modems and NL20MESH modems will work with an upgraded fibre connection.
You can keep your landline phone number with our Vodafone Mobile Landline service for $5 a month.
We don’t offer a home phone line with Vodafone nbn®. If you currently have a home phone line, it may be disconnected when Vodafone nbn® is installed, depending on the technology type. If it’s disconnected, you’ll lose any services associated with it.
Devices that use home phone lines
Existing technologies or devices that use your home phone line service may not be compatible with Vodafone nbn® and may no longer work after installation. These include but are not limited to:
- Medical devices or alarms with autodiallers and emergency call button capabilities
- Security alarms or services
- EFTPOS terminals
- Lift emergency phones
- Fax and Text Telephones (TTY) devices or services
Check with the manufacturer to see if your device is compatible on Vodafone nbn®. For more information on device compatibility, check out the nbn® co website.
Priority Assistance
Since Vodafone nbn® does not come with a home phone line, we are unable to offer Priority Assistance.
Priority Assistance is a service designed to help Australians who have, or live with someone who has a diagnosed life-threatening medical condition, and whose life may be at risk without access to a fully operational phone service.
For more information, check out the Australian Communications and Media Authority website.
If you have an email address with your current provider, check with them whether you can keep the email when you sign up to Vodafone Business nbn®.
If you have a pay TV subscription or other services bundled with your current provider, check with them about unbundling the services.