Telstra internet plans
Telstra sells seven NBN speed tiers, from a barebones 12 Mbps connection up to gigabit fibre. Every plan is month to month with no lock-in contract. Most come bundled with a phone line, the Telstra Smart Modem 4 (Wi-Fi 7 capable), and a 4G mobile backup that keeps you online if the NBN drops out. There is also an Internet Only range that strips out the modem and phone line for a lower monthly fee.
Understanding cost per Mbps
The A$/Mbps column in the table above tells you how much you are paying for each megabit of download speed. A lower number means better value. The Starter NBN 12 plan at $70 per month gives you 12 Mbps, which works out to $5.83 per Mbps. The Ultrafast NBN 1000 at $129 per month costs just $0.13 per Mbps. That is a 45x difference in value between the cheapest and most expensive plans.
This metric helps you compare plans across different speed tiers on equal footing. Two plans might cost similar amounts per month, but if one delivers twice the speed, it is objectively better value per dollar. The sweet spot for most households sits between $0.15 and $2.00 per Mbps. Anything above $3.00 per Mbps suggests you are paying a premium for very limited speed.
Telstra's pricing makes this comparison particularly interesting. The Essential NBN 50, Premium NBN 100, and Premium NBN 500 all cost $99 per month, but the value per Mbps ranges from $1.98 down to $0.20. If your premises supports FTTP or HFC, the 500 Mbps plan delivers dramatically better value than the 50 Mbps plan at the same price.
Starter NBN 12, $70 per month
The cheapest Telstra plan runs at 12 Mbps down and 1 Mbps up. It is a copper-only tier (FTTN, FTTB, FTTC) and the speeds reflect that. Typical evening performance sits well below the 12 Mbps ceiling for most addresses.
At $70 per month, this plan only makes sense for very light use. A single person checking email and browsing the web could get by. Video streaming in standard definition will work on one device, but anything beyond that will struggle. The 1 Mbps upload is the real limitation if you ever need to send files or join a video call.
Telstra includes the Smart Modem 4 with this plan, which feels like overkill for 12 Mbps. If you just need a basic connection and want to use your own router, the Internet Only version drops a few dollars but the value proposition is thin at this speed tier.
Basic NBN 25, $89 per month
The jump from 12 to 25 Mbps is noticeable. Uploads go from 1 Mbps to 5 Mbps, which makes a real difference for video calls. Telstra rates this plan as suitable for one to two people browsing, streaming in HD on a single device, and handling email.
At $89 per month, this is the entry point for a household that actually uses the internet regularly. Two people can stream and browse simultaneously without issues. Gaming is fine on a single console. The 5 Mbps upload handles Zoom calls without the pixelation you would get on the Starter plan.
This tier works on all fixed line NBN technologies. Your address does not restrict you to FTTP or HFC. The modem and phone line are included, same as every bundled Telstra plan.
Essential NBN 50, $99 per month
NBN 50 is the sweet spot for most Australian households, and Telstra prices it at $99 per month. You get 50 Mbps down and 20 Mbps up, which is a meaningful step up from the Basic plan in both directions.
A family of three can comfortably share this connection. Two people streaming in HD while a third joins a video call does not cause problems. The 20 Mbps upload is particularly useful for anyone working from home who needs to share large files or run multiple video calls throughout the day.
At $99, the Essential plan costs the same as the Premium NBN 100 on FTTP and HFC connections. If your home qualifies for those technologies, you automatically get bumped to the faster tier. That makes the Essential plan the better deal for FTTP and HFC customers, since you pay $99 and get 100 Mbps instead of 50.
Ultimate NBN 750, $119 per month
The Ultimate plan sits at $119 per month for 750 Mbps down and 50 Mbps up. It requires FTTP or HFC. The $20 jump from the 500 Mbps tier buys you an extra 250 Mbps of headroom.
In practice, the difference between 500 and 750 Mbps is hard to notice for most home use. Where it matters is when multiple people are doing bandwidth-heavy things simultaneously. A household with several gamers, someone streaming 4K on multiple TVs, and regular large file downloads will see the benefit during peak evening hours.
The 50 Mbps upload stays the same as the 500 Mbps plan, which is a missed opportunity. If upload speed matters to you, the jump to the Ultrafast tier is worth considering.
Ultrafast NBN 1000, $129 per month
Telstra's top-tier NBN plan delivers 1000 Mbps down and 100 Mbps up for $129 per month. It is only available on FTTP and HFC connections.
The 100 Mbps upload is a significant step up from every other plan in the range. For households where upload speed matters, such as content creators, remote workers regularly sending large files, or families with multiple people on video calls, this is the plan that delivers without compromise.
Real-world speeds on NBN 1000 vary considerably. NBN Co's maximum is 1000/50, but Telstra's 100 Mbps upload suggests they are using newer wholesale tiers. Your actual speeds depend on network congestion, your internal wiring, and whether your equipment supports gigabit throughput. Most modern routers handle it fine, but older Ethernet ports or cables can bottleneck the connection.
Telstra does not offer an NBN 2000 plan. This is partly because most NBN network termination devices have 1 Gbps Ethernet ports that cap throughput at around 940 Mbps in practice. The 1000 Mbps tier is effectively the ceiling for most home setups.
The Smart Modem 4
Every bundled Telstra plan includes the Smart Modem 4, a Wi-Fi 7 capable router with a built-in 4G SIM for mobile backup. If your NBN connection drops, the modem switches to Telstra's mobile network automatically, keeping you online at 25/5 Mbps until the fixed line returns.
The modem is provided for use, not ownership. If you cancel your plan, change to an Internet Only plan, or switch to a different connection type within 24 months, you need to return the modem or pay a $200 non-return fee. After 24 months, it is yours to keep.
Wi-Fi 7 support means the modem can broadcast across three frequency bands (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz and 6 GHz). This helps when you have lots of devices connected at once, since traffic spreads across bands instead of competing on a single channel. Whether you actually need Wi-Fi 7 depends on your devices. Most phones and laptops from the last couple of years support it, but older gear will still work on the 2.4 and 5 GHz bands.
Pricing changes to watch
Telstra raised most postpaid internet plans by roughly $4 per month in May 2026. Another round of increases is scheduled for 1 July 2026, with some plans going up by $4 to $5 per month. The Premium 100/500 plans are staying at $99, which Telstra says reflects their push to move customers onto faster fibre tiers.
At the time of writing, Telstra runs a promotional offer of 50% off any NBN plan for two months when you sign up online with code ONLINE50. This applies to new services only and runs until 20 April 2026. The discount brings the cheapest plan down to $35 per month for the first two billing cycles.
If you want to avoid the modem entirely, the Internet Only plans strip out the Smart Modem 4 and the phone line. You can bring your own router or buy one from Telstra separately. The savings are modest, typically $10 to $15 per month depending on the tier.
How Telstra compares
Telstra positions itself as a premium provider, but the price gap with budget rivals has narrowed. At $99 for 500 Mbps on FTTP and HFC, Telstra is only a few dollars more per month than TPG, Dodo or iiNet for similar speeds. The difference often comes down to extras: Telstra bundles the modem, phone line and mobile backup, while cheaper providers may charge separately for these.
The ACCC has rated Telstra number one for average NBN download speeds in recent reporting periods. That reflects network investment, but it also reflects the mix of customers on higher-speed plans. Whether that matters to you depends on whether you are paying for speed tiers that take advantage of it.
If you are comparing Telstra against Aussie Broadband, Superloop or SpinTel, look at the total cost over 12 months rather than just the monthly rate. Telstra's modem and mobile backup add value that cheaper plans do not include, but some households do not need those features and would rather save $10 to $20 per month.
The bottom line: Telstra's NBN range is broad, the mid-tier pricing is competitive, and the auto-upgrade to 500 Mbps on FTTP and HFC makes the $99 plans genuinely good value. The lower tiers (12 and 25 Mbps) are overpriced for what they deliver, and most households should start their comparison at the Essential or Premium level.