You likely started having to work from home last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Maybe the transition wasn’t as difficult as you thought it would be, or maybe there were a few more bumps in the road than you expected. But, whatever happened, you soon settled into a routine that worked for you and your family.
Knowing that it’s possible that your internet connection was one of the factors that affected the transition from working from an office to working from home. If you haven’t changed your internet plan to an NBN one, you may want to consider doing so, especially if you’re going to continue to work from home.
The basics:
There are four standard speed tiers: NBN 12, NBN 25, NBN 50, and NBN 100. Each one has varying upload and download speeds, but that’s not all you should consider. You need to consider your daily tasks at work, in addition to regular online activities and NBN prices.
Usually, watching videos, browsing the web, and checking email, among other things, calls for more download speed. However, if your work involves uploading files, you’ll want to pay attention to upload speed, too.
According to NBN Co, the NBN 50 speed tier is ideal for working from home, since it has an upper limit of 20Mbps upload speed. Also, if you have more people in your household, or you’re all heavy internet users, you may want to consider a plan at the NBN 100 speed tier. Such plans have download speeds of up to 100Mbps, and upload speeds of up to 40Mbps. Read more about How to fix 0x0 0x0 Windows Error?
No matter what speed tier you choose, other factors will affect the speeds available and what you experience. First, there’s the type of NBN connection you have, whether it’s FTTP, FTTN, FTTB, or HFC. Then, there’s the time of day and network congestion; if you’re working at a time when more people are online too, you’ll experience slower speeds.
NBN plans for working from home:
Of all the plans currently available, Aussie Broadband’s Everyday plan on the NBN 50 speed tier is a good plan to consider for your work-from-home career. This plan has unlimited data, doesn’t have a lock-in contract, and costs $79 per month. If you don’t bring your own modem, you’ll be shelling out a total of $228 that first month.
There’s also Belong’s Unlimited Standard Plus. Customers can choose between a no-contract and a 12-month version of the plan; don’t worry, though, because both versions include unlimited data. The 12-month plan costs $70 per month and includes a modem; meanwhile, the no-contract plan costs $75 per month, and you’ll have to pay for the modem that first month.
Finally, there’s Tangerine, with their XL Speed Boost plan. Like the plans mentioned previously, this one comes with unlimited data. If you use your own modem, you’ll be paying $54.90 per month for the first six months, and then $69.9 per month after that. If you don’t have your own modem, though, you can choose between three modems to add to your plan. The basic modem will add $99 to your first month, the mid-range one will add $149. The most expensive modem one features a 4G backup and will cost $199, with an additional $15 per month.
These are just a few of the NBN plans currently available. If you’re unsure what type of connection you have or want to see which plans are available in your area, you can always go to the NBN Co website to check your address. Then you just need to pick a plan that best fits your needs and your budget.