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The technology that keeps us connected has long since evolved from the days of old. Today, broadband and mobile technologies allow us to do more with our computers or smartphone than ever before. With acronyms such as NBN, ADSL, 4G, 5G, and VoIP thrown about, it can be difficult to understand what it all means. Discover the types of broadband connections in Australia, the difference between 4G and 5G, and more, by reading below.
Fibre optic networks are a type of internet connection that utilizes fibre optic cables to bring high-speed internet to users. The National Broadband Network in Australia is the government initiative to expand the reach of high-speed internet across the country, using not only fibre-optic cables, but also satellite broadband, and wireless broadband, to reach as many Australians as possible.
The National Broadband Network (NBN) is the government-implemented, high-speed broadband service currently rolling out across Australia. The NBN is a mix of different fibre-optic, wireless and satellite technologies aimed to bring the internet into as many Australian homes as possible.
The NBN first started as an initiative by the Australian Labor Party in 2007, which said that if elected they would begin to build the infrastructure to create a high-speed national broadband network. In 2009, NBN Co was established with the task to create, build, and then operate the network as a wholesaler of broadband services.
Since then, the NBN has been implemented across Australia with hopes to cover almost all of the population by the end of 2020. Today, the NBN covers a large majority of the Australian population, with 91% of homes and businesses able to connect to the network.
NBN services are divided into different speed tiers. While the actual broadband speed you may experience, and what is available to you, might differ based on the type of NBN connection you have and how many others are using the same service, these speed tiers are considered the maximum speed you could get from your broadband service.
A few ISPs offer speeds faster than NBN100, including Aussie Broadband which offers maximum speeds up to 250Mbps or even NBN 1000. Most internet users, however, will have no issue with NBN25 or NBN50 for typical use.
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The NBN is comprised of different types of broadband technologies in a bid to get high-speed internet access to as much of the population as possible. While it mostly relies on fibre optic cables, it also uses wireless technologies to reach more regional customers.
The broadband technologies implemented by the NBN include:
Most people within the NBN range will only need to worry about the first three types of connections, as they are most common. However, every home is different and where you live will determine the type of broadband connection available to you.
The NBN has been extending across Australia since its first services went live in 2011. Now, over 10 million homes and businesses are eligible to connect to the NBN, with 6.4 million actually connected.
NBN Co. hopes to reach most, if not all, Australians by the end of 2020. Most ISPs check whether the NBN is available to your house prior to signing up with a service.
You can also see whether or not you’re within the NBN on the NBN Co. website as well as see places where the expansion of the NBN has begun.
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ADSL, and its various iterations, is the technology that followed dial-up broadband. While still a common broadband connection option for many Australian homes, it’s soon going to be replaced by the NBN.
ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) is the broadband connection technology that succeeded traditional dial-up when bringing internet in Australian homes. Unlike newer fibre-optic cables, ADSL relies on the traditional copper telephone lines to send and receive digital data.
ADSL speeds are much more variable than newer fibre optic cables, with download speeds averaging around 10Mbps. ADSL speeds are dependent on many factors including the number of local connections, and the distance between the telephone exchange and connection.
Cable broadband, like NBN HFC, uses existing cable TV lines to deliver high-speed internet to households. Cable broadband isn’t a common broadband connection in Australia, with only a few major ISPs such as Telstra and Optus offering any cable connection.
Cable speeds are comparable to NBN speeds, and if possible is a good alternative to ADSL as most houses have both the ADSL copper wires and cable connections.
Wireless and mobile broadband are popular options for those where NBN has not yet arrived, and ADSL isn’t a viable option due to slow speeds or high congestion of the copper lines.
Unlike traditional broadband methods, both alternatives are powered by the 4G mobile network. While wireless broadband and mobile broadband both connect to the same type of network, there are some major differences between the two.
Wireless broadband is intended for home use, requiring a constant power source into a special wireless broadband modem. Unlike NBN or ADSL, wireless broadband doesn’t require a special technician to come out and install the technology into your residence but rather you can just plug it in and go, making it an attractive choice for people who frequently move homes or rent.
Wireless broadband plans tend to have capped data options (generally between 200GB and 500GB per month), unlike the increasingly popular unlimited data available with more traditional broadband technologies. Speeds vary with wireless broadband, with lower-priced options capping their download speeds at 12Mbps (comparable to entry-level Standard NBN) while other wireless broadband providers offer network speeds of up to, and even more than, 20Mbps.
Mobile broadband, like wireless home broadband, connects to the internet using the mobile phone network. Unlike wireless home broadband, mobile broadband is mobile. Customers can insert the mobile broadband SIM-card into any data-enabled device such as a tablet, wifi dongle, or battery-powered hot-spot. Oftentimes, mobile broadband plans are also called data-only plans, as these operate in the same way a mobile phone plan does, but come without services such as talk or SMS allowances.
Mobile broadband plans range from 1GB of data per month up to 250GB, and run at the same speeds as other data-enabled devices.
While the NBN continues to expand in the urban areas of Australia, those living in rural or regional places across the country face unique difficulties when it comes to fast and reliable internet access.
Many rural residents have the ability to use ADSL or ADSL2+ to connect their homes to the internet, as both rely on the copper phone lines already in place.
However, as the distance between your house and the telephone exchange plays a critical role in the speeds in which people can connect to the network, those living too far from the exchange might find ADSL or ADSL2+ not worthwhile.
If ADSL is not a reliable option, mobile or wireless home broadband on the 4G network is a worthy contender. While all three mobile network providers in Australia cover a great majority of the population, Telstra’s 98% population coverage boasts the biggest percentage, particularly in rural regions.
The drawback to mobile broadband is that structures such as large buildings or mountains can interrupt your connection, and coverage might not be perfect in your entire house.
While more expensive, satellite broadband is an option for those where ADSL or mobile broadband is not available. However, with the government’s National Broadband Guarantee, many are eligible for assistance with installation costs for a satellite connection.
While a good option for those living too far from an ADSL telephone exchange, or where a mobile network doesn’t reach, satellite broadband is still affected by issues such as cloud cover or weather conditions.
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In just a short span of time, mobile phones have become an invaluable part of everyday life. From keeping up with the latest TV shows, to checking in on friends, to working away from the office, mobile phones bring the world together in ways that were never possible just a few short years ago.
Mobile phones are always evolving, as well, with technology evolving in ways humankind couldn’t have imagined in the last century. The 5G network is just starting to be made available, and with it a whole host of exciting possibilities, while those who were once unable to connect to friends and family have the technology to do so now thanks to satellite phone technology.
As mentioned previously, 5G is beginning to roll out across the country through Telstra and Optus. While only available in certain areas of Australia and currently only available via Optus with their fixed wireless broadband devices, 5G is expected to be available nationwide by the end of 2020 on all three network providers.
5G, or 5th generation cellular wireless technology uses a system of cell sites (like previous cellular wireless technology) to send data over radio waves. Unlike 4G, and other generations, 5G utilizes higher, short-distance millimetre-wave frequencies to increase flexibility and speeds while lowering latency to allow for a more receptive experience.
But, just how fast is 5G compared to 4G?5G is expected to reach download speeds of more than 10Gigabits/second, compared to 4G’s 10Megabits/second. This is due to 5G technology using larger channels than 4G, made possible on those higher radio frequencies that 4G doesn’t reach, as well as more efficient encoding.
Outside of mobile phones, 5G can be applied to areas such as:
By increasing the connectedness of all mobile network devices, they will be able to work together with more speed and efficiency than ever before.
While the three network providers in Australia cover up to 98% of the population, this does not mean full network coverage across the country. Indeed, for those living in isolated or rural areas, it’s not only difficult to connect to a mobile network, but it can also be dangerous. For those who cannot connect to the mobile network, satellite phones, or sat phones, are an important and necessary tool to keep connected.
Sat phones work differently from traditional mobile phones. While mobile phones connect to nearby radio towers on Earth, sat phones (as their name suggest) connect to satellites orbiting around the Earth in space. This means that even if you don’t get mobile network coverage, you can still be connected via satellite to anywhere in the world. While they are paramount for those who live in isolated areas, the lack of demand and minimal satellite infrastructure means these phones can be costly.
In addition, the distance between the caller, the satellite, and the recipient, means that there is a delay in the conversation.
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