NBN Help

Speed test shows slower speeds than your NBN plan — what's normal?

You're on a 100 Mbps or 250 Mbps plan but your speed test results are consistently lower than what you're paying for.

Tired of fighting your ISP? HIT Pacific — transparent pricing, no lock-in, real local support.

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Why this happens

Wi-Fi overhead — wireless connections always lose some speed
Your device's network card is a bottleneck
The speed test server itself is congested
Your router is old and can't route at your plan's speed
Your ISP is not delivering the full plan speed during busy periods

How to fix it — step by step

1. Test on ethernet, not Wi-Fi
Plug a laptop directly into your router with a cable. If speeds jump significantly, the bottleneck is your Wi-Fi, not the NBN service.
2. Test to multiple servers
Run tests on fast.com, speedtest.net (choose a Brisbane or Sydney server), and nperf.com. Ignore any single outlier result.
3. Test at different times
Test at 10 am and 8 pm. If there's a big difference, your ISP has an evening congestion problem.
4. Check your router specs
Many older routers are capped at 100 Mbps on their WAN port. If you're on a faster plan, a router upgrade may be needed.
5. Compare to your ISP's Typical Evening Speed
ISPs are required to publish a Typical Evening Speed. Compare your results to that figure — if you're consistently below it, you have grounds to request an investigation or exit your contract.

Still having trouble?

If none of these steps resolve the problem, it may be an issue with your current provider. HIT Pacific offers transparent pricing, faster fault response, and local support.

See our plans