Lagging out? Why Fast Speeds Can Be The Winning Difference

This ain’t the 90s, folks. Many – if not most – games today don’t just live on a disc or a one-time download anymore. They live online as live services, delivered through patches, DLC drops, seasonal updates, ranked matches and live-service events.

Did you know your internet speed plan and home setup might be the final boss standing between you waiting to download the latest patch and actually playing it?

Now that nbn has introduced accelerated wholesale speeds on select Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) and Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC) plans across Australia, eligible gamers have a chance to unlock a smoother connection that is built for the demands of today and designed to be ready for what is coming next. Here is why speed can make a difference, now more than ever.

Faster Downloads Could Mean First Dibs on Content

Gamers are wired for speed – we want everything immediately. We want in on new features, bug fixes and DLC the moment they are live (and sometimes that’s still not quick/soon/fast enough). That said, today’s game updates can be massive. We’re not talking a few hundred megabytes anymore.

We’re talking a night-killing gigabytes of data – 50, 100 or even up to 200 and often simultaneously with other downloads. On a 50Mbps download speed, a 200 GB file can take hours or could take almost as long as a Lord of the Rings marathon, to install. Meanwhile your mates are already power leveling and you’re stuck doomscrolling on your phone while the progress bar drag across the screen.

On an nbn® wholesale HFC or full fibre high speed plan, those same downloads can finish in a fraction of the time. Eligible Aussie homes can now enjoy up to 5x faster nbn wholesale speeds on select HFC and full fibre plans. Instead of watching your console crawl through a glacial install process, you are in the lobby, headset on, party chat buzzing. While you’re playing, faster speeds helps your online sessions stay smooth, even if the rest of the household is smashing the connection.*

Since nbn is a wholesaler, we recommend that you speak with your preferred internet provider to find a speed plan that suits your household.

More Devices, More Demands

Let’s be honest: it’s not just you and your console anymore. The Aussie household is practically a tech zoo, with and average of 25 connected devices. TVs stream in 4K. Laptops chew through video calls. Tablets binge YouTube. Smart speakers, security cameras and even your fridge are all begging to connect to your home Wi-Fi. Add in your console downloading a new patch and your PC pushing to keep ping steady? Suddenly the internet feels like a crowded bus at rush hour with no air-con and you just ate a big meal.

This is where higher speeds can make a difference. When you have enough bandwidth to play with, everyone in the house gets what they need without stepping on each other’s connection. No more watching your ping spike the second your housemate starts live streaming their favourite sports team’s match. No more getting pwned because someone decided to download a new season of their favourite show in 4K.

Think of it as squad coordination. If everyone is trying to run in different directions at once, the mission fails. But with a faster connection, the squad works together and nobody gets left behind.

Get your Setup Future-Ready

By 2030, the average home is expected to almost double its number of connected devices, hitting 44. That’s prediction – that may even be exceeded. We are all going to end up with more gadgets hungry for bandwidth and games themselves are only getting heavier. Blockbusters now regularly push past 150GB installs. Updates alone can swallow what used to be equivalent to a hard drive of space.

If you are only planning for what works today, think again. Being future-ready means choosing a speed tier that can handle the needs of today and tomorrow. A faster plan and optimised internet setup can help ensure your console, PC and TV doesn’t choke the second a new generation of hardware or services arrives.

It is the same logic as buying a gaming rig with some headroom. You don’t build a PC that can only handle this year’s titles at minimum specs. You build one that can carry you into the next few years without breaking a sweat. Your internet setup should be configured with the same long-game mindset.

Help Stop Lag From Stealing Your Win Streak

Lag is not just an inconvenience – it is the enemy of victory and must be defeated. It is the split second that decides whether your shot lands or glitches past. It is the stutter that knocks you off the leaderboard and forces you to watch someone else take the crown. It’s annoying – and mitigable.

With faster nbn speeds, you can finally stack the odds in your favour. Higher speed plans give you access to the bandwidth that’ll help you keep playing, even if other devices are hammering the network, or even if the next patch download is a big one.

So, before you blame your controller, your console, or even your squadmates, ask yourself: is it time to level up your internet speed? Let your skills do the talking. With fast nbn speed tiers, you can focus on your next move, not your connection.

Ready to level up? Check what’s available to you here.

*Your experience, including the speeds actually achieved, depends on many factors, including whether you are using the internet during the busy periods (7pm – 11pm), the number of people in your household online at the same time and some factors outside of nbn’s control (like your equipment quality and set-up, chosen broadband plan, age of device(s) and/or how your provider designs its network). For nbn Fixed Wireless, speeds may also be impacted by the number of concurrent users on the nbn Fixed Wireless network, including during busy periods (7-11pm).