The NBN price rises that kicked in on 1 July have now landed on actual bills: Telstra and Optus have both raised their entry-level NBN plans — and this time it’s new and existing customers paying more. If your household sits on NBN 25 or NBN 50, like most Australian homes, this one’s about you.
The short version:
- Telstra NBN 25 and NBN 50 are up $4 a month from 1 July; its 5G home internet jumped $10.
- Optus followed on 6 July: NBN 25 up $4, NBN 50 up $2.
- Faster tiers at both providers: unchanged. The budget tiers keep copping it — the third rise on slower plans since July 2024.
- The retail rises are bigger than the wholesale increase behind them on entry plans — more on that below.
What’s Gone Up, Exactly
NBN Co lifted the wholesale prices it charges every provider from 1 July — up 3.63 per cent on average, matching CPI, according to NBN Co’s official statement. The big two passed it through within days, as reported by Finder:
| Plan | Was | Now | Rise | Extra per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Telstra NBN 25 | $85 | $89 | +$4/mth | +$48 |
| Telstra NBN 50 | $95 | $99 | +$4/mth | +$48 |
| Telstra 5G Home Internet | $85 | $95 | +$10/mth | +$120 |
| Optus NBN 25 | $79 | $83 | +$4/mth | +$48 |
| Optus NBN 50 | $95 | $97 | +$2/mth | +$24 |
Zoom out and the squeeze on budget plans is starker. Finder’s reporting notes this is the third rise on the slower tiers since July 2024, when Optus charged $70 for NBN 25 — that plan now costs $83, meaning the same connection costs $156 more per year than it did two years ago.
The Margin Question Nobody’s Asking
Here’s the detail worth sitting with. NBN Co’s published wholesale increase on the 25Mbps tier is $1.08 a month. Telstra and Optus both raised their NBN 25 retail prices by $4. On NBN 50, the wholesale rise is $2.34 — Telstra added $4, while Optus added $2 (slightly less than the wholesale bump, to be fair to them on that tier).
Providers carry other rising costs beyond NBN wholesale, so a gap isn’t automatically gouging — but on the published numbers, the entry-tier rises comfortably exceed the wholesale change that prompted them. nbn’s Chief Customer Officer Anna Perrin described the wholesale pricing as “a measured and transparent approach, consistent with regulatory settings”. The retail layer on top is where the extra margin lives — and it’s landing on the plans bought by the most price-sensitive households.
How To Beat The Rise
The same NBN line into your house is resold by more than a hundred providers, and the challengers compete hardest exactly where the big two just raised prices — budget NBN 50 plans from smaller brands routinely undercut the big-brand price by $25–35 a month. Compare live pricing:
Start with our roundup of the best cheap NBN plans in Australia — including a calculator that shows what an intro discount really costs across your full stay — and our walkthrough of how to switch NBN providers (usually same-day, no technician).
Quick Answers
Will my bill go up automatically?
If you’re on an affected Telstra or Optus NBN 25/50 plan — yes, these rises apply to existing customers, not just new signups. Your provider must notify you of the change.
Can I leave without penalty?
Almost certainly — the vast majority of NBN plans today are month-to-month with no lock-in, so you’re free to switch as soon as a better deal appears. Check your plan’s terms for any equipment payout if you took a subsidised modem.
Are the faster tiers safe?
This round left NBN 100 and above untouched at both providers — but wholesale prices on those tiers also rose (up to $2.32 a month per NBN Co), so there’s nothing preventing a later catch-up. If you’re on a fast tier, enjoy it, and compare anyway.
