Australia’s internet speeds are often a topic of significant discussion, especially in comparison to global standards.
Australia’s widely criticized nbn rollout has contributed to its current ranking in speeds.
According to the Speedtest Global Index, Australia has made notable strides in improving its internet speeds, yet it still lags behind many other countries in both mobile and broadband categories.
In this article, I will explore Australia’s current ranking and delves into the reasons behind its lagging performance.
Australia’s Global Ranking – Mobile Speeds
Australia ranks within the top 30 globally for mobile internet speeds.
This position reflects a competitive landscape, but it highlights room for improvement compared to leading countries such as Qatar, UAE and Kuwait, which consistently top the charts.
- Average Mobile Download Speed: Approximately 90-92 Mbps
- Leading Countries: Qatar, UAE, Kuwait, Iceland and Denmark
Broadband Speeds
In terms of fixed broadband, Australia ranks significantly lower, often landing outside the top 85. In this report, Australia ranked a shocking 92nd in the world.
The gap is huge here, with leading countries like Singapore, Chile and the UAE offering much higher average speeds.
- Average Broadband Download Speed: Approximately 63-64 Mbps
- Leading Countries: Singapore, Chile and UAE.
Reasons for Australia’s Internet Speeds and Lagging Performance
Several factors contribute to Australia’s position in the global rankings:
1. Geography and Population Distribution
Australia’s vast geographical expanse and relatively low population density pose significant challenges for infrastructure development. Providing high-speed internet across such a large area is logistically complex and expensive.
That said, most of Australia is located on the coast, and the poor rollout of NBN is often blamed on a variety factors.
2. Infrastructure Limitations
Australia’s reliance on older technologies, such as the copper-based network, has hindered broadband speed improvements.
While the National Broadband Network (NBN) aims to address these issues, its rollout has faced delays and budget overruns, limiting its impact.
The FTTN rollout has turned out to be a big issue, with now NBN focusing more on converting every home to FTTN technology.
3. Market Competition
The level of competition within Australia’s telecommunications market affects pricing and investment in technology.
While there are several providers, the market is dominated by a few major players, potentially stifling aggressive innovation and infrastructure investment.
That said, with inflation hurting most Aussie’s, people are jumping over to MVNO providers who offer cheaper plans with similar speeds.
Efforts to Improve
Despite these challenges, efforts are underway to enhance Australia’s internet speeds:
- NBN Rollout: The continued expansion and upgrade of the NBN are critical to improving fixed broadband speeds. The transition from copper to fiber-optic technology is expected to yield significant performance gains.
- 5G Deployment: The rollout of 5G networks by major providers is poised to boost mobile internet speeds. 5G technology promises faster speeds, lower latency, and greater capacity, addressing some of the current shortcomings. It is now also a direct competitor to NBN due to the competitive 5G Home Internet Plans.
- Regulatory Reforms: Ongoing regulatory reforms aim to foster greater competition and investment in the telecommunications sector, driving improvements in service quality and speed.
Conclusion
Australia’s journey in the digital race showcases its strengths in mobile connectivity, yet reveals a clear opportunity for improvement in broadband speeds.
By tackling the unique hurdles posed by its geography and infrastructure, and fostering a competitive market, the nation can unlock the potential for truly world-class internet access for all.
For all the resources available, they should be doing a lot better in the fibre rollout, and NBN is now announcing plans for potential 2GB download speeds.
You can dive deeper into the latest developments and comprehensive speed rankings on the Speedtest Global Index to track Australia’s performance and how they stack up against the world.
