NBN 500 Mbps Rollout Leaves Some Customers Stuck at 100 Mbps or Even Less

On 6 June 2025, NBN Co announced that homes on the “100 Mbps” wholesale plan would be upgraded to 500 Mbps download and 50 Mbps upload at no extra cost for eligible residential customers. NBN Co+2GadgetGuy+2 And in September 2025, major speed tiers will get another leap — offering multi-gigabit speeds such as 2,000 Mbps download / 200 Mbps upload on fibre connections. GadgetGuy+3NBN Co+3News Hub – Medianet News Hub archive+3

But many users are still reporting speeds in the 50–100 Mbps range (or even lower like 25–75 Mbps) — far from the promised 500 Mbps. Why is that happening?

Top Reasons You Might Not Be Getting 500 Mbps

Upgrade not applied automatically

Even though many users on eligible connection types are supposed to get free automatic upgrades, not all addresses are eligible or have had the the upgrade triggered yet. Some users still need to contact their provider or check eligibility.

Old hardware limitations

If your home or business device (computer, laptop, network card) is older — think devices bought before ~2017–2018 — the hardware may only support speeds up to ~100 Mbps. To get full 500 Mbps, you need a compatible network interface (wired or wireless).

WiFi band or router limitations

Many routers in homes use the 2.4 GHz WiFi band by default, which typically cannot deliver very high speeds. To get >100 Mbps consistently, you need a device + router that supports 5 GHz WiFi (or better wireless standards) and is compatible. Also, older routers might only support slower throughput.

Coverage issues & weak signal

Even with a good router and 5 GHz band, if you are far from the router (walls, distance, interference), your speed will degrade. To get full 500 Mbps in all rooms, many customers benefit from using a mesh WiFi system. For example, a system like the TP‑Link Deco X50 AX3000 mesh WiFi 6 system offers better coverage through multiple units, supporting dual-band WiFi (5 GHz + 2.4 GHz) and is designed for multi-room or multi-bedroom homes. Learn more on our Wifi setup page.

Ethernet cables matter

If your router is connected to the network termination device or modem using an Ethernet cable that only supports 100 Mbps (e.g. old CAT5 or low quality cable), the link will cap out at 100. To get 500 Mbps, you need a cable rated for gigabit speeds or higher (e.g. CAT5e, CAT6, or better).

Shared network & peak hours

Even with eligible plan and good hardware, during peak usage times, many households share network capacity. So you might see slower speeds (50-200 Mbps) during busy hours, but at night or low-demand times you might achieve full or close to 500 Mbps.

Real-life case from our support calls

We at Geeks Callout have had many calls from customers saying “I’m on the 100 plan upgraded to 500, but I only get ~60 Mbps.” When we troubleshoot:

We check the plan: sometimes the upgrade had not been activated by the provider (still on old speed).
Then we test the customer’s device: older laptops or desktops had network cards limited to 100 Mbps or older WiFi that couldn’t go faster.
On switching them to 5 GHz band or replacing router + using a mesh setup, many users then achieved 400-500 Mbps in nearby rooms.
But in distant rooms, speed still dropped unless mesh units were placed to maintain signal.

What you should do next

Check your plan / contact your ISP to confirm the upgrade to 500 Mbps download / 50 Mbps upload is active.
Inspect your device / PC specification or wireless card to see if it supports gigabit speeds and 5 GHz WiFi.
Upgrade your router if it is older or supports only slower speeds.
Use mesh WiFi for full home coverage.
Ensure the Ethernet cable between the network box and router is capable of >100 Mbps (CAT5e or CAT6 or better).
Test speeds at off-peak times to see if peak hour usage is the bottleneck.

Need Help Boosting Your NBN Speed?

If you’re still not seeing higher speeds, our technicians can visit your home or business to run full network diagnostics, router configuration, and hardware checks.

👉 Book an Appointment we offer same-day service, and you won’t be charged if we can’t increase your speed.