The best fixed wireless NBN plans for remote internet access

The NBN rollout is done and dusted, but things aren't quite as simple as signing up to a run-of-the-mill NBN plan for those who live waaay outback. If you live in regional Australia and are miles away from an NBN PoI (Point of Interconnect), there are two far-reaching Internet connection types you might be eligible for: Satellite NBN and Fixed Wireless NBN. There's also Elon Musk's Starlink.

Still, if you're less than 14 kilometres from a Fixed Wireless NBN tower then it could be your best option for getting faster broadband speeds at home. We've rounded up the best Fixed Wireless internet plans available.

Swoop's nbn Wireless Plus takes the prize for the best fixed wireless NBN 50 plan this month. With typical evening speeds reported at 73Mbps, you're getting more speed than you pay for. Plus, you'll be getting $15 off per month for your first 6 months, bringing the price down from $84 to $69.

With the promotional pricing in place, Swoop's NBN 50 plan stacks up well even against fixed wirless NBN 25 plans from other providers. Swoop also runs a referral program, so if you get a friend to sign up for a plan, you'll both get $15 off your bill each month for 6 months.

Be aware, you'll need to BYO router. Alternatively, you can purchase a router from Swoop for $130 upfront.

Check out other popular Fixed Wireless Plus options with unlimited data below.

If you're not a heavy internet user and simply want the cheapest option that'll keep you connected, Dodo's Fixed Wireless nbn25 plan is the cheapest Fixed Wireless NBN plan available that offers speeds that are fine for basic internet use. It'll be perfectly fine for sending emails and shopping online, but it might struggle with Netflix streaming at the same time.

What's more, Dodo is currently running a promotion that lets you get your first six months for just $48.90 rather than the usual $68.90 if you sign up before 29 October 2024.

Here's how it stacks up against other cheap Fixed Wireless NBN plans.

This Southern Phone plan rates first place as the cheapest Fixed NBN50 plan at $55 per month for the first 6 months (an extra $20/month after) then $75 per month for each one after that.

The Southern Phone NBN Fixed Wireless Plus also comes with unlimited data plus typical evening speeds of up to 75Mbps and upload speeds of up to 10Mbps.

Check out this cheap Fixed Wireless NBN plan next to other affordable picks below.

If you're looking for a nice balance between good value and decent speeds, iiNet's nbn12 Limitless plan comes out on top as the best Fixed Wireless NBN 12 plan with unlimited data. 

This plan will set you back $69.99 per month, but you won't have to worry about going over your data cap. Speedwise, you're looking at typical evening download speeds of around 9.3Mbps and upload evening speeds of 0.9Mbps. You can also save by bringing your own modem, or you can pay upfront for the one provided by iiNet.

Here's how it compares to other Fixed Wireless internet plans that offer similar speeds.

Where Sky Muster NBN satellite customers connect via a literal satellite orbiting the Earth, Fixed Wireless customers get their Internet in a more familiar fashion, with data transmitted over a radio signal emitted from a tower. Not unlike the way we connect to the Internet with our smartphones via a 4G/5G mobile tower.

Satellite NBN plans are still quite expensive, and, out of necessity, offer capped data usage to prevent congestion on the network. Fixed Wireless, on the other hand, offers more traditional NBN speeds. Fixed Wireless connections aren't as stable as Fixed Line connections because they're at the mercy of the same outages and stability issues of any mobile network.

Think of Fixed Wireless as sitting somewhere between Fixed Line and Satellite NBN; it's not as reliable as Fixed Line, but it offers faster speeds and more data than most Satellite NBN plans.

Or at least it did. Recently,  NBN Co has announced the launch of a new satellite internet option called Sky Muster Plus Premium. This new tier allows for uncapped (though not unlimited) data usage and the potential for satellite NBN connections that can "burst" up to a faster speeds of as much as 100Mbps.

The ACCC's trusted broadband speed testing program doesn't extend to fixed wireless technology. There are, however, some standard NBN speed guides to follow if you want a better idea of what to expect.

Fixed Wireless customers have access to three NBN Speed Tiers: NBN 12 (Basic), NBN 25 (Basic II), and NBN 75 (Fixed Wireless Plus). 

Fixed Wireless Plus is a speed tier made for Fixed Wireless NBN users that has effectively replaced NBN 50. Fixed Wireless Plus is now the most widely offered option for Fixed Wireless NBN customers, with some providers no longer offering NBN 12 or NBN 25 plans.

Fixed Wireless Plus plans claim to achieve potential evening speeds of 75Mbps, but the factors that impact mobile 4G/5G signals will also affect Fixed Wireless customers. Outages, environmental obstructions, and home satellite positioning can all impact Fixed Wireless speeds.

NBN Co says Fixed Wireless plans will reach at least 25Mbps once per 24-hour period. 

Fixed Wireless NBN providers don't have to disclose typical evening speeds in the same way that providers with fixed line plans do. 

Fixed Wireless plans are a lot more prone to congestion, and even on the fastest speed tier - Fixed Wireless Plus - you're only guaranteed to get speeds of up to 75Mbps once per 24-hour period. 

If you want the best shot of getting good Fixed Wireless NBN speeds, here are the fastest Fixed Wireless Plus NBN plans available, sorted by popularity.

The following Australian internet providers offer fixed wireless NBN plans.

• Aussie Broadband
• Dodo
• Mate
• Southern Phone
• iPrimus
• Tangerine
• SkyMesh
• Internode
• iiNet

The important thing to know when picking any internet plan is to determine which speeds you need, and whether the plan you're signing up for reaches those speeds.

If you're a heavy internet user, speeds of 12Mbps will struggle to keep up with demand. Likewise, if you just want to browse your socials and do a bit of online shopping, you don't need 100Mbps to get by. Unlike fixed-line NBN plans, providers of Fixed Wireless plans aren't required to self-report their typical evening speeds. While speeds harder to predict than fixed-line NBN connections, providers tend to follow the fixed-line trend of offering unlimited-data plans for Fixed Wireless NBN customers.

If you've got a Fixed Wireless NBN connection, the following equipment will be installed at your home by NBN Co, free of charge: 

• An outdoor antenna on your roof
• A connection box inside your home 
• A wall outlet to connect the two 

You'll also need a wireless router to plug into the connection box. In some cases, your NBN provider may give you one for free or offer to sell you one. If you have an existing router, you may even be able to use your own.