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VPNs for ad-blocking Couple these limited internet technologies with devices that want to automatically backup images as soon as you step through the door (via upload, of course), and that’s a recipe for bringing your home network to its knees. In this NBN internet age, upload may be less of a concern, but it’s still important to understand what it’s all about. Upload is critical to online connectivity, but while most internet tasks require less upload bandwidth than download bandwidth for a smooth experience, you’ll absolutely notice across-the-board performance issues if your upload bandwidth is maxed out. For the most part, that perpetuation is true: download is more critical to regular internet usage than upload. Whether you’re surfing, streaming, or downloading, your download bandwidth absolutely matters more than upload. There are exceptions, though. Because most online games use very little data in comparison to, say, streaming movies on Netflix or TV shows on Stan, download and upload bandwidth can be quite low for a comparable experience where, ultimately, latency (or ‘ping’ as it’s erroneously called) matters more. That said, if you like sharing your entertainment from a media server like Plex while you’re out and about, or want to use services like Parsec to digitally replicate couch gaming, a fast and consistent upload speed is critical for the other side of those connections. The same is true for content creators and streamers, who either want to ensure they can upload multi-gigabyte videos in a timely fashion or stream at a fidelity and frame rate that makes the viewing experience better for viewers. More upload bandwidth also means faster file transfers when backing up to the cloud. This combines to create self-fulfilling validation that Australians don’t care about upload, but we haven’t yet properly had the opportunity to appreciate its perks because it’s not offered in proportionate amounts. It’s difficult for there to be demand for something that hasn’t been available in a meaningful way. In fairness, these plans exist for businesses, but have not yet been made widely available for consumers. Here’s a breakdown of NBN upload speeds by tier and technology type: Check out a selection of popular Fixed Wireless NBN plans below. Here’s the latest look at the data from the ACCC in terms of upload speed from popular NBN providers (note that Dodo and iPrimus are measured together by the ACCC). If you’re with one of these providers, you should be able to perform an upload speed test during the busy evening period and see similar numbers based on the NBN plan you have. An NBN 100/20 plan offers plenty of streaming potential for the Netflix-loving home, but you’d want at least an NBN 100/40 plan if you’re streaming in the other direction. The best upload speed for gaming depends on how you game. If you just play games, upload speed doesn’t matter a whole lot. But if you stream games or regularly upload gameplay clips, you’ll absolutely notice the speed difference with an NBN 100/40 plan. Depending on the data allowance of your mobile plan – where downloads and uploads both count towards your cap – and how you use it, upload is arguably more important on mobile than download. While browsing and streaming is absolutely more dependent on download than upload, the snap-happy smartphone photographer or videographer who backs up images via mobile data and/or shares them to social media will notice things are shared and backed up a whole lot faster when there’s more upload bandwidth to play with. According to CNET analysis, 5G upload speeds range from around 48.4Mbps to 63.3Mbps, which is a marked improvement on 4G upload speeds, but still pales in comparison to the 252–485Mbps range of download speeds on 5G. If you want to know how to improve your upload speed overall, it’s best to first look at your NBN plan. NBN plans with slower overall download also tend to have slower overall upload up until NBN 100. Beyond NBN 100, your best bet for more upload is to opt for an NBN 1000 plan – but those are currently available to FTTP connections only – or seeking out plans like Superloop’s 200/200 plan for symmetrical download and upload speeds. The best first place to start when determing whether you have an upload speed problem is with a speed test. Use the tables above to compare your current upload speed with what it should look like. If it’s noticeably lower, reach out to your provider for assistance.
