What NBN Speed Do You Need for IPTV?

Almost every IPTV problem people report comes down to the internet connection, not the service. That is good news, because your connection is something you can measure and improve. This guide explains how much speed each picture quality needs, how to match that to an NBN plan, and which parts of your home network matter more than the number on your bill.

How much speed each picture needs

IPTV sends video continuously, so what matters is a steady speed, not a quick burst. These figures are a sensible guide for each screen watching at the same time.

Add them up for the screens that will run together. A household with one 4K TV and two phones in HD needs roughly 25 plus 10 plus 10, about 45 Mbps, plus some room for everything else that is online.

Which NBN plan suits your household?

NBN plans come in speed tiers, commonly NBN 25, 50, 100, 250 and 1000. The tier is the maximum your plan allows, not a promise of what you will get at 8 pm. The speed you actually see in the evening is what counts for IPTV.

Not sure how many screens you need? This guide to counting screens and our pricing page show how plan size and cost fit together.

Know your connection type

• Fibre to the premises: fibre runs into your home. Usually the steadiest.
• Fibre to the node or curb: fibre to the street, then copper. Speed depends on the copper length.
• Fibre to the building: common in apartments, and shared between units.
• HFC (cable): shared with neighbours, so busy evenings can be slower.
• Fixed wireless and satellite: used in some regional areas. Usually slower and less steady, and heavy weather can affect them.

You cannot change your connection type yourself, but you can choose a plan size and improve the network inside your home. If you are on fixed wireless or satellite, start with fewer screens and ask us for advice.

How to test your connection properly

1. Run a speed test on the same device you will watch on, not on a laptop in another room.
2. Test between 7 pm and 10 pm, when the network is busiest.
3. Test twice, once on Wi-Fi and once with a cable if your TV has a network port.
4. Note the download speed and also how stable it is. A connection that keeps swinging up and down is worse than one that stays steady.

What slows IPTV down at home

• Wi-Fi. Walls, distance and other networks weaken the signal. A cable to the TV is steadier. If you must use Wi-Fi, sit close to the router, use the 5 GHz band, or add a mesh system for a larger home.
• Other downloads. Game updates, cloud backups and other streams use the same connection.
• An old router. A router that is many years old can struggle with several screens.
• Router position. A router in a cupboard or behind a TV loses much of its range.
• Too many devices. Every phone, laptop, speaker and camera that is online takes a share.

If your picture stops even though your speed looks good, work through ten buffering fixes.

Sport and busy evenings

Big matches are when everyone in your street is online at once. If you plan to watch live sport, test on a busy evening, use a cable, and keep other downloads paused. IPTV for sport in Australia has a game-night checklist.

A 30-minute home network tune-up

Before you pay for a faster NBN plan, spend half an hour on the network inside your home. It is often free and often enough.

1. Move the router. Put it high, in the open and near the middle of the home. Not in a cupboard, not behind the TV.
2. Restart everything. Switch the router off for 30 seconds, then on. Wait five minutes.
3. Use a cable for the main TV. A cable costs very little and removes the biggest variable.
4. Use the 5 GHz band for streaming devices. If your router shows two separate network names, connect the TV to the 5 GHz one.
5. Add a mesh point if the signal is weak. A single extra unit halfway between the router and the TV can transform a far room.
6. Replace an old router. If it is many years old, or your internet provider offers a newer model, ask about an upgrade.
7. Check the line. If speed tests on a cable are far below your plan at night, ask your provider to test the line.

Then test again in the evening and compare. If you still need more, you will at least know that the extra speed is what you are paying for. Our buffering guide lists what to try if the picture still stops, and the screens guide shows how many screens your connection can really handle.

Questions people ask

Is NBN 25 enough for IPTV?

For one or two HD screens, usually yes. For 4K or several screens at once, NBN 50 or faster is a safer choice.

Do I need NBN 100 for 4K?

Not for a single screen. About 25 Mbps per 4K screen is the rule, so one 4K screen can work on NBN 50 if nothing else is using the connection.

Why does it buffer in the evening only?

Evenings are when most households are online, and shared connections slow down. Test at that time and consider a cable to the TV.

Does home internet over 5G work?

Often yes, but speed varies with signal. Test in the evening and keep the modem near a window.

Does the number of devices matter or only the ones streaming?

Both matter a little. Streaming devices use the most, but every connected device takes some capacity.

Will a faster plan fix my buffering?

Only if speed is the problem. Weak Wi-Fi and an old router are very common causes, and a faster plan does not fix either.