How to Boost Your NBN Speed: The Ultimate Guide

1. Optimize Your Router’s Location

The physical position of your modem/router is the most common cause of slow Wi-Fi.

Centralize it: Place your router in a central, open area of your home.
Elevate it: Keep it off the floor—on a shelf or desk is ideal.
Avoid Obstacles: Keep it away from thick concrete walls, mirrors, and large metal objects that block signals.

2. Switch to the 5GHz Band

Most modern routers support “Dual Band” (2.4GHz and 5GHz).

2.4GHz: Better range, but slower and prone to interference from microwaves and cordless phones.
5GHz: Much faster speeds and less congestion. Use this for devices close to the router.

3. Use Ethernet Cables for High-Performance Tasks

Wi-Fi is convenient, but it’s rarely as fast or stable as a wired connection. For gaming consoles, smart TVs, or your home office PC, use a Cat6 Ethernet cable to connect directly to the router. This bypasses Wi-Fi interference entirely.

4. Check for "Background Bandwidth Hogs

Multiple devices running updates or cloud backups in the background can drain your speed.

Check if your laptop is downloading Windows updates.
See if your phone is backing up photos to the cloud.
Turn off devices that aren’t in use.

5. Upgrade Your Hardware

If you are using an old router from 3-4 years ago, it might not be able to handle modern NBN speeds (especially NBN 100 or higher). Upgrading to a Wi-Fi 6 compatible router can significantly improve performance in a busy household.

Which NBN Speed Tier is Right for You?

Sometimes the issue isn’t your setup, but your plan. Check if your current plan matches your household needs:

NBN Tier	Typical Download Speed	Best For…
NBN 25	25 Mbps	Basic browsing, emails, and 1-2 users.
NBN 50	50 Mbps	HD streaming and small families.
NBN 100	100 Mbps	4K streaming, heavy gaming, and large families.
NBN 250+	250+ Mbps	Professional home offices and “Power Users.”

Conclusion: Still Experiencing Slow Speeds?

If you’ve tried these steps and your speed is still not hitting the mark, the issue might be with your internal wiring or a fault in the line.

At IQTEL, we specialize in high-performance NBN solutions. Contact our support team today, and we’ll help you run a line diagnostic or discuss upgrading you to a plan that actually keeps up with your life.