NBN still failing ACCC speed tests as rollout enters final phase

Broadband speeds are still falling short even as the rollout of the NBN enters its final leg.

Regulators say many NBN customers still aren’t getting the speeds they’re paying for.

NBN speeds are still not hitting the mark even as the rollout of the National Broadband Network enters its final leg, with the competition regulator saying some telcos are still not delivering speeds promised on their plans.

According to The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), 12 per cent of homes on the NBN aren’t getting their maximum plan speed.

ACCC chairman Rod Sims said that both NBN Co and the telcos need to lift their game.

“We now want to see more action from both NBN Co and retail service providers (RSPs) to help the more than one in ten connections that simply do not perform to their plan speed,” Mr Sims said.

“In many cases, these limited speeds are caused by in-home wiring issues that can be fixed with a visit from a technician.”

The regulator’s latest snapshot of the NBN market, shows service quality dipping during the busy period (between 7pm and 11pm).

Vocus’s consumer brands Dodo and iPrimus, along with Exetel, have been highlighted by the ACCC for consistently failing to meet their advertised download speed claims during busy hours.

“We will be discussing these results with Dodo/iPrimus and Exetel, including whether their advertised speed claims should be immediately revised in light of these results,” Mr Sims said.

Dodo has already been on the receiving end of penalties from the ACCC over dodgy claims about its entry-level NBN plans.

From November 2015 to March 2018, Dodo advertised its NBN broadband plans, including those with maximum speeds of 12 megabits per second (Mbps), as being “perfect for streaming”. The entry level plans are unsuitable for high quality streaming and Dodo is giving refunds to around 16,000 customers as part of a court-enforceable undertaking made to the ACCC.

According to the ACCC report, telcos delivered average download speeds of between 80.4 and 86.7 per cent of maximum plan speeds during the busy hours.

They delivered between 82.2 and 87.6 per cent of maximum plans speeds in all hours.

TPG Telecom continues to top the table on offering the best speeds to households, with the ACCC also pointing to improved services from Optus and MyRepublic.

Mr Sims said the ongoing speed testing by the ACCC was forcing the telcos to improve their services.

“Measuring Broadband Australia continues to make a vital contribution to fostering competition and improving consumer outcomes by bringing much-needed transparency to the broadband market,” he said.

He added the program could benefit with the addition of more volunteers, to broaden its coverage.

“This program would not be possible without the support of our volunteers Australia-wide who have agreed to host a white box on their home broadband connection,” he added.