Best Of 2012: Broadband

We’re looking forward to faster speeds from the NBN, and we’re increasingly keen on mobile broadband via 4G. Today’s instalment in our Best Of 2012 series highlights the most popular broadband stories of the year.

Six Myths About The NBN You Should Stop Believing Right Now

I live blogged the launch of the 2012-2015 NBN Corporate plan for Gizmodo yesterday (Giz editor Luke was trapped on a secret mission with a camera which may or may not have involved underwear, so I stepped in). The big takeaway from the event? Cogent dismissals of six persistent NBN myths which I suspect most Lifehacker readers already know are utter rubbish, but which keep clouding the actual discourse about our broadband future. Let’s review.
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Find Out When You’re Getting The NBN
As part of its announcement of its three-year rollout plan for the National Broadband Network, NBN Co has updated its service showing when NBN construction will commence. Type your address or city into the map and you’ll get a rough indicator of when work will commence.
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Five Mistakes People Make Comparing NBN Plans

With Telstra formally signing its deal to sell off the copper network this week, the odds of the National Broadband Network (NBN) project going through to completion have risen substantially. When you’re contemplating what kind of NBN service you might acquire once it becomes available in your area, make sure you’ve got all the facts.
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NBN Versus 4G Cafe Speed Challenge: We Have A Clear Winner

Yesterday saw the official launch of Australia’s first ‘NBN cafe’, Hungry Birds in Brunswick, Melbourne. With free Wi-Fi on offer for patrons, there was only one thing to do: get myself there for some speed testing (and a very yummy bacon and egg ciabatta). Just how fast can an NBN connection via Wi-Fi be, and how does that compare to using the other obvious high-speed option, Telstra’s 4G mobile broadband service?
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Optus 4G: Everything You Need To Know

After completing its Hunter Valley trial, Optus officially launched its own 4G network in Sydney and Perth today for business customers. When will it hit your area? What will it cost? What gear does it support? And what exactly is ‘3G Plus’? We have all the answers.
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Planhacker: Every Australian Prepaid Mobile Broadband Deal Compared

A prepaid mobile broadband service is ideal if you want occasional internet access while travelling, or just need a backup service when your home or office broadband goes down. Who has the best deals? Planhacker rounds up all the current offers in Australia so you can compare and choose.
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Optus ‘Free’ Broadband Might Not Be The Best Deal

Optus is offering a ‘free’ broadband connection with 50GB of data a month if you sign up for a 24-month contract on one of its home telephony or mobile services. While that sounds like a potentially tempting offer, it’s worth considering carefully before signing up.
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Are You On The Updated NBN Maps?

NBN Co has updated 40 of its maps, providing a clearer indication of when National Broadband Network (NBN) services will be available to around 165,000 homes. If you live in one of those areas, it’s worth checking to see if you’re one of the lucky ones who will be able to sign up for an NBN service in a year or so.
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Planhacker: Ultimate NBN Guide, November 2012

Living in an area where the National Broadband Network (NBN) has already rolled out? You have a lot of potential providers to choose from. In our most comprehensive Planhacker ever, we’ve rounded up 383 plans on offer from 20 providers in a custom spreadsheet that makes it easy to find the ideal option for you. We’ve identified all the main issues you need to consider before signing up and the pros and cons of each offer, and picked out the best-value plans in a range of categories. Get connected!
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Telstra 4G Mobile Broadband Dongle Goes Prepaid

You’ve been able to buy the Telstra 4G mobile broadband dongle on contract since last September. Now it’s also available as a prepaid device for $129 (which includes 3GB of data).
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