Ask LH: Which NBN Provider Is The Best For Streaming Media?

Hi Lifehacker, The NBN is about to go active in my area. What is the best plan for someone who’s into streaming a lot of content (like Netflix)? And which providers won’t suffer from congestion? Thanks, New To NBN

Dear NTN,

There’s no real one-size-fits-all answer to this particular question, because in the case of streaming media, while your connection speed is one factor, congestion issues at the server end can also affect your overall experience, and along a fibre NBN connection, they should be the same across all providers.

To make the most of a Netflix connection, your best bet would be marrying up the $14.99 Ultra HD pack with a suitably quick NBN connection of either 50/20Mbps or 100/40Mbps. While you might just eke out 4K video on a 25/5Mbps connection, overhead on the connection or your home connection could dip that speed slightly and affect overall performance.

There are wholly “unlimited” NBN connections, but the other factor here is that there are two ISPs in Australia, and most likely only two, that don’t count Australian Netflix usage towards quota: iiNet and Optus. Of the two, given its otherwise streaming-friendly attitudes — ABC iView, for example, is also quota-free — I’d say that iiNet should be a very good bet. In the same light, however, it’s probably worth noting that depending on your streaming needs and desires, Telstra doesn’t count Presto usage against broadband caps.

Cheers
Lifehacker

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