Australia's High-Speed Internet Arms Race Escalates: Tangerine Joins NBN 500 Battle

08/08/2025

Australia is currently experiencing an unprecedented surge in high-speed internet availability and affordability, driven by aggressive competition among service providers as a major network upgrade looms. This period marks a significant shift from the previous limitations of internet speeds, ushering in an era where faster connections are becoming the norm for more Australians.

Unlock Ultra-Fast Speeds: The NBN 500 Revolution Is Here!

The Dawn of Accelerated Broadband in Australia

The era of sluggish internet connections is rapidly drawing to a close across Australia. As widely anticipated, NBN is poised to launch significant network enhancements in September, promising to convert the majority of existing NBN 100 plans into the more powerful NBN 500. However, a number of internet service providers are not content to wait, proactively introducing their high-speed NBN 500 offerings. This forward-thinking approach has already seen companies like Exetel and Spintel present enticing early NBN 500 packages to the market.

Tangerine Ignites the Speed Wars

Not one to be left behind, Tangerine has entered the fray with a compelling proposition. The provider is now extending an NBN 500 plan at an initial monthly rate of AU$68.90. This introductory price is valid for the first six months, after which the subscription will revert to its standard monthly charge of AU$88.90.

Analyzing the Value Proposition of Tangerine's Offer

Upon closer inspection, the AU$68.90 introductory rate from Tangerine undeniably stands as the most economical NBN 500 price point yet. Nevertheless, it is noteworthy that once the promotional period concludes, the subsequent regular monthly fee positions it at the higher end of the current market spectrum. Despite this, when considering the cumulative cost over a full year, Tangerine still maintains a slight edge as the most budget-friendly option. A comparison illustrates the overall annual expenditure:

Provider	Introductory price (six months)	Regular price	Total per year
Tangerine	AU$68.90	AU$88.90	AU$946.80
Spintel	AU$74	AU$84.95	AU$953.70
Exetel	AU$80	AU$80	AU$960

Strategic Switching for Optimal Savings

Given the absence of long-term contracts for these plans, consumers possess the flexibility to transition between providers. A savvy approach could involve capitalizing on Tangerine's introductory six-month offer, then shifting to Spintel's plan for a subsequent six months (assuming its continued availability), and finally settling on Exetel's plan for its sustained low cost. Such a strategy could potentially yield significant annual savings, bringing the cost of NBN 500 service down to an attractive AU$857.40 per year. However, the dynamic nature of the NBN market suggests that even more competitive deals may emerge in the near future, indicating a period of robust competition among providers, much to the benefit of Australian consumers.

The Critical Role of Connection Technology for Elevated Speeds

It is imperative to understand that achieving speeds exceeding NBN 100 necessitates a specific type of connection: either Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) or Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC). For households still relying on Fibre to the Node (FTTN) technology, regardless of the chosen plan, speeds will unfortunately remain capped at 100 Mbps. Prospective customers are encouraged to verify their eligibility for an upgrade to FTTP by consulting the official NBN Co. website, ensuring they can fully leverage the burgeoning high-speed internet options.