New data released by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has seen Optus leapfrog its way up the list and reclaim its title as the fastest NBN provider in Australia.
The last time Optus topped the regulator's quarterly Measuring Broadband Australia report was back in 2021, so this turnaround has been a long time coming for the provider. Over the tracked period, the provider delivered 103.7% of advertised download speeds on average during peak hours.
It was followed closely by Exetel, who held onto its second-place spot with 103.4% of advertised download speeds on average during peak hours. TPG managed to snag a third-place finish with 102.8% while former-winner Telstra slid down the rankings to second-last place.
The ACCC's regular check-in with local internet providers covers most of the major providers, including TPG, Superloop, Dodo, iPrimus, Leaptel and Aussie Broadband. You can see for yourself how each of these providers compares when it came to the average percent of maximum download speeds achieved during peak hours, all hours and excluding under-performing connections.
The ACCC's latest check-in on the local broadband market also looked at the impact of the NBN speed upgrades introduced in September 2025.
ACCC Commissioner Anna Brakey noted that although most households that use the upgraded plans on a FTTP or HFC connection are now accessing faster internet speeds, some remain restrained from doing so by their own in-home equipment.
“Consumers that are using older Wi-Fi routers may be missing out on the faster download speeds that are available on their upgraded plan,” she warned.
Brakey encouraged customers to contact their retailer if they are unable to access higher download speeds despite their plan being upgraded, adding that faster speeds may not be the best fit for every household.
“While NBN Co’s upgraded higher speed plans benefit large households with high broadband usage, many households may receive better value from a less expensive 25 Mbps or 50 Mbps speed plan depending on their household’s broadband usage,” she said.
The ACCC's data remains one of the better benchmarks out there when it comes to keeping tabs on which NBN providers are living up to their promises and which are falling short. For a sense of how the providers tracked by the regulator compare when it comes to the most popular speed tier, check out the widget below.
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