NBN provider network protocols compared: IPoE vs PPPoE

It’s a lot easier to get online these days than it used to be. Forget about obnoxious dial-up tones, telephone cable splitters or filters. Modern internet has advanced to a very convenient, mostly plug-and-play place.

But regardless which of the best NBN plans you want for your home, there are a couple of key network protocols that may impact your sign-up process. Before we dive into all of that, take a look at this daily updating list of cheap NBN plans from our comparison engine.

There are two main network protocols that all NBN providers use – PPPoE and IPoE – which may also be referred to as "encapsulation authentication type" or similar, depending on the provider. PPPoE is short for 'Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet' and it’s been around for a very long time. If you ever used any form of ADSL internet back in the day, you were very likely using a PPPoE connection. Technical jargon aside, PPPoE connections require a username and password to get online, which is supplied by your internet provider.

The username and password combo is crucial to get online as it not only authenticates your connection with your internet provider, it's also how your internet connection gets its all-important Internet Protocol (IP) address.

IPoE is short for 'Internet Protocol over Ethernet', and it's a newer network protocol than PPPoE. It's also arguably more convenient for internet users as it doesn't require a provider-supplied username and password to get online. Instead, it mostly uses a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) network server to automatically assign IP addresses to a provider’s customers. Because of this, you may also see IPoE connections referred to as 'DHCP'.

Outside of the configuration of networking equipment, which includes first-time setup or shifting to upgraded gear, there aren't any noticeable differences between choosing a PPPoE or IPoE provider.

In our comparison engine, we track more than 20 best NBN providers. At the time of updating, the number of providers in our database that use PPPoE was dwindling:

• AGL (internet account number for username and password)
• iiNet (iiNet username and password; older customers may use IPoE)
• iPrimus (username and password information not publicly available)
• Kogan Internet (username and password information not publicly available)
• Moose NBN (account number followed by '@moosemobile.com.au for username, then 'moose[year of birth]' as password)
• TPG (TPG username and password)
• Vodafone (contact email address and user-selected password)

If you're currently an NBN customer for any of these providers (or plan on being with one of these providers), you'll need a username and password for your router, modem-router or mesh WiFi system to get online. The exception is if you're provided with or add on networking hardware when you sign up for an NBN plan. For example, providers like iPrimus and TPG deliver modem-routers where the settings should be preconfigured, including username and password.

Specific PPPoE settings vary between NBN providers for those looking for a manual configuration. Generally, though, the most important thing is a correct username and password supplied by your provider. Check your welcome email or reach out to support if you don't know yours. Outside of this, the VLAN ID field should be left blank or disabled. You may need to contact your provider for specific MTU settings if the 'auto' option doesn't work.

Most of the NBN providers in our database use IPoE, which makes it easier to get online because you don't need to input a username and password. Here's the list of NBN providers from our database that use zero-credentials IPoE:

• Aussie Broadband
• Belong
• Buddy Telco
• Dodo
• Exetel (older customers may use PPPoE)
• MATE
• More NBN
• Optus
• Origin Broadband
• Southern Phone (IPoE for most users; PPPoE for FTTB and FTTN users)
• SpinTel
• Superloop
• Swoop Broadband (supports IPoE and Flexible PPPoE connections)
• Tangerine (older customers may use PPPoE)
• Telstra

We recommend reappraising your NBN plan every six months to see if there's a better deal. If you find one, most NBN providers let you "BYO modem" when you sign up. That's a great way to save money, but it may require extra configuration steps to connect to your new NBN plan.

If you're shifting from an IPoE to IPoE NBN provider, you should just need to power cycle your NBN connection box and your BYO device to get online. Power off the NBN connection box for at least 30 seconds, then power it back on. Once the connection box is back online, power off your BYO networking device for at least 30 seconds, then power it back on.

For those shifting in any other direction – IPoE to PPPoE or PPPoE to IPoE – we advise resetting your BYO networking device. Typically, there's a reset button in a pinhole on the back of your router, modem-router, or mesh WiFi system that you hold in while the device is powered on. Refer to your networking device's documentation for how long to hold the reset button in. Use a paper clip or a SIM ejector tool.

Once reset, ideally, your networking device has a companion app or installation wizard in the web portal to help guide your initial internet configuration. If not, chat to your NBN provider (if you have a model they support) or refer to your device documentation for where to find the internet protocol and, if required, username and password fields.