NBN providers are locked in an eternal war of attrition. Few telcos require lock-in contracts, so it's possible for thrifty users to bounce between competitive introductory prices. But Spintel's currently running an offer that could bring a bargain hunter's restlessness to a halt, with a record-breaking price for a high speed NBN plan.
The numbers can probably lend more clarity: Spintel is offering a 650Mbps NBN plan for AU$95 a month for six months, after which it'll rise to AU$105.95. Some telcos offer, for example, AU$104.95 as an introductory offer for the same connection, so this Spintel deal could be one worth sitting on for a while.
For reference, the next best offer is from Superloop, which offers evening speeds of 811Mbps for AU$99 a month for six months, and then increases to AU$109 a month. That's marginally more expensive, but unless you're a certified data pig you probably don't need speeds like that. With a 650Mbps typical evening speed you'll be downloading 150GB games (looking at you, Call of Duty) in under four minutes.
Sure, 800Mbps will shave a minute off this time but is a minute worth a fiver? You could buy two dustpans and brooms with the leftover change. Meanwhile, most major title updates for blockbuster games—if we estimate the average at about 50GB—will download in a minute or less.
This plan also offers a 42Mbps upload speed, which is pretty common for high-speed connections, but is one you'll probably want if you livestream or host servers. As always you'll need a compatible FTTP or HFC connection for these high speed plans: if you're unsure, you can check if your connection is the right one here. If you're stuck on an incompatible connection there's a possibility you could be eligible for a free upgrade.
If 650Mbps is too fast, Spintel's also offering competitive 211Mbps plans for AU$79 a month (AU$89.95 after six months). There's also a 100Mbps plan for AU$71 a month (AU$81.95 after six months) but it seems more sensible to double your speed for not much more.
Our guide to the best NBN plans for PC gaming is ever-evolving, and worth checking in on from time to time.
