Working from home has become a permanent part of Australian life. Whether you’re doing it full-time, hybrid, or just the occasional day, your home internet connection has gone from a nice-to-have to essential infrastructure. Slow speeds, dropouts during video calls and laggy file uploads can wipe out a whole morning of productivity.
This guide covers exactly what internet speed you need for working from home, depending on how many people are on the network and what you’re doing.
What speed do you need for working from home?
The short answer: NBN 50 for most people, NBN 100 if multiple people work from home or you do heavy video calls.
| Situation | Recommended minimum |
|---|---|
| One person working from home, mostly email and browsing | NBN 25 (25Mbps) |
| One person working from home with video calls | NBN 50 (50Mbps) |
| Two people working from home | NBN 50 (50Mbps) |
| Family of 4 with one or two people working from home | NBN 100 (100Mbps) |
| Multiple heavy video callers, large file uploads, content creators | NBN 100 or NBN 250 |
How much bandwidth do video calls actually use?
Less than most people think. Here’s what the major platforms recommend:
- Zoom HD video call — 3–4Mbps down, 3–4Mbps up
- Microsoft Teams — 2–4Mbps for HD
- Google Meet — 3.2Mbps for HD
- Webex — 2.5Mbps for HD
So technically you only need a few Mbps per video call. The reason you’d want NBN 50 or higher isn’t the raw video call bandwidth — it’s the headroom for everything else running at the same time: cloud sync, browser tabs, music streaming, kids doing online classes, your partner on their own video call.
Why upload speed matters for working from home
The upload speed gets ignored, but it’s actually more important than download speed for working from home. Video calls, screen sharing, cloud backups and file uploads all use the upload pipe.
Here’s what each NBN tier gives you on the upload side:
- NBN 25 — 5Mbps up (tight for video calls plus anything else)
- NBN 50 — 20Mbps up (comfortable for most WFH use)
- NBN 100/20 — 20Mbps up
- NBN 100/40 — 40Mbps up (FTTP only — best for heavy uploaders)
- NBN 250 — 25Mbps up
- NBN 1000 — 50Mbps up
If your work involves uploading large files (video editors, designers, photographers), upload speed matters more than download speed. NBN 100/40 or NBN 1000 on FTTP is worth the extra cost.
What else affects your WFH internet experience?
Latency (ping)
Low latency means smoother video calls and less of that awkward “no, you go” overlap. NBN typically delivers 10–25ms ping, which is fine for any video call platform. 5G home broadband is similar (15–30ms). Starlink is good too (20–50ms). Sky Muster has very high latency (500ms+) which makes video calls quite painful.
Wi-Fi quality
Your modem and Wi-Fi range often matter more than your plan speed. If you’re working in a back bedroom three rooms away from the modem, you might only be getting 20% of your plan’s speed. Consider an Ethernet cable to your desk, a mesh Wi-Fi system, or a Wi-Fi 6 router. See our Wi-Fi speed tips.
Network reliability
A solid NBN provider matters. Aussie Broadband, Superloop and Mate consistently rate well for evening speeds and uptime. The ACCC Measuring Broadband Australia report shows actual evening performance by provider — worth a look before signing up.
Should I get a backup internet connection?
If you work from home full-time and an outage means you can’t work, a backup connection is worth considering. The cheapest backup is a mobile hotspot from your phone — most modern phones can tether and a 100GB Telstra or Optus plan covers a few outages without breaking the bank.
A dedicated 4G or 5G modem with a separate plan ($30–$50/month) is the next step up. Some Aussie Broadband and Superloop plans now include a 4G/5G backup automatically — it kicks in if your NBN goes down.
What if my NBN keeps dropping out during work?
Dropouts during important calls are infuriating. The usual culprits:
- Old modem or weak Wi-Fi signal
- FTTN line issues — the further from the node, the more prone to dropouts
- Provider’s evening congestion (especially on cheaper providers)
- Issue with the NBN connection box (NTD)
We’ve got a step-by-step guide for fixing NBN dropouts and the NBN outage diagnosis checklist.
Working from home internet FAQ
Is NBN 25 enough for one person working from home?
If your work is mostly email, browsing and the occasional Zoom call, yes. But if anyone else is in the house using the internet at the same time — kids streaming, partner on calls — NBN 50 is the safer minimum.
Is 5G home broadband good for working from home?
In a strong 5G coverage area, yes — it can be faster than NBN. The risk is congestion in busy areas, which can cause speeds to drop during peak times. If your work requires rock-solid uptime, NBN is still more predictable. See our 5G for WFH guide.
Can I claim my internet bill on tax if I work from home?
Yes, you can claim the work-related portion. The ATO has guidelines on how to calculate this — typically based on hours worked from home divided by total hours of internet use. Talk to your accountant for specifics.
Why is my video call quality bad even with fast internet?
Most often it’s Wi-Fi distance, not raw speed. Move closer to the router, plug in with Ethernet, or upgrade to a mesh Wi-Fi system. Latency, jitter and packet loss matter more than top-line speed for video calls.
Compare NBN plans for working from home
Our best NBN plans page highlights the providers with the strongest evening speeds, which is what matters for WFH reliability. Use the plan finder for a personalised match.
