What is Telsta Velocity
You have a ton of options for connecting to the Internet in Australia. Telcos offer everything from fixed line home Internet to mobile SIM only plans and many other options in between. The nbn has become the popular go-to option for fixed line broadband, while the major telcos – Telstra, Optus, and TPG Telecom (Vodafone) – have popular mobile SIM plans, with 5G Plans being the latest and fastest version of mobile right now.
But if you’re looking for a fixed line home Internet plan, there’s another option that can boost your NBN plan. Telstra Velocity is a Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) service which offers some very competitive speeds for your wired plan, and has a solid reputation for being much more stable than normal NBN connections.
In this post, we’ll tell you all you need to know about Telstra Velocity. Read on to find out.
Difference between NBN and Fiber
The NBN has been the subject of a lot of complaints since its launch. The idea sounded grat in theory, but in practice it has been a pain for a lot of Australian consumers who have complained about slow speeds, bad service, and delays in fixing network and installation issues.
Most NBN performance issues are due to the kind of line used to connect. Initially, the plan was to launch the NBN using fibre cables, which would have ensured fast speeds and better overall performance. However, to save costs, the vast majority of NBN connections involve copper cables, which result in slower speeds and weaker performance.
The NBN recently began a fiber rollout/upgrade, however, but it will take some time before their fiber connections become widespread. And even then, you would have to have the right kind of fiber connection in your home or office in order to reap the maximum benefits.
FTTP vs FTTN vs FTTC
Fiber isn’t just one option – there are many ways to connect to a network through fiber cables, which determine how great the performance is. The different fiber services are usually described as Fiber to the X, where X refers to where the actual fiber cable stops or reaches. In many cases in Australia, copper cable takes over where the fiber cable stops, which can affect the speeds and performance.
- FTTP or FTTH – Fiber to the Premises or Fiber to the Home (FTTP or FTTH) refers to a service with involves running a fiber cable all the way to your premises, which can be your home or office. This gives you the fastest connection because it uses a fiber cable all the way to your router/modem.
- FTTC – Fiber to the Curb (FTTC) runs a fiber cable very close to your premises (hence the curb), and then a copper cable takes over to connect your home or office. This is slightly slower than FTTH because the fiber cable doesn’t run all the way to your premises. But because the fiber runs very close to your premises, this is a good option.
- FTTN – Fiber to the Node (FTTN) runs a fiber cable to a node (a mini-exchange of some sort) close to your premises, and then a copper cable runs from the node to your home. That copper cable reduces the quality and speeds when compared to FTTP and FTTC, because the node can be quite far from your building.
How to set up devices with Telstra Velocity
Telstra Velocity is a FTTP service, which means you can expect a more reliable Internet experience than the average NBN which use FTTN. Telstra Velocity uses Telstra’s optical fibre network, and customers get broadband internet (this can be nbn), phone, subscription TV and Free-to-Air TV services on a single connection. This means that you can actually use an NBN plan with Telstra Velocity.
Here’s how to connect your devices using Telstra Velocity:
- Unplug all devices that use telephone ports
- Power on your Telstra Velocity modem. When the front light indicator changes to blue or green, your modem is powered on.
- To use WiFi, find your network name on your mobile or other devices, select it, and enter your password to connect.
- You can also plug in your wired home phone cord to the modem, as well as any device that uses a LAN cable.
- A UNI-D port also allows you connect your modem to the fixed wired port/socket in your wall, which can be an NBN service.
Telstra coverage and Velocity speed tiers
Telstra Velocity requires Telstra 4G network coverage in your area. This is important because if your fiber network experiences any issues, your Telstra smart modem will fall back on the 4G Telstra network to keep you connected at max download speeds of 25Mbps. Telstra’s mobile network covers 99.4 percent of the Australian population, and their 4G network alone covers 99.2 percent.
Telstra Velocity isn’t available everywhere – your home must be wired specifically for Telstra Velocity in order for you to use it, so be sure to make inquiries before purchasing. The service is usually available in select estates.
If you connect your fixed broadband plan through Telstra Velocity, you will either fall into the Velocity Standard Speed (25Mbps download and 1Mbps upload during busy periods) or Velocity Premium Speed (80Mbps download an d 5Mbps upload during busy periods) tiers. Velocity Standard Speed tier is available on Core Internet and Unlimited Internet plans, while Velocity Premium Speed tier is available on the Premium Internet plan.
If you’re in South Brisbane and the Velocity Estates, it’s important to note that Telstra sold their FTTP networks to Uniti Goup Ltd., in those areas. An upgrade will follow the sale, where Uniti will work towards faster speeds, and customers will be moved over to Uniti starting in July of this year, 2022.
Conclusion/summing up
The ambition behind the NBN was a good one. Fiber to the home for every individual in Australia. As we all know, political interference muddied the waters and delayed that ambition. I say delayed, not eliminated because, sooner or later, we will have to install Fiber to the Premises, just as our friends in New Zealand have done, to deal with the ever rising demand for data. Telstra are one of a number of providers who are doing just that with their Velocity product. If you’re going to have to get it done anyway, (and you are) then considering Telstra’s pricing is well worth doing.