With the rollout of ultra-fast NBN plans (>1Gbps), many customers are upgrading expecting significantly faster internet.
However, in most cases, these speeds cannot be fully utilised without upgrading your internal network.
Why You Might Not See >1Gbps Speeds
1. Most networks are limited to 1Gbps
- Most routers, switches, and computers only support Gigabit (1Gbps) connections
- If any device or port is limited to 1Gbps, your speed is capped
- Typical real-world limit per device is ~940Mbps
2. Wi-Fi rarely exceeds 1Gbps in real-world use
- Wi-Fi performance is reduced by walls, distance, and interference
- Wireless speeds are typically much lower than wired speeds
- Upgrading your plan doesn't guarantee faster Wi-Fi
3. Devices can be the bottleneck
- Most laptops and desktops still have 1Gbps ports
- Many phones, TVs, and smart devices cannot exceed gigabit speeds
- The device itself often limits performance
4. Your network is only as fast as its weakest link
If any part of your network supports only 1Gbps, then your entire connection is effectively limited to that speed.
When >1Gbps Plans Make Sense
>1Gbps plans can be worthwhile in the right scenarios:
- Large households or offices with many users sharing bandwidth
- Content creators handling large uploads/downloads
- High device environments (gaming, streaming, cloud workloads)
- Future-proofing for emerging technologies
- Advanced internal networks (NAS, servers, backups)
What You Need to Achieve >1Gbps
To properly utilise multi‑gigabit internet, your network must support it end-to-end:
- Router with 2.5Gbps or higher ports
- Multi‑gig switch (2.5Gb / 10Gb)
- Compatible devices (multi‑gig Ethernet or modern Wi-Fi)
- Appropriate cabling (Cat5e minimum, ideally Cat6 or better)
If one component is limited to 1Gbps, your overall performance is capped.
How Raines Internet Solutions Can Help
- Network assessments to identify bottlenecks
- 2Gbps-ready upgrades (routing, switching, Wi-Fi)
- Structured cabling advice and validation
- Wi-Fi design and optimisation
- Internal network performance improvements (NAS, servers, backups)
We ensure your network is designed to actually deliver the speeds you’re paying for.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a >1Gbps plan?
For most users, 1Gbps is more than sufficient. Consider >1Gbps if you have many users, heavy workloads, or plan to upgrade your entire network.
Will faster internet improve my Wi-Fi?
Not necessarily. Wi-Fi performance depends on your router, device, and environment. In many cases, upgrading your network hardware has a bigger impact than upgrading your plan.
Can a single device use 2Gbps?
Only if it supports multi‑gig networking (2.5Gbps or higher). Most devices today are still limited to 1Gbps.
Why am I not getting full speed on my 1Gbps plan?
This is usually due to Wi-Fi limitations, device capability, or network bottlenecks within your setup.
What is the best way to prepare for multi‑gig internet?
Upgrade your routing, switching, and key devices first, then move to a higher-speed plan once your network can support it.
Need help upgrading your network?
Contact Raines Internet Solutions for a tailored assessment and ensure your infrastructure is ready for multi‑gig speeds.
