# Aussie Broadband's rare NBN 500 deal, judged

> Aussie Broadband is cutting AU$120 from its NBN 500 plan, but cheaper rivals and ping data complicate the pitch.
- Title: Aussie Broadband's rare NBN 500 deal, judged · PC Gamer
- Summary: Aussie Broadband is cutting AU$120 from its NBN 500 plan, but cheaper rivals and ping data complicate the pitch. Aussie Broadband's AU$79 NBN 500 deal is…
- Keywords: aussie broadband, nbn 500, australia, gaming broadband, cgnat opt-out, ping tracking, accc, steam downloads, superloop, dodo, exetel, telstra
- Source: PC Gamer — https://pcgamer.com/hardware/networking/heads-up-one-of-australias-most-respected-nbn-providers-is-offering-a-rare-au-usd120-introductory-discount-but-is-it-worth-it
- Published: 2026-09-16T04:19:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: aussie broadband, nbn 500, australia, gaming broadband, cgnat opt-out, ping tracking, accc, steam downloads, superloop, dodo, exetel, telstra
## A rare discount
Aussie Broadband is offering NBN 500 for AU$79 a month for six months, AU$20 below its usual AU$99 price. The promo runs until November 15.

> Aussie Broadband doesn't offer introductory discounts on its NBN plans very often
## The saving is AU$120
The six-month offer cuts AU$120 from the bill. After that, the plan rises to AU$99 a month, unless you cancel or switch providers.

> there are no lock-in contracts
## Cheaper rivals exist
The discount is not the lowest NBN 500 intro price in Australia. Dodo starts at AU$60.99 a month, while Superloop starts at AU$65 for the first six months.
## Ping is good, not best
The ACCC's final NBN report put Aussie Broadband at 9.8ms peak-hour ping. That trails Exetel, Superloop, and Telstra, but the gap is tiny for most players.

> it's unlikely even obsessive ping watchers will notice the difference
## Gamers get useful extras
Aussie Broadband lets users opt out of CGNAT, which can matter for people hosting game servers at home. It also posts real-time ping data by city every five minutes.

> opting out of CGNAT may be essential under some conditions
## Support is part of it
The provider is known for Australia-based call centres, a contrast with budget rivals that lean more on webchat or offshore support.

> Aussie Broadband is highly regarded for is its customer service
## Steam speeds help
Steam's Australian ISP download data ranks Aussie Broadband third, behind Leaptel and Superloop. That may reflect its customers choosing faster plans, not pure network speed.
## Try it if you're overpaying
The deal makes most sense if your current provider disappoints or costs more than AU$79 a month. Just be ready to switch before the AU$99 price kicks in.
## Key takeaway

Aussie Broadband's AU$79 NBN 500 deal is best if you value gaming extras, local support, and no lock-in more than the lowest intro price.