Australian Broadband Guarantee

About the Australian Broadband Guarantee
Information for consumers
Australian Broadband Guarantee updates and case studies
Program guidelines

About the Australian Broadband Guarantee

The Australian Broadband Guarantee is an Australian Government initiative designed to help residential and small business premises access a high quality broadband service regardless of where they are located. The program targets premises unable to access commercial metro-comparable services, particularly those living in remote parts of Australia.

Under the Australian Broadband Guarantee, a metro-comparable broadband service is defined as any service that offers a minimum 512kbps download and 128kbps upload data speed, 3GB per month data usage at a total cost of $2500 GST inclusive over three years (including installation and connection fees).

The Government has allocated $237.7 million over four years to 2012 to fund the Australian Broadband Guarantee, which complements the National Broadband Network by subsidising access to high quality broadband services where not otherwise available while the new network is rolled out.

Information for consumers

The choice of broadband services at your premises will largely depend on which internet service providers are operating in your area and what technology they are using. To find out what services are available in your area, including subsidised Australian Broadband Guarantee services, visit the Broadband Service Locator.

Alternatively, you can contact the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy on free call 1800 883 488 weekdays between 8.30 am and 5.00 pm (Australian Eastern Time) and a consumer support officer will be happy to assist you.

If you would like more information about broadband generally and how to choose a broadband plan that suits your needs, visit Broadband for Consumers or take a look at this list of common broadband terms developed by the Department.

Changes to the Australian Broadband Guarantee came into effect on 1 July 2010. Coverage of areas and premises eligible for assistance was revised to take into account developments in the commercial market that have resulted in greater availability of metro-comparable broadband services. Accordingly, premises that were eligible under the Australian Broadband Guarantee 2008–10 may not necessarily be eligible for assistance under the revised Australian Broadband Guarantee after 1 July 2010.

Customers who were connected and supplied with a service under the program up to 30 June 2010 have the opportunity to upgrade their existing plans to the higher service standards available under the revised program, subject to their meeting eligibility requirements and their provider being registered under the revised program. Customers interested in accessing one of the improved services should contact their providers to find out what service plans are available.