Methodology
How We Calculate Internet Scores
Every suburb on PickNBN receives an Internet Score — a single number from 1 to 10 (rounded to the nearest 0.5) that summarises the overall quality of broadband infrastructure in that area. The higher the score, the better the internet options available to most households.
Scoring Components
The Internet Score is built from two equally weighted components:
1. NBN Technology Quality
Each NBN technology type receives a quality rating based on its typical speed capability and reliability:
| Technology | Rating |
|---|---|
| FTTP (Fibre to the Premises) | Best |
| HFC (Hybrid Fibre Coaxial) / FTTC (Fibre to the Curb) | Good |
| FTTB (Fibre to the Building) | Above average |
| FTTN (Fibre to the Node) | Below average |
| Fixed Wireless | Limited |
| Satellite | Minimal |
Suburbs served predominantly by higher-rated technologies score better on this component.
2. FTTP Fibre Coverage Percentage
This measures the proportion of premises in the suburb that are connected via FTTP — the gold standard of NBN technology. A higher percentage of fibre coverage translates directly to a higher score on this component.
Bonus Factors
Two additional factors can boost a suburb’s score beyond the base calculation:
- FTTP Upgrade Announced — If NBN Co has announced a planned FTTP upgrade for the area, the score receives a boost to reflect the improved future outlook.
- High Household Connectivity — Suburbs where a high proportion of households have an active internet connection (based on ABS Census data) can receive a score boost, indicating strong broadband adoption in the community.
Grade Scale
For quick reference, each Internet Score maps to a letter grade:
| Grade | Score Range |
|---|---|
| A+ | 9 – 10 |
| A | 8 – 8.5 |
| B+ | 7 – 7.5 |
| B | 6 – 6.5 |
| C+ | 5 – 5.5 |
| C | 4 – 4.5 |
| D+ | 3 – 3.5 |
| D | Below 3 |
Data Sources
PickNBN draws on three authoritative Australian datasets:
- NBN Co — Technology footprint data including connection types, premises counts, and FTTP upgrade rollout plans
- Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) — Census data on household internet connectivity and broadband adoption rates
- Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) — National broadband speed benchmarks by technology type
Limitations
While we strive for accuracy, there are important limitations to be aware of:
- Area-level, not address-level — Scores reflect the general broadband quality of a suburb, not the specific connection available at an individual address. Your actual service may differ depending on your exact location within the suburb.
- National speed benchmarks — Speed estimates are based on national benchmarks published by the ACCC, not suburb-specific measurements. Real-world speeds vary based on network congestion, provider, and plan.
- Periodic updates — Our data is updated periodically as new datasets are published by NBN Co, ABS, and the ACCC. Scores are not refreshed in real-time and may not reflect very recent infrastructure changes.
For questions about our methodology, visit our contact page.