Telstra Speed Test

This diagnostic utility validates the performance of your Telstra NBN connection. As Australia's largest ISP, Telstra utilizes the full Multi-Technology Mix (MTM) of the NBN (FTTP, HFC, FTTN, FTTC). Telstra differentiates itself with the Smart Modem Gen 3, which includes a built-in SIM card to keep you online during outages.

Understanding Your Speed Metrics

When analyzing your connection integrity, focus on these three performance vectors:

Download Throughput: Telstra publishes "Typical Evening Speeds" (7 PM - 11 PM). On a healthy NBN 50 plan, you should consistently see ~50 Mbps. On NBN 250 or NBN 1000 (Ultrafast) plans, speeds require a wired connection to verify, as Wi-Fi often caps out around 400-600 Mbps.

Upload Throughput: Telstra residential plans are Asymmetrical. A standard "Premium" (NBN 100) plan typically offers 20 Mbps upload. If you are a content creator needing faster uploads, you must specifically look for "Superfast" add-ons, though upload speeds are largely fixed by NBN Co tiers.

Latency (Ping): Telstra is known for optimized routing to gaming servers (Sydney/Singapore). Expect 5-15ms on FTTP/HFC. If ping spikes >100ms, check if your "Game Optimiser" settings in the app are misconfigured or if you are on the 4G backup.

What Results Should You Expect?

The "Blue Light" Trap

Your modem's status light tells the whole story before you even run a test. Benchmarks include:

Solid White Light (NBN): ~100% of plan speed (e.g., 50, 100, 250 Mbps).

Solid Blue Light (Backup): Capped at roughly 25 Mbps Down / 5 Mbps Up. If you see this light, your main NBN line is broken.

FTTN Distance: If you are on Fibre to the Node (FTTN) and live >800m from the cabinet, your physical maximum speed might be 40 Mbps, even if you pay for NBN 100.

If you pay for NBN 100 but your speed test consistently shows exactly 25 Mbps, look at your modem. Is the light Blue? If yes, you are running on the mobile backup network.

Why Is Your Telstra Connection Slow?

Before calling 13 22 00, verify these common configuration faults:

Wi-Fi 6 Upgrade: The older Smart Modem Gen 2 (Arcadyan/Technicolor) is Wi-Fi 5. The newer Smart Modem Gen 3 (Cobra) is Wi-Fi 6. Upgrading to Gen 3 can significantly improve wireless speeds on NBN 250+ plans.

Internal Cabling (FTTN): If you have multiple phone sockets in your house, they can cause "Bridge Tap" interference. Telstra technicians can isolate the modem to the first socket to boost speed.

Game Optimiser: If this feature is enabled in the My Telstra app but not configured correctly for your specific device, it can inadvertently throttle other devices on the network.

Telstra Technical Configuration Data

How to Get an Accurate Test

Wireless testing is unreliable for verifying NBN Ultrafast speeds due to the size of Australian homes.

To confirm the actual speed delivered to your premises, connect a Cat6 Ethernet cable directly from the Telstra Smart Modem (Yellow LAN Port) to a laptop. This isolates the connection. If this wired test shows full speed, your NBN line is healthy.

When to Call Support

Escalate the issue to Telstra support if you observe these specific failures:

Stuck on Blue Light: Your internet works, but it's slow (Backup Mode) for more than 48 hours.

Red Light: No internet connection at all (Backup has also failed).

No Dial Tone: If your home phone (plugged into the modem) is silent, the voice service provisioning has failed.

You can run line diagnostics and book a technician directly via the My Telstra App or by calling 13 22 00.