Over the past decade, the way Australians use the internet has changed significantly. Households have more connected devices than ever, streaming in higher resolutions, gaming online, and working remotely—all of which drive demand for faster, more reliable internet.

With average data consumption skyrocketing, many users may not realise their current plan isn’t keeping up.

Future-proofing internet connections ensures you keep up with your bandwidth needs and avoids slowdowns or interruptions.

Let’s take a look at how our internet and data usage is chancing, why it’s gone up by over 1,000% in ten years, and what future data usage might look like.

More devices, more demand

According to a NBN Co report on Australian internet usage trends:

Now, looking to the future, projections for connected devices are expected to reach 33 devices per home by 2026 and 40 by 2030. 

According to a Telsyte Australian IoT Market Study – Telsyte estimates that IoT adoption in households will continue to rise, driven by smart home technology, AI-powered assistants, and cloud applications.

As a result, all these devices compete for their share of the home's internet bandwidth.

Rising data consumption in Australian households

According to the NBN Co. Report, the average monthly data consumption jumped from 40 GB in 2013 to 443 GB in 2023.

This represents a massive 1,000% increase.  And the number is expected to exceed 1 TB per month by 2032. Which is just phenomenal. 

What are the main drivers?

Many Australians may not realise their current internet plan is struggling to keep up. If your connection feels slower than before, it could be time for an upgrade.

The main culprit of data usage? Streaming

One of the biggest drivers of increased internet usage in Australia is streaming. Most of us use platforms like Netflix, Disney+, Stan, and YouTube. 

And if you're anything like me, you might be subscribed to two or three at once! Moreover, many households, such as large families, stream simultaneously.

High-definition (HD) and 4K streaming require significant bandwidth—4K content alone can use up to 7 GB per hour, while future 8K streaming could double that.

It’s not only films and TV series being streamed—there’s increasing trends in:

These are all adding further strain on your bandwidth.

With streaming now replacing traditional TV for many Australians, households on slower internet plans may experience buffering and interruptions. 

I know, highly frustrating, right?

To avoid this, as streaming quality improves, a high-speed internet connection is needed to avoid slowdowns. If your favourite show keeps pausing, it might be time to check your plan before you throw your device out the window.

Another reason? Our devices.

Another cuprite of data usage is generally the Internet of Things (IoT). That is, our array of connected devices. 

We’ve now connected via most of our devices—like appliances, sensors, and vehicles—to the internet, enabling them to collect, share, and analyse data. 

This technology enhances automation, efficiency, and real-time monitoring across industries, from smart homes to healthcare, creating more responsive and interconnected environments.

However, it also demands much more data, and a faster internet speed.

What you can do to futureproof your internet

Is your current plan serving your internet usage needs? If not, you can check to see if you qualify for a free fibre upgrade.

What is a fibre upgrade? In its simplest terms, it means replacing old internet cables (like copper wires) with faster and more reliable fibre optic cables.

In greater detail, the nbn® free fibre upgrade offers eligible homes and businesses a faster, more reliable internet connection at no extra cost for the installation.

This upgrade replaces older copper connections with fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) technology, significantly improving speed, stability, and performance. It supports high-bandwidth activities like video conferencing, streaming, and cloud-based work, making it ideal for remote work and growing businesses.

To qualify, customers need to order an eligible high-speed nbn plan through a participating provider. The upgrade future-proofs your internet, ensuring smoother online experiences and supporting the increasing demand for faster, more efficient digital connectivity.

This can potentially be done for free and you check eligibility through Swoops free fibre upgrade.

Future trends

In January 2025, the Australian government announced a $3 billion investment to upgrade the NBN infrastructure, aiming to replace outdated copper connections with fibre. This initiative is expected to enhance internet speeds and reliability for approximately 622,000 homes and businesses by 2030.

Australian internet usage key takeaways

Marshall Thurlow is Director and Founder of Orion Marketing Pty Ltd. He is a digital marketer with expertise in SEO, website design, content marketing, and project management.