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Love gaming online? Do you remember the early games like Neopets, Postopia or mini clip for flash games? Those were the start of something greater to come in later years!  

Fast forward to 2024, gaming has evolved, demanding more bandwidth than ever before – some patches and updates are bigger than new games! The graphics are much more sophisticated and polished, and storylines have become far more engaging. 

Thankfully, our internet connectivity has improved too, allowing us to keep up with bandwidth demand and enhance the online gaming experience.  

With the plethora of information out there on how to boost your internet performance, we wanted to focus on one important aspect of internet performance – choosing the right internet plan for your gaming needs. We’ll also mention other important considerations at the end of the blog too!  

What’s the ideal speed for gaming?  

While 25Mbps is the minimum speed needed for gaming, higher speeds are definitely a good idea—especially if you have several devices connected at once.  

You’ll want a speedy internet connection to enjoy smooth gameplay and fast downloads. Aim for plans that offer 100Mbps or higher for download and consider a higher upload, too. This will deliver the smooth gameplay and allow you to download new games and uploads fast. 

Upload speeds of 20Mbps or more will ensure you always have enough upload bandwidth for normal gaming needs. 

Speeds higher than 100Mbps will deliver benefits mostly for downloading new games and updates faster. A 100GB game or update will take 2 hours and 14 minutes on 100Mbps, whereas on a 1Gb (1000Mbps) speed tier it will only take 14 minutes. So for gamers, higher speed tiers mean more time to play and less time waiting to play. 

What internet connection type should you use for gaming?  

The type of internet technology you have available will significantly impact your gaming experience. 

For most of us on nbn^®, we don’t have the ability to choose what technology we have. However, if you’re on nbn^®’s fibre to the premise (FTTP) or hybrid-fibre coaxial (HFC) network, you have access to the most reliable and low latency technologies. 

If you’re on copper-based fibre to the node (FTTN), or fibre to the curb (FTTC), you will experience higher latency, less reliability and not be able to access speeds higher than 100Mbps. 

if you’re a serious gamer, you’ll want to upgrade to FTTP. Fibre-optic connections are known for their low latency, as data across fibre is moved using light pulses, meaning your data can go at light speed. It’s also much more reliable!   

Fortunately, nbn^® has a program that allows eligible FTTN/C addresses to upgrade to FTTP. Right now, you can upgrade to nbn^® Fibre for free. No costs for installation, and we’ll even book your tech appointment for you.  

It’s a progressive roll out so even if you’re not immediately eligible you should be by the end of 2025 when it completes. 

1. Check eligibility  

Find out if fibre is being rolled out in your neighbourhood. Head over to Leaptel’s website and enter your address in the address checker.   

2. Choose your plan  

Once you know if fibre’s available, it’s time to pick your plan. Choose the one that gives you the speed you need!  

3. Sign up   

Signing up is simple! Once you’ve built your perfect plan, sign-up is completed in 3 quick and easy steps. If you’re eligible for the nbn^® fibre upgrade, Leaptel will handle everything including booking the upgrade appointment.  

But, if you are unlucky and can’t access fibre just yet, you can look at your current internet options by visiting our website and picking the plan that’s right for you.  

Getting the best Wi-Fi experience 

No matter your speed, it is only as good as your ability to access it on your devices. 

Leaptel is proud to be one of the first providers to offer a Wi-Fi 7 router, that is designed to deliver fast speeds and low latency which is great for gaming. 

So when selecting your plan, consider investing in a high-performance router like the eero Max 7, designed for gaming. The eero Max 7 supports:  

• Wi-Fi Specifications: Tri-band Wi-Fi 7 (2:4:4)  
• Channel Support: 320MHz  
• Device Support: Up to 200+ devices  
• Coverage: 1 device (up to 230 sqm), 2 devices (up to 460 sqm) or 3 devices (up to 695 sqm)  

Read more about the eero max 7 in our detailed blog post.  

Latency – something to consider  

Why is latency important? Lower latency means less lag and a smoother, more responsive gaming experience. Sometimes referred to as ‘ping’ when it comes to latency, remember this rule of thumb, “The lower, the better”.   

Here’s a simple breakdown:  

• 0-30 ms: Excellent  
• 30-50 ms: Acceptable for most online activities  
• 50-100 ms: May cause minor issues like lag or buffering  
• Above 100 ms: Likely to lead to noticeable delays and disruptions, especially in online gaming.  

Your latency is impacted by lots of factors, such as the location of the gaming server and the path to it. While you cannot control these external factors, you can control others such as your internet plan and your Wi-Fi setup. 

Choosing the right internet plan can really enhance your online experience. Leaptel provides high-speed internet plans, including the highly recommended nbn^® fibre, to ensure you enjoy smooth, responsive gameplay without disruptions.   

Haven’t switched to Leaptel yet? Give Leaptel a go for a seamless, reliable internet connection. We’re the better value Aussie internet provider!