Horsham businesses have more internet options than ever before. But choosing between them—understanding the trade-offs of cost, speed, reliability, and suitability—isn’t straightforward.

Here’s a practical comparison of what’s actually available.

NBN Options

Most Horsham businesses have access to NBN in some form. The specific technology varies by location.

Fibre to the Premises (FTTP)

The best NBN experience. Available in parts of Horsham CBD following recent upgrades.

Speeds: Up to 1000/400 Mbps (download/upload) Cost: $99-500/month depending on speed tier and provider Reliability: High—fibre is robust and consistent Best for: Businesses needing maximum speed and reliability

Fibre to the Node (FTTN)

Older technology with copper running the final distance to your premises.

Speeds: Up to 100/40 Mbps theoretical, often less in practice Cost: $69-150/month Reliability: Variable—distance from node affects performance Best for: Businesses with modest needs or no FTTP availability

Fixed Wireless

Radio connection to nearby tower. Common in areas outside the built-up area.

Speeds: Up to 75/10 Mbps Cost: $69-99/month Reliability: Weather-affected, congestion during peak times Best for: Rural locations where fixed line isn’t available

Sky Muster Satellite

Satellite connection available anywhere in Australia.

Speeds: Up to 25/5 Mbps Cost: $69-99/month Reliability: High latency makes real-time applications difficult Best for: Very remote locations with no other options

Starlink Business

SpaceX’s satellite internet has become a genuine option for regional businesses.

Speeds: Typically 50-200 Mbps download, variable upload Cost: $750 equipment, $220/month service (business tier) Reliability: Generally good but can be affected by weather and congestion Best for: Rural properties where NBN is inadequate, businesses needing backup connectivity

Starlink has transformed options for properties that previously had only poor fixed wireless or satellite. Performance isn’t guaranteed—it varies by location and time—but for many rural businesses it’s the best available option.

The business tier offers priority access during congestion, static IP option, and prioritised support. Whether the premium over residential Starlink is justified depends on your reliability requirements.

Mobile Broadband

4G and 5G mobile networks can provide business internet, especially where fixed options are limited.

4G Business Plans

Speeds: Typically 20-50 Mbps, variable Cost: $59-150/month depending on data allowance Reliability: Signal strength dependent, can be congested Best for: Backup connectivity, mobile operations, temporary solutions

5G (Limited Availability)

5G coverage in Horsham is limited but expanding.

Speeds: Potentially 100-500+ Mbps where coverage is strong Cost: Similar to 4G plans Reliability: Coverage dependent Best for: Businesses in 5G coverage areas wanting high-speed wireless

Mobile broadband is often best as backup rather than primary connectivity. Unlimited data plans are available but often have deprioritisation during congestion.

Enterprise Options

For businesses needing guaranteed performance, enterprise-grade options exist.

NBN Enterprise Ethernet

Dedicated fibre with service level agreements (SLAs) for performance and uptime.

Speeds: 10 Mbps to 1000 Mbps symmetric Cost: $500-2000+/month Reliability: SLA-backed, typically 99.9%+ uptime Best for: Businesses where connectivity downtime is unacceptable

Enterprise Ethernet is available in more Horsham locations than many businesses realise. The cost is significant, but for businesses heavily dependent on connectivity, the reliability justifies it.

Private Fibre

Some businesses have private fibre connections installed, particularly larger operations or those in industrial areas.

Cost: High installation, ongoing costs vary Best for: Large businesses with specific requirements

Choosing the Right Solution

Decision factors to consider:

What do you actually need?

• Email and basic web: Basic NBN is fine
• Cloud software and video calls: Mid-tier NBN or good Starlink
• Large file transfers or multiple heavy users: High-tier NBN or enterprise options
• Critical systems with zero tolerance for downtime: Enterprise with backup

What’s your location? Check actual availability at your specific address. NBN availability varies block by block.

What’s your budget? Match investment to business criticality. A retail shop has different requirements than a financial services firm.

How critical is reliability? Consider the cost of downtime, not just the cost of connectivity.

Redundancy Strategies

Many businesses use multiple connections for reliability:

Primary NBN + mobile backup: Switch to mobile when NBN fails. Can be automatic with appropriate router.

Primary NBN + Starlink backup: Combines different infrastructure for redundancy.

Dual NBN providers: Different providers can have different routing, providing some redundancy even on same infrastructure.

The cost of maintaining backup connectivity is insurance against downtime. Calculate whether that insurance is worth it for your operation.

Installation and Setup

Practical considerations often overlooked:

Lead times: Enterprise solutions can take weeks to install. Plan ahead.

Internal wiring: Old buildings may need cabling work to utilise modern connections.

Router quality: The router matters. Business-grade routers improve reliability and features.

Support: Understand what support is included. Consumer plans often have limited business hours support.

Making the Decision

For most Horsham businesses:

1. Check NBN availability and type at your address
2. Consider whether available speeds meet your needs
3. Evaluate reliability requirements and backup options
4. Compare providers on the same NBN infrastructure for price and support
5. Invest in backup if connectivity is business-critical

Don’t over-buy what you don’t need, but don’t under-invest in something critical to operations.

Connectivity is infrastructure. Treat the decision with appropriate seriousness.