NBN upload speeds: Why streamers care more than everyone else

Bread and butter. Bert and Ernie. Thunder and lightning. Sometimes the best partnerships are just so complementary.  

Most people shop for internet on one number. The one with the bigger personality, AKA download speed, is the one that gets people’s attention. The breads, Ernies and thunders, if you will.  

Fair enough, that's what streaming Netflix and downloading rely on. But if you're the one doing the streaming, that number stops mattering nearly as much.  

What matters is the second number. The quiet but strong number. The butter, the Bert and the lightning. They’re not as loud as the first number, but they make a big difference.  

Here’s why streamers should start caring more about upload speed. 

What is the deal with upload speed? (the forgotten number)  

Download hogs the spotlight  

Every nbn® connection is really doing two jobs at once: pulling data in, and pushing data out. Almost every plan, every ad, every comparison table is built around the first job. The second one barely gets a mention. But if you’re a streamer… you should be paying attention. 

You're not just watching the internet, you're broadcasting on it 

When you stream, you're running your own mini broadcast. And it’s an entirely separate lane from download speed…  

Why streaming is different from just gaming online  

Playing online and streaming online look similar. Under the hood, they're nothing alike. 

A gamer's connection sends tiny bursts of data: where you are, what you're doing, what everyone else is doing.  

A streamer's connection is doing that too, plus running a continuous, encoded video feed out the door, non-stop, for the entire time they're live. That's: 

• Gameplay video 

• Webcam feed 

• Mic audio 

• Chat and overlay data 

• Any background recording or backup upload  

Streamers can't really get away with an average connection because all of the above need to leave your house at once, without dropping a frame. And if your livelihood depends on it… you’re going to want one of the higher-tier upload numbers.  

Asymmetric NBN explained: Why download ≠ upload 

What "asymmetric" means 

Every nbn® plan is actually two numbers wearing one name. A big download speed, and a much smaller upload speed standing just behind it. It’s like Remy and Linguini from the hit movie Ratatouille. One is the face and human presentation, but the other is very important to his success.  

The download number gets the spotlight because that's what most people notice day to day. The upload number just keeps doing its job in the background, right up until you're the one trying to broadcast off it.  

How it plays out per tier 

In this table, you can see how download speed climbs steeply, upload speed lags behind, until you hit the higher FTTP/HFC tiers.  

That gap is exactly where most streamers get caught out:

How much upload speed do you actually need for smooth streaming? 

According to Twitch's own numbers… 

As a rough guide, most platforms recommend: 

• 720p at 30fps – around 3–4 Mbps upload 

• 1080p at 60fps – around 6–8.5 Mbps upload 

• Professional, high-bitrate setups – 10–15+ Mbps upload for headroom  

Simulcasting multiplies it fast 

Streaming to more than one platform at once (Twitch and YouTube, say) roughly doubles your upload requirement, since you're encoding and sending two separate feeds simultaneously.  

A setup that's comfortable solo can get pretty tight the moment you add a second destination. 

Check your current speed  

See where you’re currently sitting. Check your speeds and see if you’re getting what you’ve been advertised.  

Why nbn® 500/50 Mbps is the streamer sweet spot…  

The upload jump that matters 

nbn® 500 comes with 50 Mbps upload (TES: 500/45 Mbps), the same upload allocation as nbn® 750, and half of nbn® 1000's 100 Mbps. For most streamers, that 50 Mbps ceiling is far more headroom than even a demanding multi-platform setup will use. 

For those who don’t want to take any chances and want to ensure crisp uploads, nbn® 1000/100 Mbps (TES: 860/85 Mbps) is the next best option. 

Where it actually pays off:

• Simulcasting to two or three platforms without a second thought 

• Running a high-bitrate 1080p or 1440p stream with encoding overhead to spare 

• Uploading VODs or clips in the background without tanking your live stream 

• Leaving room for the rest of the household to be online at the same time 

Streamers who genuinely need more, large file transfers, studio setups, and multiple simultaneous 4K uploads are the ones who should look at nbn® 1000 instead.  

How Superloop's upload compares for streamers  

Having the upload allocation on paper is one thing. But! Actually getting it during the busy 7pm to 11pm window, when everyone's home and online, is another. Here’s why streamers should consider us as the ISP of their gaming dreams:  

101% of advertised speeds  

According to the ACCC's latest Broadband Performance Data (June 2026, Report 33), Superloop delivered 101% of advertised speeds during busy hours… A result that reflects both the download and upload sides of the connection holding steady.  

Low latency  

Live streams live and die by consistency, and that's exactly where Superloop's network holds up.  

In the same ACCC Report 33, Superloop's average peak-hour latency sits at 8.5 ms, barely different from the 8.4ms recorded during regular hours. Now, that’s gas.  

That's not a network that's fast on a good day and questionable at 9pm, it's the same routing whether you're streaming to three viewers at 2pm or three hundred during Friday night prime time. 

Twitch more, glitch less with Superloop 

Stop with the buffering icon, your chat won't let you forget.