Why Is Telstra Internet So Slow? (07 Working Solutions)

Why is Telstra internet so slow? Well, there are quite a few reasons for this, so keep reading!

If your Telstra internet is slow, this is immediate proof that the broadband is actually working and you receive some kind of internet connection.

Hence, the troubleshooting in this guide would be oriented towards improving the internet speed by providing you with a handful of quick solutions.

When the Telstra internet is slow, first test the broadband connection, restart the modem and optimise your Wi-Fi connection. Next, check for a Telstra outage, inspect the light indications on your nbn box, and utilise the Telstra troubleshooter tool.

Let’s find out how all of this is done!

Why is My Telstra Internet So Slow?

The Telstra internet may be slow due to numerous factors involving the broadband, modem, nbn connection box and Wi-Fi connection.

To be able to find out the true culprit, it’s recommended to inspect all factors involved in the internet speed. 

Here’s everything that can slow down your Telstra internet speed:

Those are the factors involved in the Telstra internet speed.

So, to resolve the issue, you must check each of them individually, so we recommend following the troubleshooting guide below!

Why is Telstra Internet So Slow? – Quick & Working Solutions!

Tip: Follow the steps consecutively!

1. Test Your Broadband Speeds

You may easily get confused about the slow Telstra internet speed since the internet connection and Wi-Fi are two separate things.

The Telstra internet connection (broadband) is what you get from the wall plug into your modem, and from there, your internet gets spread over the Wi-Fi.

This is why it’s crucial to begin with testing the actual Telstra broadband speed so you can find out whether the internet or your Wi-Fi is slow.

Based on your findings, you will narrow down the troubleshooting steps and address the problem accordingly.

Here’s how to test your Telstra broadband connection:

1. Connect a PC/laptop via an Ethernet cable to the modem.
2. On this PC, open a web browser and test your internet.
3. Note down the “Download” and “Upload” internet speeds.
4. For Windows-operated PCs, open the Command Prompt.
5. On macOS, go to the unit’s “Utilities” and open “Terminal.” 
6. On Windows, type “ping 8.8.8.8 -t” and press on “Enter”.
7. On macOS, type “-c <number of times to ping> <8.8.8.8>.”
8. Observe whether any of the received packets will “Time Out.”

Info: If your broadband connection is slow or dropping, the issue is not from your equipment, so continue with the next step to check for Telstra broadband issues.

2. Check For Any Telstra Outages

Note: Skip this step if your Telstra broadband connection is intact.

If you’ve identified that the Telstra internet is slow or fluctuating, you must check for any ongoing Telstra outages.

This will help you justify whether the issue globally affects everyone or just you and your Telstra equipment.

• To check for any network inconsistencies, go to Telstra Outages!

On the Telstra outage page, you’ll be greeted with an “Enter your address” field, so fill in the details accordingly and click “Search.”

Tip: You can get personalised Telstra outage information by signing into your Telstra account.

3. Soft Reset the Telstra Modem

If your Telstra internet is slow and there are no reported outages, you must start troubleshooting your equipment.

The first step is to reboot your Telstra modem, which will refresh your internet service and hopefully restore the optimal internet connection speeds.

Here’s how to soft reset your Telstra modem in easy steps:

1. First, press the Power button to turn off your modem.
2. Then, unplug the power adapter from the A/C socket.
3. Wait 60 seconds with the Telstra modem unplugged.
4. Connect the power adapter directly to the wall outlet.
5. Press the Power button to turn on the Telstra modem.
6. Wait until the Telstra modem loads and comes online.

Reminder: Test your broadband connection on a device connected via Ethernet cable to the modem, or you’re testing your Wi-Fi connection speed.

4. Optimise the Wi-Fi Connection

The Telstra slow internet may be due to your Wi-Fi, especially when your findings show that the actual broadband connection is working well.

The wireless connection has many limitations, and some of them include interference, bandwidth, distance, and the capabilities of the Wi-Fi unit.  

So, if you’re only experiencing issues with the wireless connection from your Telstra modem, the problem can be easily solved by considering some factors.

Here’s how to uplift and optimise your Telstra Wi-Fi connection:

• Switch OFF the cellular data on the connection device.
• Turn OFF and ON the Wi-Fi feature on your Wi-Fi unit.
• Verify your Telstra modem is not in an enclosed space.
• Relieve bandwidth by disconnecting unused devices.
• Stop downloading and uploading through your Wi-Fi.

Tip: Test your Wi-Fi connection speed when standing right next to your Telstra modem to determine whether any distance-related problems are causing the slow internet speed.

5. Reconnect the nbn Service Wire

Your modem receives service from the nbn connection box, and when the wire is loose or faulty, your internet speed may slow down or entirely disconnect. 

This is why another quick fix would be to simply reconnect the service cable on both sides and verify that it’s connected securely.

The nbn connection box’s service cable plugs into the “red” port on the back of the modem to verify that the connector of the cable is not damaged.

Also, trace the entire length of the wire to check for any faults, which may be the reason for the slow internet speed.

Info: One end of the cable is “Ethernet” (plugs into the modem) and the other end is “Fibre,” which plugs into the nbn connection box.

6. Inspect the nbn Connection Box

The culprit for Telstra’s slow internet speed may be before the modem, hence, in the nbn connection box.

So, you must inspect the light indications on your nbn connection box, which may suggest more about the reason why your Telstra internet is so slow.

Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC)
Link	Online	US	DS	A/C	Meaning	What to do?
ON	ON	ON	ON	ON	The nbn connection box is working correctly.	No action is required.
ON	OFF	Flash	Flash	ON	The nbn box is not connected to the network.	The nbn connection box must be reset by unplugging the power cable.
ON	ON	Flash	Flash	ON	System update	No action is needed, but you must verify not to unplug your nbn connection box from the power.
OFF	OFF	OFF	OFF	OFF	No power supply	Verify that your nbn box is connected to power and turned on.

Fibre to The Premises (FTTP)
Indicator	Light	Meaning	What to do?
Power Light	RED(solid)	The nbn connection box is working on its backup battery.	Verify that the nbn connection box is connected and switched on.
	GREEN(solid)	The nbn connection box power supply is working correctly.	No action is needed.
	GREEN(flashing)	The nbn connection box is starting up.	No action is needed.
Optical Light	RED(solid)	The nbn connection box has lost the link with the network.	Reboot your nbn connection box by unplugging from power.
	GREEN(solid)	The nbn connection box is working correctly.	No action is needed.
	GREEN(flashing)	The nbn connection box is working with a normal network load.	No action is needed.
Alarm Light	RED(solid)	The nbn connection box is not working correctly.	Restart the connection box by unplugging the power.
	GREEN(solid)	The nbn box is working correctly.	No action is needed.

Tip: For further complications, call “1800 834 273” for assistance!

7. Use Telstra’s Troubleshooter

When there are technical issues with the broadband service, you may not be able to fix the issue on your own, so we recommend trying the Telstra Smart Troubleshooter.

You will be prompted to sign in to your Telstra account, and from there, you can start the troubleshooting.

The troubleshooter will help you identify issues with your service and equipment by taking you on a step-by-step inspection tutorial.

With some luck, you will discover the real cause of the slow internet speed and resolve the problem quickly.

Quick Recap:

The reason why is Telstra’s internet so slow is due to a delay in the broadband connection or solely a Wi-Fi problem.

This is why you need to check for Telstra outages, power cycle the equipment, inspect the nbn box’s indications and use the Telstra troubleshooter tool.

Follow us for more Telstra internet troubleshooting!