The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has been brought in to monitor internet broadband performance.
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The Federal Government announced on Friday it would fund the monitoring program.
The ACCC said complaints to the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman about internet data speeds increased 48 per cent during 2015-16, making it the single largest issue for consumer complaints during the year.
It welcomed funding of the program funding saying it would provide consumers with accurate and independent information about broadband speeds.
The program will use hardware-based devices to perform remote testing of around 4,000 households to determine typical speeds on fixed-line NBN services at various times throughout the day, it said.
“This program will see the ACCC test and report on the typical speed and performance of broadband plans provided over the NBN.
“This information will assist consumers in comparing and shopping around, and checking that they receive what they are paying for,” ACCC chairman Rod Sims said.
“The program will also allow the ACCC to determine if issues are being caused by the performance of the NBN, or by internet service providers (ISPs) not buying sufficient capacity.
“It will also provide ISPs with independent performance information from which to draw when making speed claims.”
The program will start in May and will provide comparative information for consumers during the second half of the year.
Federal Parkes MP Mark Coulton welcomed the program and said the ACCC will shortly be recruiting householders using the NBN fixed-line network to take part.
