The evolution of the internet
From the introduction of dial-up internet and social media, to our hunger for online gaming and entertainment. Journey through the key milestones in the progression of the internet from the early 90s, to 2020 and beyond.
1990s
Where we began.
The early 90s saw the first commercial dial-up services made available in capital cities. By the mid 90s most people had access to dial-up internet.
This was an exciting time with many people getting their first home computer.
We mainly used the internet for:
Peer-to-peer email and instant messaging services.
Retail plans were based on:
Connection time
Early 2000s
Sounds, shopping and social.
By 2000, the first consumer ADSL services were made available to selected parts of the country. Cable internet services were rolled out predominantly on the east coast in the late 90s.
The early 2000s had us dancing to a different beat with iTunes and the iPod being released in 2001. And with internet speeds getting faster, we were soon enjoying online shopping and social networking.
We mainly used the internet for:
Downloading music, online shopping and social media.
Retail plans were based on:
Downloads
Late 2000s
Full stream ahead.
In 2005 ADSL2+ arrived, with internet speeds that allowed us to stream video content on YouTube, connect socially with Skype and Facebook, and enjoy online gaming.
In 2009, cable was upgraded providing another level of speed to a small percentage of people.
We mainly used the internet for:
Streaming video, social media and online gaming.
Retail plans were based on:
Downloads
Toward 2020
The connected generation.
By 2020, homes may have more than 20 devices online. Be it laptops, smart TVs or smaller connected home devices, the demand for greater upload and download speeds for cloud computing and richer content, and bandwidth for multiple devices will be the keys to keeping us online.
By 2020, the nbn™ broadband access network will service eight million homes and businesses across Australia through phone and internet providers.
We mainly used the internet for:
Cloud computing, rich content streaming and connected home services.
Retail plans are now based on:
Wholesale download and upload speeds*
Your next steps
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nbn is a provider of wholesale speeds to service providers. Your experience, including the speeds actually achieved over the nbn network, depends on the nbn access network technology and configuration over which services are delivered to your premises, whether you are using the internet during the busy period, and some factors outside our control (like your equipment quality, software, broadband plans, signal reception and how your service provider designs its network). Speeds may be impacted by network congestion on nbn’s Fixed Wireless network, including during busy periods. Satellite users may experience latency. nbn wholesale speed tiers available to your provider vary depending on the access technology in your area.