Competition by wholesale access seekers to connect to the National Broadband Network is heating up, with at least nine wholesalers now connecting directly to the NBN and with over 6.1 million residential broadband services being delivered by the NBN across Australia.

Nearly a quarter of Australians who have connected to the national broadband network are on the lowest speed plan — 12Mbps down — according to the latest quarterly Wholesale Market Indicators Report issued by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.

The number of Australian residents who have a connection to the national broadband network at home has risen to 4.5 million, with nearly half on speeds of 50Mbps or more, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission says.