The ACCC wants NBN users to help it monitor the nationwide network.

The consumer watchdog has launched a broadband monitoring program to understand the speed and performance that home internet customers are receiving.

The ACCC is looking for people to test NBN services as well as other next generation services and some ADSL.

Participants will have hardware-based devices installed in their homes, which will perform remote testing at various times throughout the day to gauge the speed of home internet connections.

“Australians spend over $4 billion per year on fixed broadband services and currently many consumers are left angry, frustrated, and dissatisfied by services that don’t deliver the peak speeds that are promised,” ACCC acting chair Delia Rickard said.

“The volunteers will be helping to produce accurate, transparent, and comparable information about the quality and reliability of the fixed-line broadband services available in their area. This will lead to more competition and better value for money for broadband services.”

The information from the program is intended to help consumers shop around for the best home internet deal.

The program will also help people understand issues with their internet speeds after moving onto the NBN.

“The program will allow the ACCC to determine if issues are being caused by the performance of the NBN, or by ISPs not buying sufficient capacity,” Ms Rickard said.

The ACCC will spend $7 million over four years to carry out the speed monitoring program.

Applications are open until the end of July.