A MAJORITY of Australians prefer Labor's faster and more expensive National Broadband Network to the Coalition's cheaper and slower alternative.

And it's not just young people wanting faster downloads for games and videos, according to polling by Auspoll conducted last Friday.

Australians aged 55 to 64 have emerged as the strongest supporters of Labor's broadband plan, with 60 per cent preferring it over the Coalition's plan.

The polling points to a growing appreciation of the wider benefits of broadband, beyond entertainment, according to a senior research partner at Auspoll, Darryl Nelson.

"The majority of Australian's see the NBN as highly important to Australia's future, not only about what can be done today, but about what will be possible in the near future," Mr Nelson said.

Despite only 8 per cent of Australians having used the NBN, 56 per cent believe it is extremely or very important for Australia's future.

Nearly three quarters of people said it was extremely important for delivering remote healthcare. A further 71 per cent think it important for delivering remote education, 68 per cent to ensure future advances in technology, 61 per cent to create more efficient and competitive businesses and 59 per cent to facilitate more people working from home.

Just 34 per cent thought it important to access the latest entertainment options.

The Coalition has promised to deliver internet speeds of 25 megabits per second for a price tag of $30 billion. Labor promises speeds of 100 megabits per second for a budgeted cost of $43 billion.

Asked about the merits of the differing plans, 46 per cent of people didn't support either plan or did not know. A remaining 33 per cent support the Labor plan and 21 per cent support the Coalition plan.