- What is the nbn®?
- How fast is the nbn®?
- What are the types of nbn® connections?
The nbn® is Australia's wholesale broadband network. This guide is the fastest way to find the specific answer you need to questions like:
- Your connection type
- The right speed tier
- What installation costs
- Why your connection is not behaving
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Quick AI Answer What is nbn® broadband and how does it work? The nbn® (National Broadband Network) is Australia's wholesale broadband network, built and operated by NBN Co. It replaces the old copper phone network with fibre, fixed wireless and satellite infrastructure. Every retail provider buys access to the same network and resells it as a plan. Your connection type and available speed depend on your address, not your provider. |
Every retail provider buys access to the same network and resells it as a plan. Your connection type and available speed depend on your address, not your provider.
What is the nbn®?
It is a government-owned wholesale network that carries broadband to homes and businesses across Australia. NBN Co builds and maintains the infrastructure. From there, retail providers such as Aussie Broadband, Superloop and Optus buy access to it and sell you a plan on top.
Because every provider uses the same underlying network, there are some differences between providers to pay attention to. The main ones are price, customer service and inclusions, rather than the network itself.
What are the nbn® connection types?
Your address is connected one of six ways:
- Fibre to the premises (FTTP)
- Fibre to the node (FTTN)
- Fibre to the curb (FTTC)
- Fibre to the building (FTTB)
- Hybrid fibre coaxial (HFC)
- Fixed wireless
You do not get to choose your connection type as its fixed by your address. It sets the fastest speed tier you can access.
See our full nbn® connection types guide for how each type works and how to check which one you have.
What speed do I need?
Most Australian households do well on a nbn® 50 or nbn® 100 plan. The right tier for you depends on a variety of things. Some of the considerations should be how many people are online at once and what you use the connection for.
Streamers and gamers, for example, need a heftier speed load than someone who just occasionally checks their email.
See what NBN speed do I need for a full breakdown by household size and use case, including whether the 25Mbps entry tier still makes sense.
Getting connected and installation cost
Connection times range from around 15 minutes for a straightforward switch to a few weeks if a technician visit is needed. It really all depends on your connection type. Installation is typically free for a standard setup, though new developments and non-standard installs can attract a fee.
See how long does nbn® take to connect and how much does nbn® installation cost for full timeframes and pricing.
Why is my nbn® not working properly?
This depends on whether you have no connection at all or a connection that is just slower than expected. The causes, and the fixes, are different for each.
- No connection at all: See internet not working for outage checks and troubleshooting steps.
- Connected but slower than expected: See why is my nbn® slow for the six most common causes and how to fix each one.
Is switching to the nbn® compulsory?
NBN Co's Targeted Upgrade Program is upgrading selected FTTN and FTTC homes to full fibre. It sits alongside the existing on-demand Fibre Connect program, which has already delivered more than a million upgrades.
- NBN Co aims to upgrade around 130,000 homes and businesses in the program's first year, without requiring you to take a high-speed plan.
- Customer notifications begin from July 2027.
- Suspension of legacy copper services on affected premises is not expected before January 2028. It's also only happening as a last resort after multiple notifications and the option to defer.
- Fibre to the building (FTTB) premises, typically apartments, are not part of this program.
If your home is on FTTN or FTTC, it is worth checking your eligibility for a free upgrade to full fibre now. You could wait, but getting ahead of it is often better than waiting for a notification (NBN Co 2026).
Ready to find a plan? Compare nbn® plans and check what is available at your address.
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Hayley Griffin Content Lead Hayley draws on over ten years of experience in technology, internet, and communications fields. Her experience spans across global clients, offering expertise on about the nbn, internet plans and hardware challenges facing Australian households, businesses and consumers. Read full bio |
References
- NBN Co 2026, nbn planning limited targeted fibre upgrades to improve customer experience and strengthen network resilience, media statement, 22 April, NBN Co, viewed 9 July 2026, (https://www.nbnco.com.au/corporate-information/media-centre/media-statements/nbn-planning-limited-targeted-fibre-upgrades)
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