Researching the NBN can be daunting. The techie terminology and complex acronyms can make it overwhelming at times. But we're here to help cut through some of the jargon.
The first thing you need to know is this: There are seven NBN connection types, but your house can only connect to one of them. It’s dependent on where you live and the NBN infrastructure in your area.
Full fibre upgrades are on the way for the majority of Australians on FTTN, with most set to be finished by the end of this year. Some won't be finished until 2030, but we'll cover this later. There's also the option of ditching the NBN for 5G home internet.
What is Fibre to the Node (FTTN)?
Fibre to the Node is a type of fixed-line NBN internet connection that uses a combination of fibre optic cables and old-school copper to connect a home or business online.
Fibre to the Node currently accounts for the largest number of connections because it was the cheapest and fastest to roll out. Unfortunately, it's also the worst-performing of the fixed-line technologies. This can limit the types of NBN plans customers can sign up to, and impact day-to-day performance.
FTTN is slower because it relies on old (or old-style) copper telephone wires for the last leg of your internet connection, including within your own premises. Your connection quality will depend on how far you are from the closest FTTN node. The further, the slower and less reliable. This can also mean more dropouts than other connection types.
While FTTB and FTTC also use copper telephone wiring, they do so for shorter distances – in many cases tens of metres, compared to the hundreds for FTTN.
Before we start, here are a few of the most popular NBN plans in our database that most FTTN customers should be able to get:
|
#1
|
SpinTel
All Fixed Line nbn®
Home Starter 25/10
$41/mth
Min. cost $41
|
|
#2
|
Dodo
All Fixed Line nbn®
nbn25 Unlimited Plan
$43.99/mth
Min. cost $43.99
|
|
#3
|
Flip
All Fixed Line nbn®
Editor's Pick
Unlimited Premium nbn25
$48/mth
Min. cost $48
|
|
#4
|
Tangerine Telecom
All Fixed Line nbn®
Value NBN 25/10
$42.90/mth
Min. cost $42.90
|
|
#5
|
Belong
All Fixed Line nbn®
NBN Starter – Unlimited
$49/mth
Min. cost $49
|
|
#6
|
Telstra
All Fixed Line nbn®
Upfront Internet Plan Basic
$97/mth
Min. cost $97
Link not supplied
|
|
#7
|
TPG
All Fixed Line nbn®
nbn25 Unlimited Plan
$59.99/mth
Min. cost $59.99
Link not supplied
|
|
#8
|
Superloop
All Fixed Line nbn®
Everyday nbn25/10
$58/mth
Min. cost $58
|
|
#1
|
Dodo
All Fixed Line nbn®
Editor's Pick
nbn50 Unlimited Plan
$57.99/mth
Min. cost $57.99
|
|
#2
|
amaysim
All Fixed Line nbn®
NBN50
$75/mth
Min. cost $75
|
|
#3
|
Belong
All Fixed Line nbn®
NBN Standard Plus – Unlimited
$55/mth
Min. cost $55
|
|
#4
|
Tangerine Telecom
All Fixed Line nbn®
Value Plus NBN 50/20
$64.90/mth
Min. cost $64.90
|
|
#5
|
Superloop
All Fixed Line nbn®
Extra-value nbn50/20
$69/mth
Min. cost $69
|
|
#6
|
TPG
All Fixed Line nbn®
nbn50 Unlimited Plan
$69.99/mth
Min. cost $69.99
Link not supplied
|
|
#7
|
iiNet
All Fixed Line nbn®
nbn50 Liimitless
$69.99/mth
+ $10 Upfront
Min. cost $79.99
Link not supplied
|
|
#8
|
Kogan Internet
All Fixed Line nbn®
Silver Unlimited
$69.90/mth
Min. cost $69.90
|
|
#1
|
Dodo
FTTN, FTTB, FTTC
Editor's Pick
nbn100 Unlimited Plan
$62.99/mth
Min. cost $62.99
|
|
#2
|
amaysim
FTTN, FTTB, FTTC
NBN100
$50/mth
Min. cost $50
|
|
#3
|
Belong
FTTN, FTTB, FTTC
NBN Premium – Unlimited
$59/mth
Min. cost $59
|
|
#4
|
Superloop
FTTN, FTTB, FTTC
Family nbn100/20
$74/mth
Min. cost $74
|
|
#5
|
iiNet
FTTN, FTTB, FTTC
nbn Home Fast Liimitless
$69.99/mth
+ $10 Upfront
Min. cost $79.99
Link not supplied
|
|
#6
|
Tangerine Telecom
FTTN, FTTB, FTTC
Speedy NBN 100/20
$67.90/mth
Min. cost $67.90
|
|
#7
|
TPG
FTTN, FTTB, FTTC
nbn Home Fast Unlimited Plan
$74.99/mth
Min. cost $74.99
Link not supplied
|
|
#8
|
Flip
FTTN, FTTB, FTTC
Unlimited Turbo Boost nbn100
$69/mth
Min. cost $69
|
FTTN speeds
Fixed-line NBN plans are available in several speed tiers, but people with FTTN plans can at best sign up to NBN 100, if that.
| Speed tier | Best for | Max. speeds |
|---|---|---|
| NBN 12 | Lone, low internet users | 12Mbps |
| NBN 25 | Budget pick for 1-2 people | 25Mbps |
| NBN 50 | All-rounder for small households of 2-4 people | 50Mbps |
| NBN 100 | For WFH and larger households | 100Mbps |
| NBN 250 | Faster speeds for WFH and larger households | 250Mbps |
| NBN 500 | Seamless internet experience when everyone is online | 500Mbps |
| NBN 750 | Even faster speeds for simultaneous use | 750Mbps |
| NBN 1000 | The fastest speeds you can get for less than $100 per month | 1000Mbps |
| NBN 2000 | The fastest speeds you can get right now, at a premium | 2000Mbps |
If your house is between 400 metres and 700 metres from the node, you might only be able to achieve download speeds up to 60Mbps, according to NBN Co. This is still fast enough to give you full access to NBN 50 and below, but you won't be able to achieve maximum speeds if you choose an NBN 100 plan.
If your house is more than 700 metres from the node, your NBN provider should not let you subscribe to an NBN 100 plan, as you won't get the speeds you're paying for. Some providers won't even let you subscribe to an NBN 100 plan if you're on FTTN, no matter your distance from the node.
Even if your home is within 400 metres of the node, the maximum speeds you'll experience on your plan will still be dependent on:
- The NBN plan and provider you subscribe with
- Congestion during peak hours (this is what is meant by 'evening speeds')
- The condition of telephone wiring within your building (this is not NBN's responsibility)
There is good news, however: NBN Co is upgrading many FTTN areas to FTTP. We'll touch on this a little later in this guide.
How much does an FTTN plan cost?
The cost of an FTTN NBN plan is the same as any other fixed-line NBN technology, which make up the lion's share of all NBN plans on the market. If you see the term "NBN plan" with no other qualifiers like "Fixed Wireless" or "Satellite", it's almost definitely referring to a fixed-line NBN plan.
The price of NBN plans is always changing. You can expect to pay somewhere between $70 and $100 per month for a connection that will suffice for most households, but prices and needs differ.
For most households, we'd recommend going with NBN 50 or NBN 100. The faster NBN 100 plans offer better bang-for-buck in terms of speed, as they're usually only slightly more expensive than NBN 50 plans. But there's no point paying for speed you don't need, and NBN 50 can still be more than enough for many households, as long as you don't have high internet demands.
We also recommend deal-hopping to save some decent money. Many NBN providers offer introductory discounts for new customers. These typically last about six months, and can be a fair amount cheaper than the full retail price you'll pay when the discount expires.
Most NBN plans don't have lock-in contracts, and few have joining fees. As such, you can hop between providers and chase those discounts. It might sound like a hassle, but switching internet providers is actually pretty easy these days and should offer minimal interruption to your connection. The one thing to look out for is modem fees. Some providers give you a free modem, but you'll need to pay out the prorated value of the modem if you leave within two years.
If you're looking for cheap NBN plans, here's a look at the cheapest NBN 50 plans around, ranked by their monthly price for the first six months:
|
#1
|
Belong
All Fixed Line nbn®
NBN Standard Plus – Unlimited
$55/mth
Min. cost $55
|
|
#2
|
Dodo
All Fixed Line nbn®
Editor's Pick
nbn50 Unlimited Plan
$57.99/mth
Min. cost $57.99
|
|
#3
|
Tangerine Telecom
All Fixed Line nbn®
Value Plus NBN 50/20
$64.90/mth
Min. cost $64.90
|
|
#4
|
Superloop
All Fixed Line nbn®
Extra-value nbn50/20
$69/mth
Min. cost $69
|
|
#5
|
Kogan Internet
All Fixed Line nbn®
Silver Unlimited
$69.90/mth
Min. cost $69.90
|
|
#6
|
TPG
All Fixed Line nbn®
nbn50 Unlimited Plan
$69.99/mth
Min. cost $69.99
Link not supplied
|
|
#7
|
iiNet
All Fixed Line nbn®
nbn50 Liimitless
$69.99/mth
+ $10 Upfront
Min. cost $79.99
Link not supplied
|
|
#8
|
MATE
All Fixed Line nbn®
Ripper nbn 50/20
$70/mth
Min. cost $70
Link not supplied
|
|
#9
|
Aussie Broadband
All Fixed Line nbn®
Value nbn - Unlimited
$70/mth
Min. cost $70
Link not supplied
|
|
#10
|
amaysim
All Fixed Line nbn®
NBN50
$75/mth
Min. cost $75
|
What equipment will I need for FTTN NBN?
Since FTTN operates over existing copper wiring, you keep using the same phone line you used for an old ADSL connection – which you might know of as a phone port. The NBN does not need to install any new equipment in your home for FTTN, but a technician should have disabled all the phone ports but one in your home to limit interference and improve your connection.
For an FTTN connection, you need two pieces of hardware: a modem and a router.
To make life easier, these are usually lumped into the same device, called a modem router – also called a modem/router, modem-router, and WiFi modem, among other things. The modem connects to the internet, while the router lets all your devices connect to the modem and is where your WiFi network comes from.
Your NBN modem or modem router needs to be compatible with FTTN, but it almost definitely is. If it was sold in Australia or from the Australian wing of a manufacturer's website within the last five or so years, it should be FTTN-ready. Within the last ten years, it's still probably compatible.
If you order one from overseas, it has to meet two requirements: It has to support "VDSL2" and meet NBN Co's UNI-DSL standards. Sometimes you can search the modem's name along with "NBN ready" to get your answer from an official source.
Once you have your modem, your FTTN NBN connection should be easy to set up. After your internet plan is active, you simply use an RJ11 phone cable (likely included in the box) to connect your modem or modem router to the phone socket. You'll also need to plug it into power.
It should come with some instructions on how to set it up securely, often included as a sticker on the underside of the modem or modem router. We strongly recommend you change your router's default WiFi network name (RFID) and password, as well as the login password for the router. Sometimes these can be stolen from manufacturers in data breaches, and you definitely don't want to be on one of those lists.
Your other devices will connect to your VDSL2 modem router using Wi-Fi or a wired Ethernet connection.
How does Fibre to the Node NBN work?
The NBN is made up of fibre optic cables that run across the country and into your neighbourhood. These fibre optic cables are capable of delivering gigabit internet for residential plans.
The difference between NBN technologies only applies to what NBN calls the "last mile" because it makes up a very small portion of the distance your data travels. But even though it's a short distance, it can make a huge difference.
Fibre to the Node creates the biggest bottleneck of the fixed-line NBN technologies. Twisted-pair copper wiring is a poor data transfer method by modern standards. It's also uninsulated, meaning your connection degrades quickly.
With an FTTN connection, fibre optic cable is run to a central cabinet in your neighbourhood: the node. The node might be right next door, or it could be hundreds of metres away. The longer the cables, the more degradation.
This is why FTTN is usually slower than FTTB or FTTC. These technologies also rely on twisted-pair copper, but for much shorter distances.
Can I upgrade my FTTN connection?
If you've got an FTTN connection, it can feel like you've lost the NBN lottery – especially if you can't even get NBN 100 speeds. But you might be in luck
An FTTC and FTTN upgrade upgrade program is currently underway, which allows people in eligible areas to upgrade to an FTTP connection for free on request, once work in that area is completed. The goal is to ensure up to 90% of Australians will be able to get gigabit NBN plans by 2025.
All FTTN addresses will be able to upgrade their technology type by the end of 2030. The vast majority will get FTTP, but NBN Co says there is a small number of premises - around 31,000 - that will "require further design work to confirm the appropriate upgrade path".
More than 4.6 million FTTN and FTTC premises can already order an upgrade. To see if that includes you, check your address on NBN Co's website, and it should tell you if your address is eligible.
If the upgrade is available at your address, you'll also need to sign up for at least an NBN 500 plan to qualify for the upgrade. NBN 500 plans have replaced NBN 100 plans for those on FTTP and HFC, and offer five times faster download speeds for the same price.
If you can't wait for a free FTTP upgrade and moving isn't an option, NBN Co does allow you to request a paid individual premise upgrade. This is a rather costly affair, however. If you want to pay to upgrade to FTTP from FTTN ahead of schedule, you're looking at a fee in the tens of thousands dollars, depending on your property.
But you don't have to stick with the NBN if your connection isn't up to snuff.
5G home internet as an alternative to FTTN
Unhappy with your Fibre to the Node NBN connection, but don't want to wait until it's upgraded? If you have 5G coverage in your area, then 5G home internet can be a good alternative – it might even be faster and cheaper than your current FTTN connection and plan.
It even comes in speed tiers, similar to the NBN. They are:
- 50Mbps (like NBN 50)
- 100Mbps (like NBN 100)
- Uncapped (with speeds ranging between 200Mbps to and 300Mbps)
You'll notice that, unlike FTTN, 5G home internet can go well above 100Mbps for downloads, as long as 5G coverage in your area supports it.
But there aren't nearly as many providers. Of the 34 internet providers in our database, only Telstra, Optus, Vodafone, TPG, iiNet, SpinTel, and Yomojo offer 5G home internet plans.
|
#1
|
TPG
5G Home Broadband Plus
$29.99/mth
Min. cost $29.99
Link not supplied
|
|
#2
|
iiNet
5G Home Broadband Plus
$39.99/mth
Min. cost $39.99
Link not supplied
|
|
#3
|
Optus
Optus Plus Everyday 5G
$54/mth
Min. cost $54
Link not supplied
|
|
#4
|
Vodafone
5G Home Internet Plus Plan
$55/mth
Min. cost $55
Link not supplied
|
|
#5
|
SpinTel
5G Unlimited Wireless Broadband (50Mbit)
$55/mth
+ $25 Upfront
Min. cost $80
Link not supplied
|
|
#6
|
Telstra
Basic 5G Home Internet - 1TB
$70/mth
Min. cost $70
Link not supplied
|
|
#7
|
Yomojo
5G Internet 50
$75.90/mth
Min. cost $75.90
Link not supplied
|
|
#1
|
TPG
Editor's Pick
5G Home Broadband Premium
$34.99/mth
Min. cost $34.99
Link not supplied
|
|
#2
|
iiNet
5G Home Broadband Premium
$49.99/mth
Min. cost $49.99
Link not supplied
|
|
#3
|
Vodafone
5G Home Internet Premium Plan
$60/mth
Min. cost $60
Link not supplied
|
|
#4
|
Optus
Optus Plus Everyday Fast 5G
$64/mth
Min. cost $64
Link not supplied
|
|
#5
|
Yomojo
5G Internet 100
$84.90/mth
Min. cost $84.90
Link not supplied
|
|
#1
|
Optus
Editor's Pick
Optus Plus Entertainer Superfast 5G
$84/mth
Min. cost $84
Link not supplied
|
|
#2
|
SpinTel
5G Unlimited Wireless Broadband (240Mbit)
$89/mth
+ $25 Upfront
Min. cost $114
Link not supplied
|
|
#3
|
Telstra
Premium 5G Home Internet - 1TB
$95/mth
Min. cost $95
Link not supplied
|
|
#4
|
Yomojo
5G Internet Max
$105.90/mth
Min. cost $105.90
Link not supplied
|
If you can get a 5G home internet connection, you should be able to expect speeds between 50Mbps and 300Mbps, depending on your coverage and congestion. For example, Optus reports typical evening speeds of 210Mbps on its uncapped 5G home internet plan.
If you can't get 5G home internet and your FTTN connection is particularly dire, you can consider 4G home internet. These plans are cheap, but are generally slower than NBN 25 plans, so aren't appropriate for most households and won't compare with most Fibre to the Node connections.
Here are a few 4G home internet plans:
|
#1
|
TPG
5G Home Broadband Plus
$29.99/mth
Min. cost $29.99
Link not supplied
|
|
#2
|
iiNet
5G Home Broadband Plus
$39.99/mth
Min. cost $39.99
Link not supplied
|
|
#3
|
Optus
Optus Plus Everyday 5G
$54/mth
Min. cost $54
Link not supplied
|
|
#4
|
Vodafone
5G Home Internet Plus Plan
$55/mth
Min. cost $55
Link not supplied
|
|
#5
|
SpinTel
5G Unlimited Wireless Broadband (50Mbit)
$55/mth
+ $25 Upfront
Min. cost $80
Link not supplied
|
|
#6
|
Telstra
Basic 5G Home Internet - 1TB
$70/mth
Min. cost $70
Link not supplied
|
|
#7
|
Yomojo
5G Internet 50
$75.90/mth
Min. cost $75.90
Link not supplied
|
NBN FTTP FAQs
What's the difference between FTTN and FTTB?
Fibre to the Building (FTTB) is a similar technology that NBN often groups in with FTTN, but the fibre is run to a central location in an apartment complex, rather than to a node.
A building's existing wiring is used to deliver connectivity to individual apartments. This means the length of copper wiring can be much shorter than the node. But cable length isn't the only factor at play.
FTTB (like FTTN and FTTC) rely on the existing internal wiring of a premise – which is not NBN Co's responsibility. Large building complexes can have a lot of internal wiring. If any of the wiring has degraded with time, it can seriously worsen connections. You might also run into capacity problems if too many people are online at once.
But newer apartment buildings and complexes usually have better wiring – sometimes it's even a type of fibre optic cable. This can mean extremely good NBN connections, up there with the likes of HFC. Even so, you might still not be able to sign up to anything faster than NBN 100 because your connection technology is still technically FTTB.
What happens in a power outage?
If you're connected to the NBN over FTTN, landline phone and internet services won't work if there is a power outage at your place or within the FTTN network itself. Restoring power to your premises with an alternative power option won't do anything if the FTTN network is also experiencing an outage.
What happens to my home phone?
NBN has phased out old landline phone services and replaced them with similar services delivered by the internet. Home phones over the NBN connect to 'UNI-D' phone services, provided by your internet supplier.
You will plug your handset into the UNI-D port on a VoIP-compatible modem router, which your provider will be able to send to you or which you can purchase separately. You might also connect with a VoIP adapter connected to your existing telephone socket or an ATA (analogue telephone adapter) connected to your NBN Connection Box.
Be aware that UNI-D does not allow for emergency power backup in the case of a blackout. If the power in your home, building or neighbourhood goes down, so will your phone line. You will also lose landline connectivity if the NBN goes down. For this reason, if you don't already have a mobile phone, we recommend that you keep one charged in your home in case of an emergency.
Fortunately, these days there are plenty of affordable mobile handsets and plans around, offering options to get as much or as little calling credit as you think you might need. You can get a mobile plan as an alternative to VoIP. Or you can get a prepaid mobile with long credit expiry to use as an emergency backup in case of a power or internet outage. This is one of the only instances in which we would recommend a Pay-As-You-Go mobile plan. These mobile plans are very cheap if you only use them in emergencies, but are prohibitively expensive for even light, semi-moderate use.
What are typical evening speeds?
While all NBN providers resell access to the same network, maximum speeds during peak hours can vary between providers. As such, some providers have started advertising the speeds you can expect during peak hours. These are known as typical evening speeds.
How much data do I need on my plan?
These days, most home internet providers only offer unlimited data plans. There is the occasional 1TB limit or smaller plan with a cheaper cost, but unless yours is a very low-usage household, anything under 500GB is unlikely to give you peace of mind.
Do I have to sign a contract for FTTN NBN?
No-contract plans have become the norm for NBN services, and plans over Fibre to the Node are no different. But there are still some contract options out there. You might also pick up a "free" modem as part of your plan, but if you do so, you'll need to stick around for a minimum term or pay a hardware fee. Some providers let you return the modem router to avoid the payment, but not all of them.
Got questions? We've got answers. Whether you want to know what the NBN is, how to connect, if you have to connect, how much it will cost, what the alternatives are, or something else entirely, check out our complete guide to the NBN.
Alex Choros
Find a better internet plan
Thousands of internet plans unpacked. All the facts. No surprises.
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