- What is Fibre to the Premises?
- How fast are FTTP NBN plan speeds?
- What equipment will I need for FTTP NBN?
- How much does an FTTP NBN plan cost?
- How does FTTP NBN work?
- Can I change my NBN technology type?
- How do I upgrade to FTTP NBN?
- How does FTTP compare?
- NBN alternatives
- What is the difference between FTTP and private fibre internet?
- Fibre to the Premises NBN FAQs
Learning about the NBN can be confusing. There are technical terms and confusing acronyms to deal with, but we're here to help and one of the first things should you need to know is this:
Your internet type depends on where you live and the infrastructure in your area.
That means that even though there are seven NBN connection types, your house can only connect in one way and we’re betting you’re reading this because yours is a Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) connection.
Before we start, here are a few quick facts about FTTP:
- FTTP is the best NBN connection type. It can access the fastest internet speeds, and is the most reliable.
- FTTP NBN plans don't cost any more than any other technology type.
- If you don't have FTTP, an upgrade program is currently rolling out. By the end of 2025, over five million homes and businesses will be able to upgrade to FTTP at no cost.
In this guide, we’ll explain what FTTP NBN is, how to pick a plan that is best for you, and how to get up and running.
What is Fibre to the Premises?

Fibre to the Premises is a type of internet connection that uses fibre internet cables to deliver high-speed connectivity to your home or business.
FTTP is the fastest and most reliable type of NBN connection available, and it can provide speeds of up to 1Gbps. Many other NBN technology types can only hit 100Mbps, which is ten times slower. In some cases, they may not even be able to achieve that.
In addition to speed, FTTP NBN drops out less than other technology types and has the lowest latency.
If you've got FTTP, you've won the NBN lottery. If you don't, there's still some good news - many Australians will be able to upgrade to FTTP by the end of 2025.
Before we start, here are a few of the cheapest NBN plans available to FTTP addresses.
How fast are FTTP NBN plan speeds?
When you're ordering an FTTP NBN plan, you'll be able to pick from six different NBN speed tiers. The speed options available to FTTP customers are as follows:
NBN speed tier | Best for | Good speed | Avg speeds |
---|---|---|---|
NBN 12 (Basic I) | Lone, low internet users | 12Mbps | 10-12Mbps |
NBN 25 (Basic II) | Budget pick for 1-2 people | 25Mbps | 19-25Mbps |
NBN 50 (Standard) | A great all-rounder for 2-4 people | 50Mbps | 42-50Mbps |
NBN 100 (Fast) | Internet lovers and big households | 100Mbps | 90-100Mbps |
NBN 250 (Superfast) | Got the need for speed | 248Mbps | 200-230Mbps |
NBN 1000 (Ultrafast) | Fastest you can get if you can get it | 800Mbps | 200-700Mbps |
It's important to remember you won't always achieve the maximum speed. That's why it's important to pay attention to typical evening speeds, which indicate the speeds you can expect when the NBN is at its most congested.
There are four speed tiers available to most NBN technology types, but FTTP connections are eligible for plans faster than NBN 100 like NBN 250 and NBN 1000. In the future, FTTP users will also be able to get NBN 2000 plans. HFC is the only other NBN connection type that can support these very fast speed tiers.
Of course, the actual speeds you get at home 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')
It's also important to note that your NBN speed is a shared resource. If you subscribe to an NBN 50 plan, your 50Mbps is shared between every person and device in your household.
For example, if you're streaming a movie on Netflix, the internet will be slower for everyone else using your connection at the same time. Faster NBN speeds mean there's more capacity to share: you can stream all the videos you want and no one else will notice any slow-down.
Here's a selection of the fastest NBN 100 plans you can get right now:
What equipment will I need for FTTP NBN?
To get you connected, NBN will install a few pieces of hardware inside and outside your house. These include a utility box on the outside wall of your house, a connection box inside, and a power supply. Your provider may also offer you an optional backup battery. NBN will install this equipment for free.
The only piece of equipment you'll need to get is a wireless router for a WiFi network so you can share your connection with the rest of the house. Most NBN providers will offer you a new NBN-ready router with your plan if you need it.
Just be aware that a router is different to a modem router, which also includes a modem component. Whereas for other connection types such as FTTN, you'll need a modem router, FTTP connections only need a router.
You may be able to reuse your current modem-router as most NBN modem routers should still work with an FTTP connection, but if you're buying a new one, the modem component can make them more expensive than a standalone router.
You'll use an Ethernet cable to connect your wireless router to your NTD. Almost every single router includes one of these in the box. Routers also require a dedicated power source, and as such, a spare electrical outlet.

How much does an FTTP NBN plan cost?
The price of NBN plans is always changing, but you can expect to pay somewhere between $60 and $160 per month for your connection. The cost of FTTP NBN will vary based on the speed you want and the provider you go with. The higher the speed you're after, the more you'll pay, with NBN 1000 plans naturally costing the most.
For many, we recommend an NBN 50 plan, as they provide a good balance between price and speed. On average, you're looking at between $75 and $80 per month, but discounts can make them cheaper for your first six months.
As a starting point, here's a look at the cheapest NBN 50 plans around:
If you want to dig even deeper, you can read more about NBN providers or start searching for your perfect NBN plan.
How does FTTP NBN work?
The National Broadband Network is made up of fibre optic cables that run out across the country from major hubs and into your neighbourhood. These fibre internet cables are capable of delivering incredibly fast and reliable internet.
An FTTP connection differs from other NBN technology types in that fibre runs all the way up to your door, rather than to an exchange point where the connection is taken over by an inferior material, like copper.
This makes FTTP the fastest and most reliable type of NBN connection. While materials like copper can degrade internet speeds over long distances, this problem does not exist for fibre internet cables.

As you can see in the image above:
- The NBN has major hubs (known as Points of Interconnect) located all around the country
- Fibre optic cable connects the hub to a smaller connection point (known as a Node) near your home
- Fibre optic cable then connects the Node to your house
Can I change my NBN technology type?
A $3.5 billion upgrade program is currently underway to ensure that up to 90% of Australians will be able to get gigabit NBN plans by 2025. A key part of the program is taking fibre internet deeper into the FTTN and FTTC neighbourhoods. By the end of 2025, over five million addresses will be able to upgrade to FTTP. Just under 600,000 of them have been upgraded so far.
Rather than upgrading all five million or so households, customers in eligible FTTN and FTTC areas will be able to request a fibre internet connection themselves. The upgrade will be delivered free of charge for any FTTN or FTTC customer who orders an NBN 100 plan or faster.
Looking further forward, a further 622,000 FTTN premises will become eligible for a free upgrade by 2030. Most of these will be able to upgrade to FTTP, but 5% of these remaining premises may be upgraded to a different technology type.
How do I upgrade to FTTP NBN?
If you're on FTTN or FTTC and want to upgrade to FTTP, you may be eligible for a free NBN upgrade. You'll first need to check whether the FTTP upgrades are already available in your area. You can do this by visiting the NBN Co website and entering your address.
If you find out you're eligible, the next step will be to contact your internet service provider and place an order for a plan at the appropriate speed tier: NBN 100 or higher.
Once you've chosen a new plan, an NBN Co technician will come to your property for a pre-installation visit. They'll assess your needs, identify any obstacles to installation and may do some light prep work. They'll then schedule a time to install your NBN equipment.
During installation, they'll also run fibre optic cable from the street to your property, which could involve digging a trench or drilling a hole through your wall.
Once the upgrades are finished, you'll need to cancel your old NBN plan. You'll need to stay with the provider who facilitated your update for 12 months, or you may end up paying a fee.
If you're not eligible for a free upgrade, you can still apply for an upgrade to FTTP. Be aware that these can be extremely costly. We've seen quotes of over $10,000 to upgrade from FTTB to FTTP, for example. For more on the process, make sure to read our full guide on how to upgrade your NBN connection.
How does FTTP compare?
As aforementioned, FTTP is considered the best NBN connection type. Here's a little more detail on why.
- FTTP vs. HFC: Both FTTP and HFC are able to achieve the fastest possible download speeds on the NBN - up to 1Gbps -, but HFC is has slower upload speeds. While some business-grade have upload speeds of as fast as 500Mbps on FTTP, this simply isn't possible on HFC.
- FTTP vs. FTTN: FTTN is widely considered the worst NBN connection type due to its reliance on copper. FTTN users may struggle to even get speeds of 100Mbps. FTTP is ten times faster, and far less prone to dropouts.
- FTTP vs. FTTC: FTTC is a more reliable version of FTTN thanks to less copper being used to deliver the final connection, but it still is limited to speeds of 100Mbps. That's ten times slower than what FTTP is capable of.
- FTTP vs. FTTB: FTTB is like FTTN, but with less copper. Fibre is typically laid directly to a building, and then copper connects individual apartments. There is still a 100Mbps limit on FTTC, however, making it much slower than FTTP's maximum speeds.
NBN alternatives
If you've got an FTTP NBN connection, there's very little reason to consider alternatives. Of course, there are still other options. For the most part, these come in the form of 4G and 5G home wireless internet - broadband delivered over the same mobile networks that get your phone online.
While 5G isn't available to everyone yet, many Aussies can already get a 5G home internet connection right now, and more will be able to as the rollout continues.
When it comes to NBN vs. 5G speed, 5G internet plans in Australia come in three speeds — capped at 50Mbps or capped at 100Mbps or uncapped speeds.
If you decide to choose a plan capped at 50Mbps, this means it's the equivalent of NBN 50, however, you may experience
slightly slower speeds during peak hours. This is a great option if you're either conscious of the price
or you know you won't use over 50Mbps.
Here's pricing for 5G home internet plans capped at 50Mbps:
If you choose a plan capped at 100Mbps, this means it's the equivalent of an NBN 100 plan, however, you may
experience slightly slower speeds during peak hours. This is a great option for households with multiple
members who regularly connect to the internet at the same time.
Here's pricing for 5G home internet plans capped at 100Mbps:
Telstra, Optus, Yomojo and SpinTel currently offer uncapped plans. These can go as fast as network conditions allow but exact speeds will depend on your coverage and congestion. Generally, though we have found 200Mbps is a pretty safe average.
If you can get a 5G home internet connection, you should be able to expect speeds between 50Mbps and 400Mbps, depending on your coverage and congestion. For example, Optus reports typical evening speeds of 240Mbps on its uncapped 5G home internet plan, which is similar to what you'd get on an NBN 250 plan, but at an NBN 100 price.
Telstra's 5G home internet plan is even cheaper than its NBN 50 plan but with much faster speeds. As such, 5G home internet could still represent a cost-saving measure for those with FTTP.
If you can't get 5G home internet but don't want NBN, you can consider 4G home internet, also known as home wireless broadband. The speeds and data allowances will be a big step down from FTTP, however. Here are some 4G home internet plans.
What is the difference between FTTP and private fibre internet?
FTTP and private fibre are both types of fibre internet. They work on similar principles where your home or business has a direct fibre connection to the internet, which allows for very fast speeds. FTTP specifically refers to the NBN technology type, whereas private fibre refers to when a non-NBN entity sells fibre internet plans. That's because NBN Co is a government-owned public company, rather than a private one.
Opticomm is the largest seller of fibre internet in Australia, and Opticomm's fibre internet plans are available through major providers like Telstra, Aussie Broadband, iiNet, iPrimus, Launtel, Leaptel, Origin Internet, Superloop, and Swoop.
Here are some Opticomm fibre internet plans with speeds over 90Mbps in the WhistleOut database:
Opticomm fibre internet isn't as widely available as NBN, however. You'll find it in some housing estates and new developments. Some apartment blocks are also serviced by Opticomm. LBNCo - another private fibre internet provider - was acquired by Opticomm in late 2023, and premises that previously had LBN can now get plans from any Opticomm provider.
Some providers such as Aussie Broadband and TPG also sell business-grade private fibre internet connections, with speeds starting at at 250Mbps - for both upload and download. As such, private fibre internet connections are often a lot more expensive.
Fibre to the Premises NBN FAQs
Who is getting FTTP NBN?
Around 7.5 million Australian homes and businesses will be able to get FTTP by the end of 2025. When combined with the HFC footprint of around 2.5 million homes, this means around 10 million premises will be able to get gigabit internet when the FTTP upgrades are finished.
In most cases, FTTP connections will be available in areas where work on the NBN commenced before the change in government in 2013 or in areas where cabling currently exists. In new housing estates, for example.
Over four million FTTN and FTTC premises can already request free upgrades to FTTP.
What happens to FTTP NBN in a power outage?
If you're connected to the NBN over FTTP and have a backup battery, you'll get up to five hours of connectivity during a power outage. However, if there's an outage in the network itself, the backup battery won't do anything.
If you don't have a backup battery, you won't be able to make phone calls or use your NBN during a power outage.
What are NBN evening speeds?
While all NBN providers resell access to the same network, maximum speeds during peak hours can vary between providers. As such, providers advertise the speeds you can expect during peak hours. These are known as "typical evening speeds".
How much data should I get on my NBN plan?
Unlimited NBN data plans are extremely common nowadays, so you can ignore this while comparing NBN plans. It's very hard to find an NBN plan that isn't unlimited.
Do I have to sign a contract for FTTP NBN?
Most Australian internet providers now offer contract-free plans. However, opting for a contract can sometimes save you setup or hardware fees.
Is FTTP better than FTTC?
FTTP is the best NBN technology type, due to solely relying on fibre. FTTC still requires a little bit of copper for the final connection to an individual home or office. This means FTTC is locked out from NBN 250 and NBN 1000 plans that FTTP customers have access to. Most FTTC customers will be able to upgrade to FTTP by the of 2025.
Alex Choros

Alex Choros is the Managing Editor of WhistleOut Australia and an award-winning journalist. He's been writing about consumer technology for over a decade and is an expert on the Australian telco sector, to the point where he knows far too many phone and internet plans by heart. In addition to leading the WhistleOut editorial team, Alex is responsible for ruining the office Sonos with his troubled taste in music.
Throughout his career as a journalist, Alex has covered international trade shows, spent three years co-hosting a tech show on community radio, and was awarded a highly commended in the Best Reviewer category of the 2018 IT Journalism awards and the 2021 IT Journalism awards. His work contributed to WhistleOut Australia winning the Best Consumer Technology Coverage award in the 2023 IT Journalism Awards.
He has regularly contributed to Gizmodo and Lifehacker, and he often pops up on 2GB and the Money Magazine podcast to talk telco. On weekends, you'll find Alex at a wine bar, on a hike, or in the middle of a mosh pit.
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