Understanding Your NBN Connection Type
Not all NBN connections are created equal. Learn about the different technology types, what speeds you can expect, and exciting upgrades coming to the network.
The Six NBN Connection Types
When the NBN was rolled out across Australia, different technologies were used depending on location and existing infrastructure. Here’s what each connection type means for your internet experience.
FTTP – Fibre to the Premises (The Gold Standard)
What it is: Pure fibre optic cable runs directly from the exchange all the way into your home. This is the fastest and most reliable NBN technology available.
How to identify it: You’ll have an NBN Connection Box (usually a white box) mounted inside your home with a fibre optic cable running to it.
Maximum speeds available:
- Up to 2000 Mbps download / 500 Mbps upload (from September 2025)
- Supports all speed tiers including the new Hyperfast plans
- Typical evening speeds reach 104.5% of plan speed (often exceeds what you pay for!)
Rating
Excellent
Best for: Heavy streaming, gaming, working from home, large households
HFC – Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (Cable TV Network)
What it is: Fibre optic cable runs to a node in your street, then existing pay TV coaxial cable (the same used for Foxtel/cable TV) connects to your home.
How to identify it: You’ll have an NBN Connection Device (NCD) that connects via a coaxial cable (round connector with a pin in the centre).
Maximum speeds available:
- Up to 2000 Mbps download / 100 Mbps upload (from September 2025)
- Supports ultrafast and hyperfast speed tiers
- Upload speeds slightly lower than FTTP
Note: HFC can experience some slowdown during very busy periods as bandwidth is shared between neighbours on the same cable segment.
Rating
Very Good
Best for: Streaming, gaming, multi-device households
FTTC – Fibre to the Curb
What it is: Fibre optic cable runs to a small distribution point (DPU) on the street outside your home – usually in a pit near the curb. A short stretch of existing copper phone line connects from there to your house.
How to identify it: Your modem plugs into the NTU (white in color) which in turn plus into your existing phone socket.
Maximum speeds available:
- Up to 100 Mbps download / 40 Mbps upload
- Typical evening speeds reach 104.3% of plan speed
- More reliable than FTTN due to shorter copper distance
Good news! All FTTC connections are scheduled to be upgraded to FTTP by 2030, giving you access to gigabit speeds.
Rating
Good
Best for: Standard streaming, browsing, small households
FTTB – Fibre to the Building
What it is: Common in apartment buildings. Fibre optic cable runs to the building’s communications room (usually in the basement), then existing internal wiring connects to each unit.
How to identify it: You live in an apartment or multi-dwelling unit (MDU) and connect via your phone socket or an ethernet port.
Maximum speeds available:
- Up to 100 Mbps download / 40 Mbps upload
- Performance depends on your building’s internal wiring quality
- Newer buildings with ethernet cabling perform better
Rating
Good
Best for: Apartment dwellers, standard internet usage
FTTN – Fibre to the Node
What it is: Fibre optic cable runs to a large green cabinet (node) in your neighbourhood, then your existing copper phone line carries the signal the rest of the way to your home.
How to identify it: Your modem connects to your phone socket. You’ll likely have noticed a large green cabinet somewhere in your street.
Maximum speeds available:
- Typically 50-100 Mbps download (depends on distance from node)
- Speed limited by copper line quality and length
- FTTN accounts for 86% of underperforming NBN connections
Good news! 95% of FTTN premises are scheduled to be upgraded to FTTP by 2030. Many areas can already request a free upgrade when signing up for an NBN 100 or faster plan.
Rating
Variable
Performance depends heavily on your distance from the node
Fixed Wireless
What it is: Used in regional and rural areas where running cables isn’t practical. Data travels wirelessly from a transmission tower (up to 29km away) to an outdoor antenna on your roof.
How to identify it: You’ll have an NBN antenna mounted on your roof and typically live in a regional or semi-rural area.
Maximum speeds available:
- Fixed Wireless Plus: 75-100 Mbps download (all areas)
- Fixed Wireless Fast: 200-250 Mbps download (90% of areas)
- Fixed Wireless Superfast: Up to 400 Mbps download (80% of areas)
Fixed Wireless uses 4G/5G technology and has been significantly upgraded. Average speeds during busy hours improved from 86 Mbps to 93 Mbps following NBN’s $750 million investment.
Rating
Good
Best option for regional areas. Recently upgraded with major improvements.
What Are “Typical Evening Speeds”?
When comparing NBN plans, you’ll see providers mention “typical evening speeds” – but what does this actually mean?
The Busy Hours: 7pm – 11pm
The ACCC (Australian Competition and Consumer Commission) requires providers to show how fast your connection will actually be during the busiest time of day – typically 7pm to 11pm when everyone’s home streaming Netflix, gaming, or working.
Think of it like traffic on a highway. During quiet times, you might cruise along at the speed limit. But during peak hour, everyone’s on the road and things slow down.
Why This Matters
A plan might advertise “NBN 100” (meaning up to 100 Mbps), but the typical evening speed tells you what you’ll actually get when you need it most. The good news? According to ACCC data, most NBN providers now deliver 102% of plan speed during busy hours – meaning you often get slightly more than you pay for!
| Plan Speed | Typical Evening Speed | Good For |
|---|---|---|
| NBN 25 | ~25 Mbps | Basic browsing, email, social media |
| NBN 50 | ~50 Mbps | HD streaming, video calls, small households |
| NBN 100 | ~100 Mbps | 4K streaming, multiple devices, working from home |
| NBN 250 | ~250 Mbps | Large households, heavy downloaders, 4K on multiple TVs |
| NBN 500+ | ~500+ Mbps | Power users, content creators, large families |
Connection Type Comparison
Here’s how the different NBN technologies stack up against each other:
| Connection Type | Max Download | Max Upload | Supports Gigabit+ | Reliability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FTTP | 2000 Mbps | 500 Mbps | Yes | Excellent |
| HFC | 2000 Mbps | 100 Mbps | Yes | Very Good |
| FTTC | 100 Mbps | 40 Mbps | Upgrade available | Good |
| FTTB | 100 Mbps | 40 Mbps | Depends on building | Good |
| FTTN | 50-100 Mbps | 40 Mbps | Upgrade available | Variable |
| Fixed Wireless | 400 Mbps | 40 Mbps | No | Good |
Exciting Network Upgrades Coming!
The NBN network is continuously improving. Here’s what’s happening:
September 2025: Major Speed Boosts
Home Fast
100/20 Mbps becomes 500/50 Mbps
5x faster downloads!
Home Superfast
250/25 Mbps becomes 750/50 Mbps
3x faster downloads!
Home Ultrafast
1000/50 Mbps becomes 1000/100 Mbps
2x faster uploads!
NEW: Home Hyperfast (2 Gbps) – September 2025
For those who want the absolute fastest speeds, NBN is launching 2 Gigabit per second plans:
- FTTP: 2000/500 Mbps (download/upload)
- HFC: 2000/100 Mbps (download/upload)
Available to FTTP and HFC customers from participating providers. That’s fast enough to download a full HD movie in under 30 seconds!
FTTN/FTTC to FTTP Upgrade Program
If you’re on FTTN or FTTC, there’s great news! The Australian Government and NBN Co are investing $3.8 billion to upgrade the network:
- All FTTC connections will be upgraded to FTTP by 2030
- 95% of FTTN connections will be upgraded to FTTP by 2030
- Over half of new upgrades are in regional areas
- Approximately 7,000 homes per week are being upgraded
How to get upgraded: If your address is eligible, simply order an NBN 100 plan or faster from a participating provider. The upgrade is typically free!
How to Find Your Connection Type
Not sure what NBN technology you have? Here are a few ways to find out:
Option 1: Check Your Address
Use our address checker on the homepage to see what NBN technology is available at your location and what speeds you can access.
Option 2: Look at Your Equipment
- FTTP: White box on wall with fibre cable
- HFC: NBN device with coaxial cable
- FTTN/FTTC/FTTB: Connects via phone socket
- Fixed Wireless: Antenna on roof
Option 3: Contact Us
Not sure? Get in touch and we can check your address and let you know what connection type you have and what speeds you can access.