Plain-English glossary.

Access Virtual Circuit

Your individual connection to NBN — essentially your speed tier. When you sign up for "NBN 100", you're buying a 100 Mbps AVC.

Your AVC sets the maximum speed. Your actual speed depends on CVC capacity, your technology type, and other factors.

Connectivity Virtual Circuit

The bandwidth your ISP purchases from NBN at each POI. This is a shared pool for all of that ISP's customers at that location. When CVC is congested, everyone's speeds drop.

This is the main reason cheap providers are slow at peak times — they buy less CVC to save money.

NBN Fixed Wireless

Uses radio signals from a tower to an antenna on your roof. Common in rural and semi-rural areas. Recent upgrades improved speeds (up to 400 Mbps in some areas), but performance varies by tower congestion and weather.

Fibre to the Building

Used in apartment buildings. Fibre runs to the building's communications room, then existing copper wiring to each unit. Performance depends on internal wiring quality.

Fibre to the Curb

Fibre runs to a small distribution point (pit) in the street, then a short copper run to your home. Better than FTTN because the copper distance is much shorter — usually under 100m.

Fibre to the Node

Fibre runs to a street cabinet (node), then existing copper phone lines to your home. Speeds depend heavily on your distance from the node. Can range from 25 to 100 Mbps.

Under 400m from the node: usually good speeds. Over 800m: expect slower performance.

Fibre to the Premises

The best NBN technology. Fibre optic cable runs all the way to your home. Supports speeds up to 1000 Mbps (and 2000+ on newer plans). Highly reliable and future-proof.

If you have FTTP, you "won the NBN lottery."

Hybrid Fibre Coaxial

Uses the old pay TV (Foxtel) cable network. Fibre to the street, coaxial cable to your home. Supports up to 1000 Mbps. Generally reliable, though bandwidth is shared with neighbours.

National Broadband Network

Australia's government-built broadband network. NBN Co owns and maintains the infrastructure that connects homes to the network. Retail providers (ISPs) then sell you access to that network.

NBN only handles the "last mile" to your home. Everything beyond that is managed by your ISP.

Network Termination Device

The NBN equipment installed at your home. Its appearance varies by technology type — it might be a small box on the wall (FTTP), a connection point (HFC), or just a phone socket (FTTN). Your router connects to this.

Point of Interconnect

A physical location where NBN hands off your internet traffic to your retail provider. Australia has 121 POIs. Your home connects to one based on your location.

Example: The Geelong POI serves Greater Geelong, Surf Coast, and Bellarine. Each ISP must purchase bandwidth at every POI where they have customers.

Network Backhaul

The network infrastructure connecting POIs to your ISP's core network and the wider internet. Better backhaul means more consistent speeds and lower latency. Large ISPs own their own backhaul; smaller ones rent capacity.

Border Gateway Protocol

The routing protocol that tells networks how to send traffic to each other. Poor BGP configuration can result in your data taking inefficient routes — like going via Sydney to reach a Melbourne server.

Content Delivery Network

Servers placed closer to users to speed up content delivery. Netflix, YouTube, and gaming platforms use CDNs. When your ISP hosts CDN servers locally, your streaming comes from nearby rather than overseas.

Example: Netflix Open Connect and Google Global Cache are CDN systems that some ISPs host directly in their networks.

Bandwidth Contention

How many users share the same bandwidth. A 50:1 ratio means 50 homes share a pool of bandwidth. Lower ratios mean less congestion. ISPs that buy more CVC have better (lower) contention ratios.

Internet Service Provider

The company you pay for internet access. On NBN, your ISP (like Aussie Broadband, Telstra, or Launtel) purchases wholesale access from NBN Co and resells it to you, plus provides the network beyond the POI.

Internet Exchange

Physical locations where different networks connect and exchange traffic. Australia's main IXs are in Sydney and Melbourne. Good IX presence means faster routes between Australian services.

OptiComm Network

A private fibre network in many newer housing estates — an alternative to NBN. Found in areas like Armstrong Creek and Mount Duneed. Generally excellent performance, but requires an OptiComm-compatible provider.

Network Peering

Direct connections between different networks. When your ISP peers with Netflix or Google, traffic between you and those services takes a more direct route — resulting in faster, more reliable access.

Retail Service Provider

Same as ISP in the NBN context. The term RSP is often used in official NBN documentation to distinguish retail providers from NBN Co (the wholesale provider).

Carrier-Grade NAT

When your ISP shares one public IP address among multiple customers. Can cause issues with gaming, remote access, and port forwarding. Some ISPs let you opt out; others don't.

Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol

Automatically assigns IP addresses to devices on your network. Your router runs a DHCP server that gives each device (phone, laptop, smart TV) its own local IP address.

IP over Ethernet

A simpler connection method with no username/password required — you just plug in and connect. Generally preferred over PPPoE as it's more efficient and easier to configure.

Network Address Translation

How your router shares one public IP address among all your devices. Each device gets a private address (like 192.168.1.x), and the router translates traffic between private and public addresses.

Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet

A connection method requiring a username and password to authenticate with your ISP. Adds some overhead and requires your router to handle the authentication. Common with some NBN providers.

PPPoE can slightly reduce speeds on slower routers due to the extra processing required.

Static IP Address

A permanent public IP address that doesn't change. Useful for hosting servers, remote access, or security cameras. Some ISPs charge extra; others (like IT'S FUBAR) include it free.

Connection Capacity

The theoretical maximum data transfer rate of a connection. When you buy "NBN 100", you're buying 100 Mbps of bandwidth. Actual throughput is usually slightly lower due to overhead.

Latency Variation

How much your latency fluctuates over time. If ping bounces between 20ms and 200ms, you have high jitter. Causes stuttering in video calls and lag spikes in games. Consistent latency (even if higher) is better than erratic latency.

Network Latency / Ping

The time it takes for data to travel from your device to a server and back, measured in milliseconds (ms). Lower is better. Critical for gaming, video calls, and real-time applications.

Example: Under 20ms: Excellent. 20-50ms: Good. 50-100ms: Acceptable. Over 100ms: Noticeable delay.

Megabits per Second

The standard unit for measuring internet speed. Note: megaBITS, not megaBYTES. To download a 100 MB file on a 100 Mbps connection takes about 8 seconds (100 Mbps = 12.5 MB/s).

8 megabits = 1 megabyte. ISPs advertise in megabits because the numbers look bigger.

Data Packet Loss

When data packets fail to reach their destination. Even 1% packet loss causes noticeable problems — buffering, call dropouts, and game lag. Can be caused by congestion, faulty equipment, or poor connections.

NBN Speed Tier

The speed level you pay for: NBN 25, NBN 50, NBN 100, NBN 250, NBN 500, NBN 1000. Higher tiers cost more. Not all tiers are available on all technology types — FTTN may be limited to lower tiers.

Effective Data Rate

The actual amount of data transferred in a given time — what you see on speed tests. Different from "bandwidth" (theoretical maximum). Throughput is affected by overhead, congestion, and protocol efficiency.

ACCC Required Disclosure

The speed you can expect during peak hours (7-11pm). Australian ISPs must advertise this instead of just "up to" speeds. More realistic than maximum speeds — this is what you'll actually experience most evenings.

2.4 GHz Frequency Band

The original WiFi frequency. Longer range and better wall penetration, but slower speeds and more prone to interference (microwaves, Bluetooth, neighbours' networks all use 2.4GHz).

5 GHz Frequency Band

Faster speeds and less interference than 2.4GHz, but shorter range and worse wall penetration. Best for devices close to the router or in the same room.

Signal Beamforming

Technology that focuses WiFi signals toward your devices rather than broadcasting equally in all directions. Improves range and speed for supported devices.

Bandwidth per Channel

How wide your WiFi channel is: 20MHz, 40MHz, 80MHz, or 160MHz. Wider channels = faster speeds but more interference risk. In dense areas, 80MHz is usually the sweet spot.

160MHz sounds great but causes problems in most Australian homes — too much interference.

Mesh Network System

Multiple access points that work together as one network. Devices automatically connect to the nearest node as you move around. Better coverage than a single router, especially in larger homes.

Service Set Identifier

Your WiFi network name — what you see when you search for networks on your phone. You can change it to something memorable (and professional for your home).

802.11ax

The current mainstream WiFi standard. Better at handling many devices, improved performance in crowded environments, and more power-efficient. Most new routers and devices support WiFi 6.

802.11ax Extended

WiFi 6 with access to the 6GHz frequency band. Much less congested than 2.4GHz and 5GHz. Great for high-bandwidth applications, but shorter range. Requires compatible devices.

802.11be

The newest WiFi standard. Even faster speeds, lower latency, and better multi-device handling. Still emerging — most devices don't support it yet. Worth waiting for if you're buying premium equipment.

Radio Channel

WiFi uses specific radio frequencies called channels. When your channel overlaps with neighbours' networks, you get interference and slower speeds. Choosing a less congested channel can improve performance.

Client Roaming

When your device switches from one access point to another (e.g., in a mesh system). Good roaming means seamless transitions. Poor roaming means dropouts when moving between areas.

Wireless Access Point (AP)

A device that creates a WiFi network. Your router probably has one built in. Adding extra access points extends coverage. In mesh systems, each node is an access point.

Category 6 Ethernet

Standard ethernet cable supporting up to 10 Gbps over short distances. Cat6 is sufficient for all current home networking needs. Cat6a supports longer 10 Gbps runs; Cat5e is fine for up to 1 Gbps.

Wired Network Connection

Physical cable connection (Cat5e, Cat6, etc.) between devices. Always faster and more reliable than WiFi. Use ethernet for devices that don't move — TVs, gaming consoles, desktop computers.

Modem/Modulator-Demodulator

Converts signals between your ISP's network and your home network. On NBN, this is usually the NTD or a separate modem depending on technology type. Many devices combine modem and router functions.

Ethernet Switch

Adds more ethernet ports to your network. If your router only has 4 ports and you need more, add a switch. Unlike a hub, a switch sends traffic only to the intended device.

Powerline Networking

Uses your home's electrical wiring to carry network signals. Plug one adapter near your router, another in a distant room. Performance varies wildly depending on your electrical wiring.

Works great in some homes, terribly in others. Ethernet or mesh WiFi is usually more reliable.

Network Router

Manages traffic between your home network and the internet. Assigns IP addresses to devices, handles NAT, and (usually) provides WiFi. The brain of your home network.

Most devices sold as "WiFi routers" are actually router/access point combos.

Domain Name System

Translates website names (like google.com) into IP addresses computers can use. Your ISP provides DNS, but you can use alternatives like Cloudflare (1.1.1.1) or Google (8.8.8.8) for potentially faster lookups.

DNS over HTTPS

Encrypts DNS queries so your ISP (and network administrators) can't see which websites you're visiting. Built into most modern browsers. Can bypass parental controls if not managed properly.

Network Firewall

Blocks unwanted incoming connections to your network. Your router has a basic firewall built in. Enterprise networks use more sophisticated firewalls with traffic inspection.

NAT Port Forwarding

Opens specific "ports" through your router's firewall to allow incoming connections for gaming servers, remote access, or security cameras. Requires a static IP or DDNS.

Virtual Private Network

Encrypts all your internet traffic and routes it through a server elsewhere. Provides privacy from your ISP and can bypass geographic restrictions. May reduce speeds due to extra routing.

WiFi Protected Access 2

The previous security standard, still widely used. WPA2-AES is secure for home use. Avoid WPA2-TKIP (older, less secure). Never use WEP or leave your network open.

WiFi Protected Access 3

The latest WiFi security standard. Stronger encryption, protection against brute-force password attacks. Use WPA3 if all your devices support it; otherwise use WPA2/WPA3 mixed mode.