iiNet Cable Geelong: The Hidden Alternative

The Quick Version

Unlike most of Australia, parts of Geelong have an alternative to NBN: the iiNet Cable network. This hybrid fibre coaxial (HFC) network was built in the early 2000s by Neighbourhood Cable and still operates today, offering speeds up to 200 Mbps - competitive with NBN.

The History

This network has had several owners over the years:

• Early 2000s: Built as “Neighbourhood Cable” by the company of the same name (a Ballarat-based telecommunications provider, NOT Austar as sometimes incorrectly stated)
• 2007: TransACT acquired Neighbourhood Cable (effective January 2008)
• 2011: Neighbourhood Cable brand retired, merged into TransACT
• November 2011: iiNet acquired TransACT
• 2015: TPG acquired iiNet
• 2022: TPG moved the network to Vision Network (their wholesale division)
• Now: Operates as iiNet Cable on Vision Network infrastructure

The same HFC cables that were laid over 20 years ago are still delivering internet today - with significant upgrades along the way.

Where It’s Available

iiNet Cable primarily covers inner and central Geelong suburbs:

• Geelong (city centre)
• Geelong West
• Newtown
• East Geelong
• South Geelong
• Belmont
• Highton
• Parts of Grovedale
• Parts of Corio

Not all addresses in these suburbs have it - coverage depends on whether the cable was run down your street. Use the iiNet address checker to confirm availability.

How It Works

iiNet Cable uses Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC) technology - similar to NBN HFC:

1. Fibre optic cable runs to a node in your area
2. Coaxial cable (like old pay TV cable) runs to your home
3. A cable modem converts the signal to ethernet
4. You get internet independent of the NBN network

You need a compatible cable modem, which iiNet provides.

Current Speeds (December 2025)

iiNet Cable plans now offer impressive speeds on the Vision Network infrastructure:

Important: These are NOT the old 4 Mbps upload speeds that the network once had. After years of upgrades, the network now offers 20 Mbps upload across all plans.

The typical evening speeds are competitive because the network has fewer users than NBN, meaning less congestion during peak times.

iiNet Cable vs NBN

Should You Use It?

Consider iiNet Cable if:

• You have NBN FTTN and speeds are poor due to distance from the node
• You primarily download (streaming, browsing, gaming)
• You want an alternative when NBN has outages
• You’ve had reliability issues with NBN
• The pricing works out better for your needs

Stick with NBN if:

• You need faster upload speeds (video calls, cloud backup, content creation)
• You want to choose your own provider
• You want access to higher speed tiers (250 Mbps+)
• You’re happy with your current NBN performance
• Future-proofing is important to you

Checking Availability

1. Go to iinet.net.au
2. Click “Check your address”
3. Enter your Geelong address
4. Look for “Cable” options alongside NBN plans

If cable appears as an option, you’re one of the addresses with a choice.

The Geelong Advantage

Most Australians have no alternative to NBN. Having access to iiNet Cable gives Geelong residents an option that few others have. It’s particularly useful as:

• A backup option if you’ve had NBN issues
• A competitive alternative to slow NBN FTTN
• A reliable choice from a mature, upgraded network

If you’re in an area with access to both NBN and iiNet Cable, you have more flexibility than most Australians to find the internet solution that works best for you.

Official Resources

• iiNet Cable Plans - Check availability and current pricing
• iiNet Address Checker - Verify if cable is available at your address
• Vision Network - The wholesale provider behind iiNet Cable