iiNet Cable is a private HFC network that runs alongside the nbn in inner Geelong suburbs including Geelong West, Newtown and East Geelong. It is not being shut down, and at select addresses its Cable Max tier reaches 251 Mbps to 1 Gbps, which outruns most nbn plans. Availability is street by street, so check your address before deciding.
The quick version
In parts of inner Geelong, a private fibre/coaxial network runs alongside the nbn. It was built before the nbn existed, it's still going, and most locals don't know it's there.
Unlike most of Australia, parts of Geelong have an alternative to the nbn: the iiNet Cable network. This hybrid fibre coaxial (HFC) network was built in the early 2000s by Neighbourhood Cable and still operates today on Vision Network infrastructure.
Is iiNet Cable being shut down?
No. This is the most common question we hear about the network, so let’s answer it plainly, and with the receipts rather than marketing lines.
The strongest evidence is who owns it now. In August 2025, Vocus completed a $5.25 billion acquisition of TPG’s enterprise, government and wholesale fixed business, and the deal included Vision Network, the wholesale company that owns the physical cable in Geelong, Ballarat and Mildura. Nobody pays $5.25 billion for infrastructure they plan to switch off. Vision is the largest residential wholesale network in Australia after the nbn, passing roughly 410,000 premises, and the Geelong HFC is part of that portfolio.
The network also has more headroom than a “legacy” label suggests. It is open access at the wholesale level: iiNet sells on it, and Vodafone sells its own Vision plans on the same cable at 250 and 500 Mbps tiers. Hardware that can carry a 500 Mbps retail product, and iiNet’s Cable Max at up to 1 Gbps, is not hardware anyone is winding down.
On the paperwork side, iiNet is explicit for existing customers: Ultra Broadband Cable “will not be affected by the nbn rollout”, and their advice is to “please ignore any nbn notifications that you may receive telling you that your broadband will be disconnected as part of the nbn rollout. You don’t have to switch to the nbn.”
That last part matters. In most of Australia, legacy services were forcibly disconnected once the nbn arrived. The Vision cable in Geelong, Ballarat and Mildura is one of the rare exemptions: it is not subject to nbn-related disconnection. If you’re on it and it works for you, you can stay on it.
Generic “switch to the nbn or lose your service” letters are mass-mailed by area and often don’t apply to iiNet Cable customers. iiNet’s guidance is to ignore them if you’re on Ultra Broadband Cable. If in doubt, call iiNet and confirm before changing anything.
The history (Geelong’s own internet origin story)
How a Ballarat company's cable became iiNet Geelong
Built as 'Neighbourhood Cable' — Ballarat-based, NOT Austar as is sometimes claimed online.
TransACT acquires Neighbourhood Cable.
iiNet acquires TransACT.
TPG acquires iiNet (and the network with it).
TPG moves the network to Vision Network — their wholesale division.
Operates as 'iiNet Cable' on Vision Network infrastructure.
The same HFC cables laid more than twenty years ago are still delivering internet today, with periodic 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 follows the original cable runs, not suburb boundaries, so neighbouring pockets like Herne Hill and Manifold Heights are worth checking too. Use the iiNet address checker to confirm availability at your exact address.
How it works
iiNet Cable uses Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC) technology, similar to nbn HFC:
- Fibre optic cable runs to a node in your area
- Coaxial cable (like old pay TV cable) runs to your home
- A cable modem converts the signal to ethernet
- You get internet independent of the nbn network
You need a compatible cable modem, which iiNet provides.
Current speeds and pricing (checked July 2026)
Four tiers exist as of June 2026 (from iiNet’s Critical Information Summary), though not all are open to everyone:
| Plan | Typical evening download | Typical evening upload | Standard price | Who can get it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cable25 | 25 Mbps | 4 Mbps | $39.99/mth | New customers (promos to $19.99/mth for newly connected premises) |
| Cable50 | 50 Mbps | 17 Mbps | $69.99/mth | Existing cable customers changing plans only |
| Cable100 | 100 Mbps | 34 Mbps | $74.99/mth | Existing cable customers changing plans only |
| Cable Max | 800 Mbps | 40 Mbps | $79.99/mth (promos to $59.99/mth) | Select addresses, subject to available technology |
Cable Max is the headline: iiNet quotes actual installation speeds of 251 Mbps to 1 Gbps down and 20 to 50 Mbps up, at $79.99 a month standard. That is genuine near-gigabit territory on a network most of inner Geelong has never heard of. The catch is “select addresses”: whether your street qualifies depends on the equipment serving it, so the address checker is the only real answer.
All plans include unlimited data, no lock-in, a phone service with local and national calls, and a Wi-Fi capable modem at no cost if you stay 24 months (or return it). Installation is by technician.
Important: These are NOT the old 4 Mbps upload speeds the network once had (except entry-level Cable25, which still uploads at 4 Mbps). The upper tiers now upload at 17 to 40 Mbps typical evening.
Typical evening speeds hold up well because the network has far fewer users than the nbn, meaning less congestion during peak times.
iiNet Cable vs nbn
| Factor | iiNet Cable | nbn (depends on type) |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | Limited Geelong areas | Almost everywhere |
| Download (top tier) | 800 Mbps typical evening, up to 1 Gbps on installation (Cable Max, select addresses) | Up to 1000+ Mbps (FTTP/HFC) |
| Upload speed | 4 to 40 Mbps by tier | Up to 50 Mbps (varies by plan) |
| Provider choice | iiNet and Vodafone (via the open-access Vision Network) | 100+ providers |
| Reliability | Generally stable, mature network | Varies by technology |
| Being shut down? | No: exempt from nbn disconnection | N/A (it IS the nbn) |
| Long-term speed ceiling | Cable Max already reaches ~1 Gbps at eligible addresses | Ongoing investment, FTTP to 2000 Mbps |
Should you use it?
The most common reason we recommend iiNet Cable in Geelong: an FTTN address that the copper just can’t push past 30 Mbps.
When iiNet Cable beats the nbn, and when it doesn't
Your nbn line is FTTN and underperforming because of copper distance to the node. Even mid-tier cable beats a struggling FTTN line comfortably, and Cable Max is in another league.
You want an alternative when the nbn has outages. Two completely separate networks at the same address.
You want near-gigabit downloads without waiting for an nbn FTTP upgrade. Cable Max quotes 251 Mbps to 1 Gbps on installation at eligible addresses.
You need serious upload (video production, big cloud backups). Cable tops out around 40 Mbps up; nbn FTTP plans reach 50 Mbps and beyond.
You want real provider choice. Only iiNet and Vodafone retail on this network; the nbn has 100+ retailers competing on price.
Your address only qualifies for Cable25. At 25 Mbps down it is a value play, not a performance play; a healthy nbn line will beat it.
Go to iinet.net.au, click “Check your address”, enter your Geelong address. If “Cable” appears as a plan option alongside the nbn, you’re one of the addresses with a choice. If only nbn plans show, the cable doesn’t run down your street.
The Geelong advantage
Most Australians have no alternative to the nbn at all. Having access to iiNet Cable gives inner-Geelong residents an option few others in the country 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 the nbn and iiNet Cable, you have more flexibility than most Australians to find the internet solution that works best for you.
Cable or nbn? Measure before you switch.
If you're weighing iiNet Cable against your current nbn line, guesswork is expensive. The $149 assessment measures what your connection and WiFi actually deliver in every room, so you switch (or stay) based on real numbers.
Related reading
- Geelong’s internet history: from cable TV to nbn — how this oddity exists
- FTTN explained — the alternative for most inner-Geelong streets
- The best NBN providers in Australia — if the nbn ends up being the better option
Official resources
- iiNet Cable Plans — Check availability and current pricing
- iiNet Ultra Broadband Cable FAQ: iiNet’s own guidance, including the nbn-disconnection exemption
- iiNet Address Checker — Verify if cable is available at your address
- Vision Network — The wholesale provider behind iiNet Cable
Common questions
Is iiNet Cable being shut down?+
No. The network's owner, Vision Network, was part of Vocus's $5.25 billion acquisition of TPG's wholesale fixed business completed in August 2025, and Vision is Australia's largest residential wholesale network after the nbn. iiNet also states Ultra Broadband Cable 'will not be affected by the nbn rollout' and tells existing customers to ignore nbn disconnection notices. With Vodafone retailing 250 and 500 Mbps tiers on the same cable and Cable Max reaching up to 1 Gbps, this is maintained infrastructure, not a network being wound down.
Can I get iiNet Cable at my address?+
Only if the original cable was run down your street. Use the iiNet address checker at iinet.net.au: if cable is available at your address, it'll show alongside the nbn plans. Coverage is address-specific, not suburb-wide, and concentrated in inner suburbs like Geelong, Geelong West, Newtown and East Geelong.
Is iiNet Cable faster than the nbn in Geelong?+
It can be. Cable Max quotes 800 Mbps typical evening download, with 251 Mbps to 1 Gbps on installation at select addresses, which beats every nbn tier except a top FTTP plan. Mid tiers are comparable to nbn 50 and 100. What YOUR address qualifies for is the deciding factor, so check both networks before deciding.
Is it worth switching from the nbn to iiNet Cable?+
Worth a serious look if you're on underperforming FTTN, or you want a second, fully independent connection for redundancy. Probably not if you already have FTTP or healthy HFC, need fast uploads, or want to shop across many providers (only iiNet and Vodafone retail on this network). Measure your current real-world speeds first, then compare.
Why is the upload speed low compared to the nbn?+
HFC was originally designed for downloads (the cable TV days). Even after upgrades, upload sits around 17 to 20 Mbps. If you do a lot of video calls, cloud backups, or content uploading, nbn 100 (100/20 by default since Sept 2025) or nbn 1000 (~1000/50) on FTTP/HFC is the better fit.
Can I have both iiNet Cable AND the nbn at the same address?+
Yes. That's how some Geelong customers run a backup link: cable on one connection, nbn on another. Two physically separate networks into the same house. Bit pricey if you don't need the redundancy, but possible.