The Quick Version
NBN National Broadband Network Australia's government-built wholesale internet network. NBN Co builds the infrastructure, then internet providers (like Telstra, Aussie Broadband, TPG) buy access to sell you a connection.NBN
A Brief History
- 2009: NBN Co established to build a national broadband network
- 2011-2016: Original plan was fibre to every home (FTTP)
- 2013: Policy changed to “multi-technology mix” to reduce costs
- 2020: Initial rollout completed
- Now: Ongoing upgrades, including fibre upgrades for some FTTN/FTTC areas
The Different NBN Technologies
NBN isn’t one technology - it’s several. What you get depends on your address:
| Technology | What It Means | Typical Speed |
|---|---|---|
| FTTP | Fibre to the Premises | Up to 1000 Mbps |
| FTTC | Fibre to the Curb | Up to 100 Mbps |
| FTTN | Fibre to the Node | 25-100 Mbps (varies) |
| HFC | Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (cable) | Up to 1000 Mbps |
| Fixed Wireless | Radio signal to your home | Up to 100-400 Mbps |
| Satellite | Sky Muster satellites | Up to 25 Mbps |
The technology you have isn’t a choice - it’s determined by your address. You can check what’s available at your address on the NBN website.
How NBN Works
- NBN Co owns the infrastructure - The cables, nodes, and equipment
- You buy service from a retailer - Telstra, Aussie Broadband, TPG, etc.
- They pay NBN Co for access - And sell you a plan
- Speed depends on your plan AND technology - You can only get what your tech supports
NBN Speed Tiers (Updated September 2025)
NBN plans come in speed tiers. Major upgrades took effect on 14 September 2025 for FTTP and HFC customers:
| Plan | Previous Download | Current Download | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| NBN 25 | 25 Mbps | 25 Mbps | All technologies |
| NBN 50 | 50 Mbps | 50 Mbps | All technologies |
| NBN 100 | 100 Mbps | 500 Mbps | FTTP, HFC only |
| NBN 250 | 250 Mbps | 750 Mbps | FTTP, HFC only |
| NBN 1000 | 1000 Mbps | 1000 Mbps (min 750) | FTTP, HFC only |
| NBN 2000 | N/A | 2000 Mbps | FTTP, HFC only |
Key change: If you have FTTP or HFC and an NBN 100 plan, you now get 500 Mbps for the same price! FTTN and FTTC customers don’t get these upgrades (unless upgraded to FTTP).
The first number is download speed, the second is upload. “Mbps Megabits per second A measure of internet speed — how much data can transfer each second. 100 Mbps means 100 million bits of data per second. Streaming HD video needs about 5-10 Mbps.Mbps
Why Speeds Vary
Your actual speed can be lower than advertised for several reasons:
- Technology limits: FTTN speed depends on distance from the node
- Network congestion: Busy times (7-11pm) can slow things down
- ISP capacity: Some providers buy less bandwidth than others
- Your equipment: Old routers and modems can limit speeds
- WiFi issues: WiFi is often the bottleneck, not NBN
NBN vs WiFi
A common misconception: NBN is your internet connection, WiFi is your home network.
- NBN gets the internet to your home
- WiFi distributes it to your devices wirelessly
- You can have great NBN but poor WiFi (or vice versa)
If you’re having speed issues, test with a cable connected directly to your modem first. This tells you whether it’s an NBN problem or a WiFi problem.
Checking Your NBN
To find out what NBN technology you have:
- Visit nbnco.com.au/check-your-address
- Enter your address
- It shows your technology type and available speeds
You can also check the NBN connection box in your home - it usually has a label identifying the technology.
Official Resources
- NBN Address Checker - Check what NBN technology is available at your address
- NBN Speed Guide - Understand NBN speed tiers
- NBN Upgrade Information - Check if free fibre upgrades are available