Understanding NBN Technologies

Not all NBN connections are created equal. Here is how yours works.

FTTP: Fibre to the Premises

The Gold Standard

Pure fibre optic cable runs directly into a box (NTD) inside your home. This is the most reliable tech and supports speeds up to 1000Mbps.

Best for: Gamers, large families, and 4K streamers.

HFC: Hybrid Fibre Coaxial

Very Fast

Uses the same "cable TV" lines that Foxtel uses. High speeds are possible, but performance can be affected by the number of neighbors sharing the line in your street.

Common in: Suburban areas and major cities.

FTTC: Fibre to the Curb

Reliable

Fibre optic cable runs to a small pit in the street outside your house. The last few meters use existing copper phone lines. Generally very stable and consistent.

FTTN: Fibre to the Node

Distance Sensitive

Fibre runs to a green box in your street. From there, it uses old copper phone lines. Your speed depends heavily on how many meters of copper are between you and that box.

Tip: If you're over 400m away from the node, you may struggle to hit 100Mbps.

Fixed Wireless & Satellite

Regional / Rural

Uses an antenna on your roof to communicate with a tower (Wireless) or the Sky Muster satellite. Performance is affected by weather and signal interference.