We designed the Finder Score to simplify your search for the best NBN and Home Wireless plans. By analysing hundreds of options from 40+ providers, we evaluate pricing, speeds, data allowances and plan features. Each factor is weighted and combined to generate a score out of 10 — helping you quickly spot the most competitive plans on the market. Read the full breakdown.
The initial NBN rollout, which began in 2010, was declared 'complete' in late 2020.
It was a project undertaken by the Australian federal government to deliver high-speed, reliable internet to millions of Australians in a bid to replace outdated copper connections with new fibre-optic cables to drastically improve Australia's connectivity.
The NBN wasn't rolled out the same everywhere, with different areas receiving different types of connections.
What type of connection you get can have a big impact on your connection speed.
The majority of Aussies will be on a fixed-line NBN connection, which is subdivided into 5 categories:
Fibre to the node (FTTN): High-speed fibre-optic cables are hooked up to a node on your street before being carried to your house via older copper cables. The speed of your connection depends on how close your home is to the node, so that someone at one end of the street may get a great connection, while someone a few doors down gets a much slower one. On FTTN, you can get speeds up to 100Mbps (NBN 100).
Fibre to the Curb (FTTC): FTTC NBN brings fibre right to a distribution point near your home, with the last stretch connected via copper lines. Similar to FTTN, you can only get speeds up to 100Mbps (NBN 100).
Fibre to the premises (FTTP): This is the best connection you can get under the NBN. In this, fibre-optic cables are hooked up directly to your home via the ground or through overhead lines. You can get access to the fastest available NBN speed tiers on this connection.
Hybrid fibre coaxial (HFC): This is a slight upgrade on fibre to the node connections. Fibre-optic cables are still run to a node on your street, but heavy-duty coaxial cable is used to carry the signal the rest of the way to your house. These coaxial cables are already used for cable TV and the like, and are better at transmitting the signals faster. Similar to FTTP, you can get access to the fastest available NBN speed tiers on this connection.
Fixed wireless: Usually used in regional areas, fixed wireless connections run fibre-optic cables to a signal tower, which then broadcasts the signal to properties within 14km. Fixed wireless now reaches up to 100Mbps on a Plus plan, and up to 250Mbps or 400Mbps in upgraded areas on the Home Fast and Superfast tiers, though real-world speeds are generally slower than that.
Satellite NBN: Sky Muster is the name of the NBN's satellite broadband service. It offers those living in some regional and remote parts of the country a more reliable way to get online.
Unlike providers, the type of connection you have is fixed – in short, you're stuck with whatever connection your property has. If a fast internet plan is your top priority, take the type of connection into consideration when moving.
The good news is NBN Co is on track to upgrade 10 million premises to FTTP from FTTN by the end of 2025.
You can check your household's eligibility by popping in your address on NBN's website. If you're eligible and your property is ready, the upgrade will be triggered when you sign up for an NBN 100 plan or above with a participating provider.
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