Compare NBN FTTP plans (Fibre to the Premises)

What is FTTP?

Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) refers to an NBN connection type where high-speed fibre optic cables run directly to your home. FTTP is sometimes also referred to as FTTH – Fibre to the Home.

Because FTTP connections don't require a mix of new and old internet technologies, it's considered the fastest and most reliable NBN connection around.

This is unlike Fibre to the Node (FTTN) connections, which use a mix of fibre optic cables and old copper phone lines and is considered one of the poorer connection types.

Can I get an FTTP connection?

The technology used to connect a property to the NBN is determined by NBN Co and isn't a choice. This means that if FTTP hasn't been chosen for your property, you won't have it as a connection.

If you're not sure what NBN connection type you have access to, simply input your address in the field below and we'll show you the NBN plans available for your home.

If you're not eligible for a free upgrade and are willing to pay the price, the NBN Technology Choice program can help you make it happen.

It's only available to certain single premises and costs can vary from premise to premise. You can expect to pay at least $5,000 if not more.

It can also take up to 6 months to connect to FTTP. You can get a quote online and apply if NBN deems your address eligible.

What FTTP speed can I get?

FTTP connections are capable of reaching the fastest speeds available on an NBN connectiom, all the way up to 1,000Mbps which is the NBN 1000 speed tier.

In theory, fibre optic cables can reach even higher speeds, but commercial and technical limitations mean that 1,000Mbps (which is 1Gbps) is the fastest NBN speed available in Australia.

As with any fixed-line internet, your connection might slow down during busy periods, especially between 7pm and 11pm.

How do you set up NBN FTTP?

Fortunately, you don't need to do much of anything, since the installation is handled by an NBN technician. You or someone else may need to be home to give them access as they install the following:

The only thing you need to do is hook up a modem, which can be purchased separately or from your internet provider. Plug the modem into one of the NBN connection box's yellow UNI-D ports with the included ethernet cable. You can see this in the above image of the NBN connection box, where the ethernet cable has been plugged into the UNI-D 2 port.

• Keep in mind that if your home is part of a greenfield development, you may be subject to a $300 NBN installation fee as part of the End User Contribution Charge.

How much does it cost to get an FTTP supported NBN plan?

An FTTP plan will cost you the same as any other NBN plan. Fixed-line plan costs don't change based on your connection type (only satellite and fixed wireless NBN plans are priced a little differently). Here's a look at the costs involved:

• Installation. Assuming your address is eligible for FTTP to begin with, this is free. Technicians from NBN and your provider will do whatever installation work is required at no cost.
• Plan. Your internet plan will be the main thing you have to pay for. Prices start from $39 a month and go up from there, depending on what speed you're after. The faster the speeds, the more you'll pay per month.
• Modem. Some providers will include this with their plan, or you can choose to purchase it separately. Modems start at around $80, although there are many models at different price points.

How does FTTP compare to other NBN connection types?

Fibre to the Premises is widely considered to be the best NBN connection you can get. Here's how it compares to other technologies:

FTTP vs FTTN

FTTP runs fibre optic cables directly to your house from the wider NBN network. On FTTN, your house is connected to a telephone exchange by older copper cables, so the signal gets significantly worse the further you are from the node.

Some FTTN customers aren't even lucky enough to hit 100Mbps because of how far they are from the NBN node.

• Which is better? FTTP is considered much more superior to FTTN (which is actually considered the worst fixed-line connection type in Australia).

FTTP vs FTTC

Where fibre optic cables are run straight to your home with FTTP, FTTC connections connect your home to a distribution point outside your house. From there, fibre optic cables connect you to the NBN, while old copper cables run from the distribution point into your home.

• Which is better? Since older copper cabling is still part of an FTTC connection, FTTP comes out on top.

FTTP vs HFC

Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC) uses "pay TV" coaxial cables to connect you to the greater fibre network. While this isn't as bad as the old copper cables, FTTP's fibre optic cables are overall better.

• Which is better? FTTP is still more reliable and faster than HFC because of its full fibre optic connection. In the December Broadband Performance Report by the ACCC, FTTP connections performed 0.1% better than HFC connections.

FTTP vs FTTB

In a Fibre to the Basement/Building (FTTB) connection, fibre optic cables go to the basement of a building, but individual apartments are connected by various other cables including copper.

• Which is better? FTTP beats FTTB since it's a full fibre optic connection with no other cabling as part of its set-up.

I didn't realise what a difference an FTTP connection meant until I moved apartments onto an HFC connection. My FTTP connection had a much more reliable connection to handle faster NBN speeds thanks to its full fibre build.

— Michelle Kwong, Publisher (Mobile & Broadband)

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Frequently asked questions

• What is FTTP?

  FTTP is the good stuff - it's fibre optic cables that bring super fast internet straight to your place, like right into your living room. No more dealing with old copper wires or wireless issues, just lightning fast speeds.

• How much are FTTP nbn plans?

  FTTP plans from the big providers are usually between $60-100 per month for unlimited data. You can get some great deals though, which we have listed on our best NBN plans page.

• What are the best FTTP providers?

  Some good options for FTTP are TPG, Superloop, Exetel, and More, but there are a tonne on the market. They all have their pros - you just gotta decide what's most important, like speed, price, customer service, or flexible plans. Read out top NBN providers page for more.

• Is FTTP faster than other NBN technologies?

  Yeah, FTTP is way faster than other NBN options like FTTN (to the node) and FTTC (to the curb). FTTP can hit gigabit speeds, while the others max out at 100 Mbps. But the actual speed you get depends on your plan and provider.

• Is FTTP better than 5G Home Wireless?

  FTTP is probably more reliable and consistent than 5G home wireless, which can be affected by distance and obstacles. But if FTTP isn't available in your area yet, 5G wireless is still a pretty sweet option.

• Does FTTP need a modem or just a router?

  For FTTP, you'll need an NBN box installed by their techs. It connects to your home network via Ethernet. Then you just plug in a router to that box to get WiFi and Ethernet ports for all your devices.

• Can I pay to install FTTP?

  NBN might cover the cost of upgrading to FTTP if you're eligible. But if your place is tricky or needs extra work, there might be some charges. Check with NBN or your provider to see what's up.

To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Tim Bennett as part of our fact-checking process.

Written by

Mariam Gabaji

Editor I Tech and utilities expert

Mariam Gabaji is an editor and tech and utilities expert at Finder with 12+ years of experience as a journalist. She's committed to helping households cut through the industry jargon and save money on their bills. Her expertise is often featured in media including the ABC, Yahoo Finance, 9News, 7News, A Current Affair, The Guardian, SBS and Money Magazine. See full bio

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