The days of having an active phone line to get an internet connection are over. Unlike ADSL, NBN doesn't need a phone line to get you connected to the internet.
Most NBN plans actually don't come with a home phone service attached, so you now have the choice over whether you even want to use your home phone or not.
What do NBN users do to make calls?
If you've now got a mobile phone, you may find that you no longer need a home phone to make calls.
In the past, we relied on our home phone to make calls to friends and family, as well as for our internet connection. That's because ADSL used the same copper phone line to get you online.
However, the NBN runs on different cables which means you no longer need a home phone line if you don't want to use it.
With most mobile plans now offering unlimited standard calls and texts within Australia, it means figuring out how to stay in touch with your loved ones is one less thing you have to worry about.
Finder survey: What are Australians looking for when getting an NBN plan?
In a survey of 1,006 Australians, only 15.41% of respondents (155) were looking for a home phone line with their NBN plan.
Response
Customer support options
43.24%
Modem with 4G backup
34.1%
Brand
28.73%
None of the above
17.89%
Modem available to purchase
16.7%
Home phone line
15.41%
BYO modem
13.22%
Other
7.36%
Source: Finder survey by Pure Profile of 1006 Australians, December 2023
Can I still get a home phone with the NBN?
Yes, you can. For fixed-line NBN connections, a different technology is used to traditional copper telephone lines for you to make and receive home phone calls. This is because the old copper lines used for calls are removed within 18 months of NBN installation.
NBN phone lines use Voice over IP (VoIP) technology, which converts voice signals into a digital form that can be sent through the fibre cables of the NBN.
Many providers give you the option of bundling a home phone line with your NBN plan.
A note for satellite and fixed wireless NBN customers
Unlike fixed-line NBN, satellite and fixed wireless customers won't have their copper telephone network decommissioned. This means any home phone services you buy will use the traditional copper network, rather than VoIP.
Depending on what NBN technology is available at your house, you might still need a phone socket to get connected.
Technology types like FTTC, FTTB and FTTN use existing telephone lines as part of the internet connection and will need to be inserted into a phone socket.
These are only used where a phone socket has already been installed, so no extra installation should be required. They do not involve an active home phone service.
Emergency devices and the NBN
The installation of the NBN involves decommissioning existing copper landlines that used to operate, even without power.
On the NBN, certain emergency devices, such as fire, medical or security alarms, may stop functioning if the power goes out.
If you have a device you can't afford to fail, you'll need to discuss solutions with your device provider. It may be able to provide you with a back-up battery or similar that will allow your device to continue functioning.
You should also register your priority device before connecting to the NBN, which can help prevent interruptions.
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Sam Baran is a writer for Finder, covering topics across the tech, telco and utilities sectors. They enjoy decrypting technical jargon and helping people compare complex products easily. When they aren't writing, you'll find Sam's head buried in a book or working on their latest short story. Sam has a Bachelor of Advanced Science from the University of Sydney.
NBN wholesaler nbnco offers four NBN speed tiers to ISPs, which dictates how fast your Internet connection will be, and here's how to choose the best plan.
You will be able to sign up for home phone as an added extra with most NBN Satellite providers. Some providers will offer a traditional home phone service over the copper cable network, but many are transitioning to voice over IP (VoIP) services, which use the Internet to handle phone calls. This is because, 18 months after the NBN has rolled out in any particular area, the traditional phone network will be switched off and VoIP will be the only way to make and receive phone calls.
If you want to future-proof your phone service, then, you might want to look into VoIP services rather than traditional phone services to go along with your NBN satellite service.
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Can I get home phone with NBN satellite
Hi Tamara,
Thanks for your question.
You will be able to sign up for home phone as an added extra with most NBN Satellite providers. Some providers will offer a traditional home phone service over the copper cable network, but many are transitioning to voice over IP (VoIP) services, which use the Internet to handle phone calls. This is because, 18 months after the NBN has rolled out in any particular area, the traditional phone network will be switched off and VoIP will be the only way to make and receive phone calls.
If you want to future-proof your phone service, then, you might want to look into VoIP services rather than traditional phone services to go along with your NBN satellite service.
I hope this helps.
Regards,
Matt