50,000 homes now eligible for a free NBN upgrade: Is yours one of them?
Customers on unreliable fibre to the node (FTTN) connections can now apply for the best NBN connection available and get faster speeds.
NBN Co has announced as of 22 March that 50,000 Australian broadband customers will be able to get a better connection and Internet speeds of 100Mbps or faster as part of a $4.5 billion network upgrade program.
This upgrade is available for fibre to the node (FTTN) customers who want to order a Fast, Superfast or Ultrafast NBN plan and live in one of the suburbs where the upgrades are being rolled out.
Eligible customers will be upgraded from FTTN, notoriously the worst NBN connection type, to fibre to the premises (FTTP), the best connection type.
NBN Co also announced that 95% of customers on hybrid fibre coaxial (HFC) connections should be able to order Ultrafast plans too, thanks to network upgrades carried out over the past 2 years.
Am I eligible for the NBN upgrade?
The upgrade is free for any FTTN customers who live in an eligible suburb which includes 50,000 premises at present. You can check your connection type here.
This list will expand until the end of 2023 as the rollout is extended to more suburbs, at a rate of approximately 60,000 new premises across Australia each month.
What speeds will I get?
The speeds you actually get can depend on a few factors, including your hardware and what provider you choose.
Either way, your speeds will almost certainly be faster than the 50-100Mbps maximum download speeds FTTN connections are limited to at present.
However, your maximum speed will depend on what NBN plan you order:
- NBN 100 Fast. 100Mbps max download speed, 40Mbps max upload speed
- NBN 250 Superfast. 250Mbps max download speed, 25Mbps max upload speed
- NBN 1000 Ultrafast. 1000Mbps max download speed, 50Mbps max upload speed
Take a look at how much NBN 100, NBN 250 and NBN 1000 plans will cost you.
How do I apply for the NBN upgrade?
To apply, all you need to do is have an FTTN connection, live in an eligible area, and place an order for a Fast or higher NBN plan with any Internet provider.
You can see the full announcement, including eligible suburbs and more, on NBN Co's page.
Once you've ordered a plan, NBN Co will come and upgrade your connection by replacing the copper wires leading to your house with faster fibre cable. No direct interaction with NBN Co is required.
When will my property be connected?
If you live in an eligible suburb, NBN Co should start work on upgrading your connection right away.
If the rollout hasn't been extended to where you live yet, you'll need to keep an eye on the growing list of eligible suburbs or register for updates here to see when you can apply for the upgrade.
All the towns and suburbs eligible for the NBN upgrade
| Suburb | State/Territory |
|---|---|
| Aberglasslyn | New South Wales |
| Alexander Heights | Western Australia |
| Ascot Park | South Australia |
| Athol Park | South Australia |
| Bayswater | Victoria |
| Bayswater North | Victoria |
| Beckenham | Western Australia |
| Bella Vista | New South Wales |
| Bowden | South Australia |
| Braybrook | Victoria |
| Burleigh Waters | Queensland |
| Burton | South Australia |
| Cameron Park | New South Wales |
| Canley Vale | New South Wales |
| Castle Hill | New South Wales |
| Cherrybrook | New South Wales |
| Chipping Norton | New South Wales |
| Clovelly Park | South Australia |
| Cranborne North | Victoria |
| Croydon | New South Wales |
| Croydon Park | New South Wales |
| Darlinghurst | New South Wales |
| Doubleview | Western Australia |
| Dudley Park | South Australia |
| Edgeworth | New South Wales |
| Edwardstown | South Australia |
| Erina | New South Wales |
| Ethelton | South Australia |
| Gilston | Queensland |
| Glenhaven | New South Wales |
| Green Valley | New South Wales |
| Greenwith | South Australia |
| Gwelup | Western Australia |
| Hampton Park | Victoria |
| Highland Park | Queensland |
| Hunterview | New South Wales |
| Innaloo | Western Australia |
| Karrinyup | Western Australia |
| Kingswood | New South Wales |
| Kurnell | New South Wales |
| Langford | Western Australia |
| Lynbrook | Victoria |
| Lyndhurst | New South Wales |
| Marangaroo | Western Australia |
| Mawson Lakes | South Australia |
| Melrose Park | New South Wales |
| Mitchell Park | South Australia |
| Mudgeeraba | Queensland |
| Narre Warren | Victoria |
| Norwest | New South Wales |
| Parafield Gardens | South Australia |
| Paralowie | South Australia |
| Pleasure Point | New South Wales |
| Renown Park | South Australia |
| Robina | Queensland |
| Rowville | Victoria |
| Rutherford | New South Wales |
| Semaphore | South Australia |
| Semaphore Park | South Australia |
| Semaphore South | South Australia |
| Singleton Heights | New South Wales |
| South Plympton | South Australia |
| St Albans | New South Wales |
| St Clair | New South Wales |
| Sunshine | Victoria |
| Sunshine North | Victoria |
| Terrigal | New South Wales |
| Thornlie | Western Australia |
| Thornton | New South Wales |
| Varsity Lakes | Queensland |
| Villawood | New South Wales |
| Voyager Point | New South Wales |
| Wattle Grove | New South Wales |
| West Lakes | South Australia |
| West Lakes Shore | South Australia |
| West Pennant Hills | New South Wales |
| Woodlands | New South Wales |
| Woodville North | South Australia |
| Worongary | Queensland |
Check out all the NBN plans available on Finder that meet your need for speed.
