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About 10.5 million homes and businesses are already capable of connecting to the NBN and the rest of Australia is set to be hooked up by the end of 2020. However, as the new network is being rolled out, the old network of copper wires is gradually being decommissioned. This means that old services will be cut off.
Many Australians don't realise that failing to switch to the NBN within 18 months of its installation at their property will result in their existing service being cut off. All you need to do to avoid this is to buy an NBN plan from a service provider before that 18-month period has expired.
If you're not sure about which services you'll lose access to with the rollout, here's what you won't be able keep:
But you do get to keep these:
Be aware that NBN services require constant power to operate. This means things like emergency medical devices or voice-over-IP phones (which make voice calls using an Internet connection instead of a regular phone line) connected to the NBN will cease functioning in the event of an outage, unlike older copper-network devices. Consider having a back-up battery for your NBN modem if constant Internet is a must.
According to NBN Co, the roll out is currently on track to be completed by the end of 2020. From the moment that you can switch to the NBN, you typically have 18 months to move your services to the new network before the old network is switched off. Remember that you will still need a technician to come and physically connect your property up. Since technicians can have lengthy queues, we highly recommend switching well before your disconnection date.
If you can't find your disconnection date online, simply add 18 months to the "ready for service" date listed to work it out. If you're unsure when your existing network will be discontinued, use our NBN address checker.
If you're interested in having access to the Internet or a home phone, the answer is yes.
Unless you're either in a fixed wireless area, satellite NBN area or in the small number of areas that are deemed adequately served, switching to the NBN is the only way to continue receiving a fixed-line Internet service. If you don't make the change, you run the risk of losing your home broadband and phone services.
Both your provider and NBN Co will send you reminders to change to the new network once it's installed.
The NBN will be the only option for fixed-line Internet connections 18 months after its rollout is completed, which is scheduled for the end of 2020. However, if you're looking for an alternative, you might want to consider home wireless broadband, which connects you to the Internet via existing mobile phone networks.
The speed and types of broadband available to you (3G, 4G or 5G) will depend largely on where you live. The speed may vary more than fixed-line connections due to weather and network congestion. While mobile broadband is a convenient (and possibly faster) option for some, it tends to have far reduced data limits when compared to a similar NBN plan.
The NBN has to be installed in your area before you can connect to it. Use our NBN rollout map to find out if it's installed or when it's expected to be. Your current internet provider should also send you a notification when the NBN will soon be available. If the NBN is available, here are the simple steps you can follow to get connected:
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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.
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What is the cut off date for copper in the Box Hill Victoria area
Hi Merily,
Thanks for your question! nbnco and your service provider should notify about the copper cut off in your area well ahead of time before they do. If you haven’t arranged for your ADSL/landline service to move to the NBN, it might be disconnected. You typically have 18 months to change networks once you’ve been notified.
Hope this helps!
Best,
Nikki
If your address is NBN-enabled, compare plans to find the best one for you.
In this document it states I may receive a phone call to advise when the cut-off is about to take place. This is not a good idea as already I, and many others, have received scam calls telling me to switch NOW or I will be cut off from everything. I think at least a letter should be sent to alleviate this serious problem.
Hi Audrey,
Thanks for getting in touch with finder.
Indeed, it’s annoying when you receive scam or prank calls especially when they’re just taking advantage of the recent NBN rollout. As much as we’d also want you to be emailed or sent a letter by post regarding the copper cut-off, we can’t, as we don’t represent NBN. If in case, you may want to contact NBN directly for this request instead.
Cheers,
May
Thanks for the response, May. I am indeed referring to a broadband service on the mobile network, but I note that while it has a number associated with it, it can only send and receive SMS, i.e. no phone capability exists on the contract. The data allowance is good,and is even better with a contract – I think it rises to 120GB.
With two of four bars of signal strength, I get better than 30Mb/s download and at least 6Mb/s upload speeds. When 5G arrives, this will apparently raise download speed to a minimum of 100Gb/s, but that’s some way off. As I see it, it’s faster than most people’s NBN service and it’s cheaper, and was available last year, while NBN is in the process of being installed in my area.
Hi NBN Alternative,
Thanks for getting back and apologies for the delayed reply.
Yes, true, while you’re waiting for the NBN to be rolled in your location, thanks to the availability of mobile broadband as an alternative! There may be pros and cons (e.g. phone service is limited to sending and receiving SMS only), nevertheless, your data needs will still be served, and I guess it’s more important if you’re consistently using the internet. :)
Thanks again for dropping by!
Cheers,
May
We just built a new house and I have all the leads at the front dangling from a pole to be connected to a pit. I’m told that we would have to pay hundreds of dollars to get this pit put in before we can have NBN. Telstra in the meantime has put us on wifi. I have a very sick husband whom needs a landline but they insist that it is up to us to put in the pit. The wifi service is shocking and we are limited to only 80g’s per month. Not happy with Telstra as I feel we have been stood over on this.
Hi Barb,
Thank you for reaching out to finder.
I understand your frustration regarding this matter. You might want to check our page here to know what other providers are available in your area. Once you have selected one, you may want to inquire directly to the provider on how they could make the connection to yuor address and for how much. Hope this helps!
Cheers,
Reggie
You don’t include the alternative of a mobile-data-only service, which is faster and cheaper than NBN and available now. Optus has a 100GB service for $70 per month, and I am a satisfied user.
Hi NBN Alternative,
Thanks for your comment.
If you are pertaining to the mobile broadband, you can find out guide on this page the plans available in the market. Indeed Optus offers 100GB service which was also included in the list, but as of this writing, they offer it for $80. Lucky you’ve got it at a lower price of $70! In case you’d like to compare the price of other providers, you can reset the filters found at the upper right corner of the panel just right on top of our list.
Hope this has helped.
Cheers,
May
How can the Government say that everyone is going to be on NBN when my area is still on copper line from the house to the junction box on my street then to about 2 kilo meter or 3 away from a main junction?
Hi C Valentino,
Thanks for getting in touch with finder. I hope all is well with you. :)
It could be that your area isn’t NBN ready yet. We do have a tracker where you can check the availability of NBN in your area. Please go here to check.
If you have confirmed that your area isn’t NBN ready yet, you would have to wait. You can also ask NBN when your area would be accommodated. On the other hand, if your area is already NBN ready, then you would need to directly get in touch with your provider and arrange the move of your connection to NBN.
I hope this helps. Should you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach us out again.
Have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Joshua
We are with W3 Networks. Do we have to change?
Hi Janet,
Thank you for getting in touch with finder.
You don’t have to change since W3 Networks offers wireless connection.
I hope this helps.
Please feel free to reach out to us if you have any other enquiries.
Thank you and have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Jeni
What about cable customers that were given access, then had it suspended due to Telstra’s bogus contract with NBN?
We’ve just been given a letter we can proceed, so how long do we have? 18 months from the original date, or the new date?
Hi Dawesi,
Thank you for getting in touch with finder.
Regarding your query, it is best to clarify that with your provider – Telstra. Your provider basically contacts NBN Co about any changes that happen/will happen in your area.
If you are looking for a page you can use as reference for NBN links and contacts for consumers like you, please check out this ACMA official page.
I hope this helps.
Please feel free to reach out to us if you have any other enquiries.
Thank you and have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Jeni
My mum has no computer devices at home but has a Telstra land line.
What will she need to do to keep her landline?
Hi Gotti,
Thank you for getting in touch with finder.
Australia is currently undergoing a digital transformation from a predominantly copper network, to the national rollout of the Multi Technology Mix (MTM), predominantly on a fibre network. This will affect the way you currently use your landline, particularly in a power outage. I recommend that you move your services over to the nbn™ access network well before they are switched off, which occurs 18 months after the network is switched on in your area. So please contact your provider regarding your mother’s homephone.
As per surveys, homephones would completely vanish by 2037.
I hope this helps.
Please feel free to reach out to us if you have any other enquiries.
Thank you and have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Jeni
Landlines will always be used. Business isn’t going to just move to mobiles just because of a survey. They will just move to voip, as most have already.
Technology changes, people and habits don’t. It’s 2018 and we still use phones, we always will, just _how_ we use them changes, but one thing is for sure cellular phones will not be the standard once lawsuits start rolling for the danger (already proven) they emit through transmissions the brain.
I.e. skype is a landline, as is facebook messenger video and voice – it’s just through wifi.
Also considering the lawsuits on using mobiles have started (as they have now been proven to cause cancer in your brain), I’m sure that businesses will move back to voip in an effort to avoid class actions against employers who only provide mobiles.
I have been informed that NBN will not roll out to my suburb in the foreseeable future. The problem is that my suburb is too far from the centre of town(about 5kms from the Orange PO) That is great news as I have ADSL2 without dropouts. I have been told that the dodgy wireless would be the only option. Fortunately, covenants on my property prohibit ugly satellite dishes.
Hi Greg,
Thanks for your message and for visiting finder – the leading comparison website & general information service built to give you advice in your buying decision needs. How are you doing today?
It’s great to hear that you’ll have better broadband service near your area. Since you are just 5kms shy from the town center, surely, service will get better soon. You can check on this page to be updated. Just enter your exact location and it will show you the services offered in your area.
Hope this was helpful. Don’t hesitate to message us back if you have more questions.
Cheers,
Nikki