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FTTP NBN plans

Lucked out with an FTTP NBN connection? You can get reliably fast Internet speeds of up to 1000Mbps.

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Fibre to the Premises (FTTP, sometimes also called Fibre to the Home) is regarded as the best NBN connection type you can get. You can expect fast speeds, a reliable connection and access to almost any NBN plan you want.

Nearly all NBN providers offer FTTP plans, which is great news because it means you've got access to more deals and options so you can find the best plan for your needs.

What is FTTP?

FTTP connections run high-speed fibre optic cables from the wider network of the NBN all the way to your house, where a modem completes the connection.

Because FTTP connections don't require a mix of new and old Internet technologies (like FTTN which uses a mix of fibre optic cables and old copper phone lines), it's considered the fastest and most reliable NBN connection around.

With FTTP, you also get access to NBN 250 and NBN 1000 speeds, which are the two fastest NBN speed categories. These plans aren't currently available to all households in Australia, so if you live with 5 or more people, you might be interested in taking advantage of your FTTP luck and signing up to one of these.

Compare FTTP NBN plans below

What speeds can I get on FTTP?

FTTP connections are capable of reaching the highest speeds that the NBN has to offer, all the way up to NBN 1000. In theory, fibre optic cables can reach even higher speeds, but commercial and technical limitations mean that 1000Mbps (which is 1Gbps) is the fastest plan available in Australia.

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

What's involved in the NBN FTTP installation?

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:

NBN utility box

NBN utility box

(installed outside)

NBN connection box

NBN connection box

(can be installed either inside or outside)

NBN backup battery

NBN backup battery

(installed inside)

The only thing you need to do is hook up a modem, which is 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.

You can find out more about the NBN battery here.

Can I get Fibre to the Premises?

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

There are no specific NBN FTTP suburbs or neighbourhoods – you have to check each address individually. You can check whether your address is capable of having an FTTP connection by popping your details into our NBN tracker.

How to get Fibre to the Premises

If you're desperate for FTTP and are willing to pay for the privilege, the NBN Technology Choice program can give you a chance to upgrade. It's not available to everyone, and you must submit an application to NBN Co for a free quote on eligibility and upgrade costs.

However, expect to pay dearly for the upgrade. Costs depend on your property and existing connection type, ranging from about $2,000-$10,000 for FTTC connections and up to over $50,000 for some HFC and FTTN connections. The whole process can take in excess of six months, so don't expect a quick upgrade either.

What's the cost of FTTP?

An FTTP plan will cost you exactly the same as any other NBN plan since fixed-line plan costs don't change based on your connection type (only satellite and fixed wireless NBN plans cost more). Here's what goes into it:

  • Installation. Assuming your address is slated for FTTP to begin with, this is free. Technicians from the 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 at about $50 and go up from there, depending on what speed you're after.
  • Modem. Some providers will include this with their plan, or you can choose to purchase it separately. Modems start at around $75+ outright, although there are many models at all different price points.

Do I have FTTP or FTTN?

The easiest way to tell the difference between the two is whether you have an NBN connection box or not. For an FTTN connection, your modem plugs directly into the telephone wall socket. For FTTP, your modem will plug into an NBN connection box, which is then connected to an external utility box.

What's the difference between FTTP and FTTN?

With FTTP, fibre optic cables are run directly to your house. On an FTTN connection, fibre optic cables are run to a telephone exchange box, which is then connected to your house by older copper telephone wires.

The main difference that this creates is the speed you get on both connections. Since FTTP is fibre optic all the way, you get access to the best NBN speeds. But with FTTN connections, most of the distance to your house is covered by older wires that don't handle speed as well. This is why FTTN is regarded as being one of the slowest NBN connections around.

Is Fibre to the Premises better?

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 inferior copper cables, so the signal gets significantly worse the further you are from the node.

End result: FTTP is more reliable and faster than FTTN.

FTTC vs FTTP

FTTC connections connect your home to a distribution point outside your house, and from there fibre optic cables connect you to the NBN. Some copper is worse than none, so FTTC suffers in comparison.

End result: FTTP is more reliable and faster than FTTC.

HFC vs FTTP

Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC) uses "pay TV" coaxial cables to connect you to the greater fibre network. However, FTTP's fibre optic cables are overall better.

End result: FTTP is more reliable and faster than HFC.

FTTB vs FTTP

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. Fibre optic cables remain better and more consistent than the alternatives.

End result: FTTP is more reliable and faster than FTTB.

Images: Finder, Aussie Broadband

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4 Responses

    Default Gravatar
    JohnApril 8, 2016

    How do I find out if the recent NBN connection to my home is FTTP or FTTN?

    Reply
      Default Gravatar
      BrodieApril 12, 2016

      Hi John,

      Easy. Enter your full address into our NBN Rollout Tracker to see if the NBN is available and compare plans instantly. This will also let you know what technology is available at your address.

      Thanks,
      Brodie

      Reply
      Default Gravatar
      PaddoMay 8, 2017

      Does “fixed line” mean FTTP or FTTN?

      Reply
      Avatarfinder Customer Care
      DeeMay 9, 2017Staff

      Hi Paddo,

      Thanks for your question.

      All types of nbn network connections that use a physical line running to the premises are considered to be fixed line connections which include FTTP, FTTN and FTTB. The difference between each type of connection has to do with how your existing network technology will be used in connecting you to the nearest available fibre node to your specific premises.

      Cheers,
      Anndy

      Reply
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