The nbn™ is being rolled out across Australia offering fast, reliable and affordable internet services to 100% of the Australian population.

The nbn™ uses multiple connectivity options in order to achieve its goal of delivering broadband to 100% of the Australian population. Depending on where your businesses is located, you may be connected to the nbn™ network by either Fibre to the Premise (FTTP), Fibre to the Node (FTTN) or Hybrid Fibre-Coaxial in Metropolitan and some large regional centres, or Fixed Wireless or Satellite in Regional and Rural areas.

What is the nbn™?

The nbn™ is Australia’s new broadband network currently being rolled out on behalf of the Federal Government. The nbn™ network is set to replace the existing phone and broadband infrastructure with a faster and more reliable broadband service.

The nbn™ is being rolled out using many different technologies including fibre optic, fixed-line, wireless and satellite and will be a game-changer, offering broadband speeds up to four times faster than the fastest Broadband ADSL2+ connections we see today. Read on to find out more about the different technologies being used as part of the nbn™ network.

nbn™ Speeds

Advertised connection speeds on the nbn™ network range from 12Mbps download / 1Mbps upload through to a super-fast 100Mbps downloads, 40Mbps upload. Depending on the connection method and technology rolled out in your area, only some of the defined connection speeds may be available.

Connection Speeds vs. Throughput Speeds

Connection and Throughput Speeds aren’t the same. Your connection speed on the nbn™ is the maximum speed you can achieve, but in reality, actual throughput speeds may be slower and can vary due to many factors. Some of these factors include the source and type of content being download, how many people are using the internet connection at the same and if you are connecting using WiFi.

nbn™ Connections & Technology

Where your premises is located will determine what connection method and technology will be used to connect you to the nbn™. At present, only one connection method is being used in each area. The different technologies being used to rollout the nbn™ network are:

  • Fibre to the Premise (FTTP) provides fibre-optic cables directly to your premises and is capable of delivering connection speeds of up to 100Mbps download / 40Mbps upload.
  • Fibre to the Basement (FTTB) connects fibre-optic cables to the communications cabinet, generally found in the basement, with the final connection to the individual premises made by copper phone/ broadband lines
  • Fibre to the Node (FTTN) is similar to FTTB, however connects fibre to a street cabinet, with the final connection to the premises made using copper phone/broadband lines. Both FTTB and FTTN technologies are capable of delivering connection speeds of between 12Mbps-100Mbps download / 1Mbps-40Mbps upload.
  • Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC), launched to provide PayTV services in Australia in the mid-1990’s, can also supply Broadband services. HFC cables are typically strung between power-poles in metropolitan areas and are capable of connection speeds of up to 100Mbps download / 40Mbps upload.
  • Fixed Wireless is almost identical to the technology used for Mobile Data (3G/4G) where towers or base stations are used to communicate over the air to premises with line-of-sight to the tower. Fixed Wireless connections are capable of connection speeds of up to 50Mbps download / 20Mbps upload.
  • Satellite, used primarily rural and remote areas, services the remaining premises that the above mentioned technologies do not. Satellite has the best reach of all technologies, however is only capable of connection speeds of up to 25Mbps download / 5Mbps upload.

The nbn™ “Switch Off”

Approximately 18-months after an area has successfully been enabled with the nbn™ network, services provided over the traditional landline networks
will be disconnected. Services that will be disconnected include:

  • Landline phone services from all phone companies, where the service is provided over Telstra’s copper phone lines;
  • All ADSL and ADSL2+ internet services from all providers;
  • All Cable internet services.

There are some exceptions to the switch-off and these include a set of special services mainly used by businesses.

If you want to keep using your landline phone and internet services, you will need to move them to a plan over the nbn™ network before your scheduled disconnection date