NBN connection types: FTTP, FTTC, HFC, FTTN, FTTB, Fixed Wireless and Satellite

The seven types compared

nbn picked a technology for each street when it built the network, and fibre is now growing fastest: nbn said about 35% of connected premises (2.99 million) were on FTTP at 31 December 2025, and in the year to June 2026 more customers were connected to fibre than to copper for the first time.

FTTP: Fibre to the Premises

With FTTP, a fibre optic line runs from the nearest fibre node directly to your home. nbn installs a utility box on the outside wall and a connection box inside, also called the Network Termination Device (NTD); your modem or router plugs into the NTD with a network cable.

FTTP can take every tier nbn sells, up to Home Hyperfast at 2,000/200 Mbps, and fibre is not slowed by distance the way copper is. It is the connection most homes on older technologies are being upgraded to.

HFC: Hybrid Fibre Coaxial

HFC uses the existing pay TV (coaxial) cable network for the final part of the connection. Inside, you have an nbn connection box (the NTD) connected to a wall outlet, and your router plugs into it. nbn says around 2.5 million HFC premises can now get 2 Gbps wholesale download speeds.

HFC can order every tier to Home Hyperfast, though its uploads on the top tier are 100 Mbps rather than FTTP's 200, and Home Ultrafast is subject to service qualification.

FTTC: Fibre to the Curb

FTTC runs fibre to a small Distribution Point Unit in a pit on the street, usually outside your home, then uses your existing copper phone line for the last few metres. You have an nbn connection device (NCD) inside, connected to the phone socket, and your router plugs into it.

Because the copper run is short, nbn quotes FTTC speeds as a narrower range than FTTN, but its top tier is Home Fast I (up to 100/20 Mbps). nbn said about 860,000 customers were in the FTTC footprint at July 2026, and from 1 July 2026 they can order a fibre upgrade without taking a high-speed plan.

FTTN: Fibre to the Node

FTTN runs fibre to a cabinet (the node) in your street, then uses the existing copper phone network to reach your home. There is no nbn box inside; you plug a VDSL2-compatible modem into your phone wall socket.

FTTN speed depends on the length and condition of the copper between the node and your home, which is why nbn shows Home Standard as 25–50 Mbps and Home Fast I as 25–100 Mbps on FTTN. A home near the node may reach the top of the range; one far away may not. Millions of FTTN premises can now upgrade to FTTP, and nbn expects more than 99% of the roughly 600,000 premises remaining in its FTTN program to have that option by December 2030.

FTTB: Fibre to the Building

FTTB is used in apartment blocks. nbn runs fibre to a node in the building's communications room, and the building's existing phone wiring carries the service to each unit. Like FTTN, you need a VDSL2-compatible modem plugged into the phone wall socket, and speeds follow the same 25–100 Mbps ranges.

FTTB buildings are not yet eligible for the individual fibre upgrade. nbn has a separate program for complex multi-dwelling properties on FTTN or FTTC, where the whole building or complex must upgrade together; its fibre upgrade guide covers how that works.

Fixed Wireless

Fixed Wireless uses hybrid 4G/5G technology to send data by radio from a tower to an antenna on your roof, which connects to an nbn box inside. It is available to around 800,000 premises, mostly in regional areas. After a $750 million upgrade completed in 2024, eligible premises can order Fixed Wireless Home Fast (up to 250 Mbps) and Fixed Wireless Superfast (up to 400 Mbps). See our Fixed Wireless guide.

Satellite: Sky Muster

Sky Muster serves homes and businesses in remote Australia and the offshore islands through two geostationary satellites launched in 2015 and 2016. You get a dish outside and an nbn modem inside. Sky Muster Plus Premium plans have uncapped data and tiers up to 100/5 Mbps. nbn plans to move eligible satellite customers to a low-earth-orbit service built with Amazon from around mid-2027. See our Sky Muster guide and, for the private alternative, Starlink in Australia.

How to find your NBN connection type

Enter your address in nbn's address checker on nbnco.com.au. It shows the technology at your address and, where relevant, whether a fibre upgrade is available. Any provider will also confirm your connection type before you order.

You can often tell by looking. An FTTP home has an nbn utility box outside and a connection box inside; HFC has a connection box plugged into a coaxial wall outlet; FTTC has a small nbn device connected to the phone socket; FTTN and FTTB have no nbn box, just a modem in the phone socket. Fixed Wireless homes have an antenna on the roof and satellite homes a dish.

Which connection type is best?

FTTP is the best-performing: it reaches every tier and isn't slowed by distance. HFC is close behind for downloads. FTTC is solid up to 100 Mbps. FTTN and FTTB are the most variable because of their copper. Fixed Wireless and satellite are designed for places a fixed line doesn't reach.

You can't pick your type by choosing a provider, but you can often improve it. FTTN and FTTC homes can check whether they qualify for a free full-fibre upgrade, and nbn's Technology Choice Program lets some premises pay to switch. If your NBN type is slow, 5G home internet may be an alternative at your address.