NBN TV Guide – The National Broadband Network
The National Broadband Network (abbreviated as the NBN) is Australia’s telecommunications network. The NBN was introduced to replace Australia’s ageing copper cable telecommunications infrastructure with a combination of fibre optic cable, radio and satellite communications technologies. In this NBN TV guide, we’ll get to know more about NBN, what’s on, how to connect, and more.
The NBN is deployed, operated and managed by the NBN Co, a government-owned corporation. Consumer access to the NBN is managed by internet providers like Telstra and Optus, which purchase bandwidth from the NBN Co and sell this to home and business-fixed internet users throughout Australia.
What’s in this Guide?
What’s new on NBN
The deployment of the NBN was declared complete by the Australian minister of telecommunications in December of 2020, ending a process that started back in 2007 and completing the largest infrastructure project in Australia’s history.
Reaching this milestone has triggered proposed changes to the ownership model for the NBN, with options including privatising the network and selling it to a major telco like Telstra or Optus.
The first major upgrade to the NBN is also in the pipeline, with $3.5 billion set aside by the federal government to upgrade parts of the network to high-speed fibre cable. The upgrade is intended to give around ten million Australian homes access to faster internet speeds.
How to connect to the National Broadband Network
Most businesses and households in Australian urban areas can connect to the NBN via an internet service provider, with the type of connections available dependant on local NBN infrastructure.
You can connect with the NBN in three simple steps:
- Check whether NBN coverage is available in your location on our NBN rollout map.
- Review and compare NBN internet providers and plans to find a broadband plan that matches your speed requirements and budgets.
- Once you have signed up with an internet service provider they will guide you in the steps to take to connect your home or business premises to the NBN.
NBN plans explained
If you’re new to the NBN it can be tricky to figure out which NBN plan is best suited to your internet needs and budget requirements.
With this in mind we look at how internet service provider structure their plans and options for residential and business NBN users.
What is an internet service provider?
An internet service provider is a company licensed to sell access to the NBN network to end users. NBN service providers range in size from telecommunication giants like Telstra to smaller providers like Belong.
Internet service providers will typically price their plans according to the speed tier that the user selects on signup, with many offering up to five speed tiers to residential and business users.
If you are connecting to the NBN for the first time, your internet service provider will typically work with the NBN where required to assist you in setting up any required infrastructure or devices needed to get your broadband internet connection going.
Residential NBN
Most homes in Australia can connect to the NBN using either fixed cable access or fixed wireless access. The type of infrastructure available for connecting to the NBN can differ depending on the age of your home and the network technology used by the NBN in your location.
While this can have a direct impact on connection speeds, residential users still have access to a variety of speed tiers that can support anything from basic use by individuals to multi-device 8k streaming for large families.
An internet service provider will typically offer NBN plans designed specifically for residential users, with payment options, support and promotional offers tailor-made for typical home use cases.
Residential NBN Plans
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$15/mth off for 6 months![]()
Offer ends 30 September 2025- NBN25 Unlimited - Month to Month
- No Lock-in Contract
- Unlimited Data
- NBN 25™ Fixed Line
- Save up to $10/mth when you bundle with energy
- Manage account online with MyDodo
- $53.90/mth
$15/mth off for 6 monthsMin Cost - $153.80 for the first month (incl. $99.90 Essential Modem)
Business NBN
Business NBN services are available in two basic tiers. The first of these is aimed at small to medium sized businesses, with NBN services, infrastructure and internet speeds similar to what is available to residential users in the same location.
While the technology an internet service provider offers on NBN business plans resembles what is on offer for residential users, these plans are typically customized for business needs, with business-friendly subscription options along with support for business devices like EFTPOS payment systems and security monitoring systems.
Enterprise NBN solutions are available to corporations and government departments. These products provide large organizations with world-class connectivity solutions and service, with an emphasis on NBN Enterprise Ethernet fibre optic connections delivering high-speed symmetrical internet at up to 1gbps.
Business NBN Plans
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$23/mth off for 12 months![]()
Offer ends 30 September 2025- NBN 100 Unlimited - Month to Month
- No Lock-in Contract
- Unlimited Data
- NBN 100™ Fixed Line
- Up to $10/mth off when bundled with energy
- Manage account online with MyDodo
- $65.90/mth
Min Cost - $165.80 for the first month (incl. $99.90 Essential Modem)
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New offer: $15/mth off for 6 months- Premium
- No Lock-in Contract
- Unlimited Data
- NBN 100™ Fixed Line
- No set up fees
- Free Wi-Fi 6 modem when you stay for 18 months
- $79/mth
Min Cost - $259($79/mth discounted plan fee + $180 modem cost)
NBN speed tiers
With no download or data limits applying to fixed line NBN connections, your internet service provider will tier their NBN plans according to the maximum download and upload speeds available to users.
These speeds are listed in megabits per second (mbps).
The majority of NBN plans fall into one of three NBN speed tiers:
- NBN25 is considered the basic entry point to high speed broadband internet, offering maximum download speeds of 25mbps (megabits per second). This speed will meet the streaming and internet usage requirements for most Australian households.
- NBN50 is the next step up in broadband speed. At this speed households and small offices will be able to stream and download at high speed off multiple devices simultaneously.
- NBN100 is the premium NBN speed tier. This package is for larger families and businesses where several individuals are likely to require high speed internet access at the same time.
Additional ultra-high speed tiers like NBN250 and NBN1000 are available as add-ons to NBN customers with compatible network infrastructure. These speeds are suitable for connecting medium to large enterprises to the internet, as well as for multi-user video streaming or gaming at 4k and 8k resolutions.
Note that the unlimited data NBN plans offered by your internet service provider reflect maximum network download speeds. In practice these speeds may be much lower, particularly when connecting to the NBN during peak hours, such as the evening. As such you should confirm with your service provider what the standard evening speed is for the plan you are interested in before subscribing.
Contract terms
While contract free NBN plans are not common, your NBN internet provider will generally not require lock in contracts when you sign up for an NBN plan. This means you can jump on and off the NBN network from one month to the next and even change NBN service providers at short notice.
Once you cancel or move your NBN broadband services to another provider you may be required to either return or cover the cost of any hardware, including routers, connection boxes or streaming boxes, provided by your original service provider when you signed up.
NBN promotional offers and discounts
Because NBN providers are effectively selling the same core internet services and plans, they need to find other ways to compete. This often translates into great value-adds for the end user.
Many internet services providers are prepared to heavily discount NBN rates for the first several months of a subscription, and throw in extras like trial NBN streaming bundles or free fixed line phone calls or lines.
Compare NBN broadband plans
If you already have fixed internet access through an Australian internet service provider, connecting to the NBN is as simple as contacting your current provider and asking them to upgrade your account. Many service providers will automatically upgrade their ADSL customers to broadband access within a specified period after the NBN is rolled out in their neighbourhood.
However, you shouldn’t miss this opportunity to shop around for NBN internet service providers and broadband plans. The competition amongst NBN providers is stiff, and you can get great discounts on NBN access as well as some fantastic promotional offers if you are willing to shop around.
Here are the most popular NBN plans currently available from Australia’s leading NBN internet providers.
Best NBN Plans For You
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$21/mth off for 6 months![]()
Offer ends 30 September 2025- NBN50 Unlimited - Month to Month
- No Lock-in Contract
- Unlimited Data
- NBN 50™ Fixed Line
- Up to $10/mth off when bundled with energy
- Manage account online with MyDodo
- $62.90/mth
Min Cost - $162.80 for the first month (incl. $99.90 Essential Modem)
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Includes Wi-Fi 6 modem with free delivery when you stay for 18 mths. T&Cs apply- Standard Plus
- No Lock-in Contract
- Unlimited Data
- NBN 50™ Fixed Line
- Typical evening speed of 50Mbps download and 17mbps upload
- No set up fees
- $84/mth
How the NBN works
Although the National Broadband Network is often described as a fibre optic cable network, it is in fact a hybrid network that comprises several different telecommunications technologies, combining these with nodes from Australia’s legacy copper wire and coaxial cable telecom network where necessary.
The type of NBN internet connection available to you will depend on the telecommunications infrastructure within your home or office block, as well as the type of NBN network cabling and nodes present in your neighbourhood. Fibre to the Premises connections unlock the fastest network speeds, while systems making use of legacy network technology, like Fibre to the Node, can be slower.
There are six different NBN connection types available across Australia. These are:
Fibre to the Premises (FTTP). Fibre to the Premises connections are amongst the fastest available in Australia. Fibre to the Premises connections provide direct fibre access from your NBN box to the NBN network.
Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC). Hybrid Fibre Coaxial connects use legacy coaxial cable infrastructure (like that used to connect to cable and satellite broadcasting services) to connect your home or business to an NBN fibre node in your immediate location. Hybrid Fibre Coaxial connections are used in areas where upgrading all network infrastructure to fibre cables would have been too expensive.
Fibre to the Node (FTTN). Fibre to the Node connections makes up the majority of NBN connections in Australia. With a Fibre to the Node connection copper cables in your home or business are run to an NBN fibre node in your location to provide you with broadband access.
Fibre to the Building (FTTB). Fibre to the Building connection nodes are set up within multi-unit buildings, for example, apartment blocks, with individual units within the building connected to this NBN network node using copper cabling.
Fibre to the Curb (FTTC). FTTC connections use copper telephone wiring to connect to fibre distribution points outside your premises.
Fixed Wireless (FW). Fixed wireless is commonly used to provide broadband access in areas without fibre optic cable infrastructure, such as rural or remote areas. The NBN connects with a local wireless tower which transmits a radio signal intercepted by a rooftop antenna connected to an NBN box in your home or business.
NBN device compatibility
The National Broadband Network links with a variety of devices and systems that are crucial to the Australian economy, medical services and safety and security services.
To reduce the risk of a break in service when first connecting to the NBN, it is important to register the following devices with the NBN:
- Medical alarms, auto-diallers and emergency call buttons.
- Emergency phones in lifts.
- Monitored fire alarms.
If you operate or use any of the following systems it is also advisable to find out whether they are compatible with the NBN:
- Security monitoring systems.
- EFTPOS payment systems.
- Landline services, particularly older style un-powered corded phones.
- Fax machines and teletypewriter devices.
Contact the NBN
If you have any questions you would like to put directly to the NBN Co, you can contact their customer services team on 1800 687 626 or visit the NBN website for further assistance. If you have a query about your NBN plan you will need to connect your NBN provider directly.
Frequently Asked Questions about NBN
For many years, Australia depended on a network of phone lines owned by Telstra, and broadband equipment owned by a handful of companies, for both home phone and internet services. Not only was it slow, it limited consumers’ choice of providers. The NBN – National Broadband Network – replaces that with a high-speed national network for all communications, which all providers can offer services on. That keeps prices down – and thanks to newer technology, speeds are faster than ever possible before.
The rollout of the NBN, started in 2010, is now officially complete (though improvements and upgrades are ongoing). Most areas and households have either been switched over to it, or have access to it. You can check your NBN access and the type of connection you have using our interactive NBN rollout map.
Once the NBN is available in your area, you should get a letter in the mail letting you know you can switch over. At that point you can either contact your current provider to make the switch, or choose a new one – it’s good to compare NBN providers and plans before making a decision, as there are many great-value deals available.
Yes, usually they do. With the old copper phone network shutting down, your home phone will now work on the same connection as your NBN broadband and will need to be provided by the company that delivers your broadband. That’s not a bad thing – usually, you’ll find the home phone line is included at no extra charge. If you’re on Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) or Fixed Wireless NBN, you can have home phone and broadband with different providers, but the cost of doing so makes it better to stick with the one provider.
As a vast national network, the NBN itself is designed to never be “down” completely (though occasional technical problems can crop up). However, if you’re unable to access your NBN internet service it’s entirely possible that the NBN connection point you’re on may be having an outage, or your internet provider may be having technical issues. Your first port of call is your internet provider’s support line – they have access to all the info about the NBN and can tell you if there’s an outage and how long it may last, or get things fixed if there’s a fault in your service.
When the NBN is installed at your home or business, the NBN technicians will install all the things needed to get the connection into your home. Depending on your connection type, they will also possibly install a device known as a NTD where the connection enters the building, which is what you connect your modem or router to. With Fibre to the Curb connections, the NTD will usually be supplied by your internet provider, but sometimes may be installed when you have the NBN connected. In either case, it’s provided free of charge.
A vast broadband network that stretch across the entire country, the NBN works as a central hub that all internet providers can connect to via any of 121 connection points around the continent. It provides the pipelines and computing power needed to move data to and from each of those connection points, sending it to and receiving it from your chosen broadband provider. It’s an incredibly complex network that’s designed to be, for the end user, as simple as plugging a modem or router into a socket on the wall.
The NBN replaces the old copper phone network, and with it, your traditional phone line is also replaced. However, with some NBN technologies – Fibre to the Node, Fibre to the Curb and Fibre to the Building – existing phone lines are used to carry the NBN data from the street into your home. Because this is a far shorter length of traditional phone line, much faster speeds can be reached. When the NBN is installed at your place, the NBN technicians will make the needed changes to your phone line so it’ll work with the NBN.
While so far, most NBN connections have been limited to the NBN 100 tier as the top speed – that’s 100 Mbps downloads and 40 Mbps uploads – in 2020, new speed tiers were released, offering download speeds of 250 Mbps and 1000 Mbps (also known as “gigabit”). However, these speeds aren’t available for everyone just yet – in most cases, upgrades need to be made to the network to enable them for customers, and internet providers need to choose to offer them (at the moment, only a few do).
While you’re not required to have a NBN broadband connection or home phone if you don’t want one, the old copper phone network is being decommissioned and you will lose access to it once that happens in your area, making the NBN the only choice for wired broadband and phone. That’s not a bad thing, since it gives all consumers much more choice and cheaper prices, and the ability to switch providers easily without a lengthy waiting period.
There are several types of NBN in use around Australia, and which one you get depends on your location – you can’t choose which type you get. All connect to the same NBN in different ways and have different advantages and capabilities. To find out which type you have, search for your address on any NBN internet provider’s web site – it will instantly show you which connection type you have.
The NBN was a project started by the Rudd government a decade ago, and then modified and finished by the current government, as a publicly owned asset. At the moment, the NBN is still 100% government owned and run, but the longer-term plan has always been to sell it to recoup the huge cost of building it. While that will eventually happen, for the immediate future the NBN remains in public hands.
Telstra owns a huge infrastructure but the company doesn’t equate NBN Co, as the latter is a government body created to manage the whole NBN network. Telstra was so big back in the day that other NBN providers e. g. Aussie Broadband used their backhaul to provide their services. No wonder people confuse Telstra and NBN.
If you’re experiencing slow or unreliable broadband on the NBN, the actual NBN network is unlikely to be the problem. It’s possible your internet provider may be having technical issues or suffering from congestion, so call them first. It’s also possible that you’re suffering from a local fault, either with the cable out in your street or the cabling in your home; you ISP can help you diagnose that. If you’re using wi-fi, make sure you test your connection using a computer plugged into your modem/router via Ethernet first – wi-fi is notoriously prone to interference causing slowdowns.
TV and the internet are closely connected these days, and there are plenty of options if you’re looking to get some entertainment with your internet connection. Fetch TV can be added to unlimited plans from several providers (like iPrimus, mentioned above) or if you’re more of a streaming user, Telstra’s internet and TV bundle pulling together a Telstra TV box, free months of Binge and Foxtel Now, a home phone and unlimited broadband is TV value that’s hard to beat from $89/month. Telstra also offers well-priced bundles with Foxtel included. You can check out all the latest TV and internet bundles on our comparison page.
If money’s tight and you’re looking to get connected to the internet without breaking the bank, don’t worry – there are affordable plans available, and while they won’t break speed records, they’ll keep you connected just as well. Belong Broadband – which uses the Telstra network – has its Starter plan available for only $60/month, which gives you slightly more than NBN25 speed. It doesn’t get much cheaper than that – and they include a wi-fi modem too.
What’s best overall is going to depend on your specific needs, but the plan which gives the most bang for your buck is Telstra’s NBN50 Unlimited Data plan. It bundles a fast, reliable connection, a modem with 4G backup, a home phone with unlimited calls, free connection and one month of free Foxtel Now and three months of free BINGE (more if you join Telstra Plus!)
NBN plans and deals are divided into speed tiers so that Internet users can tell their speed right away. For example, the NBN speed tier “NBN50” means that the connection is capable of providing you with a 50 Mbps download speed and 20 Mbps upload speed. Here you have a list of speed tiers:
– NBN 25 – 25 Mbps download, 5 Mbps upload; TES – 18-24 Mbps,
– NBN 50 – 50 Mbps download, 20 Mbps upload; TES – 40 Mbps,
– NBN 100 – 100 Mbps download, 40 Mbps upload; TES – 80 Mbps
– NBN 250 – 250 Mbps download, 25 Mbps upload; TES – 200 Mbps,
– NBN 1000 – 1000 Mbps download, 50 Mbps upload; TES – 350 – 700 Mbps.
Best value NBN plans & deals
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