The NBN isn’t one technology — it’s actually a mix of six different connection types, and which one you get depends entirely on where you live. Understanding the difference matters because it directly affects the speeds you can access and whether you can upgrade to a faster tier.
Here’s a plain-English breakdown of every NBN connection type available in Australia in 2026.
The six NBN connection types
1. FTTP — Fibre to the Premises
FTTP is the best NBN connection you can get. A fibre optic cable runs directly from the street into your home, giving you the fastest and most reliable connection available. FTTP supports all NBN speed tiers including NBN 250, NBN 1000, and NBN 2000.
When the NBN was first announced, FTTP was the original plan for almost every Australian home. Cost blowouts led to a change of direction midway through the rollout, which is why most homes ended up with slower copper-based connections instead. NBN Co has since been upgrading many of these back to FTTP — so if you’re on FTTN or FTTC, it’s worth checking if you’re eligible.
Maximum speeds: Up to 2000Mbps download
Typical evening speed (NBN 100): 95–100Mbps
2. FTTC — Fibre to the Curb
FTTC is the next best thing after FTTP. Fibre runs close to your property — typically to a small pit or connection point at the street — and then a short stretch of copper cable connects to your home. Because the copper run is short (usually under 30 metres), FTTC performs almost as well as FTTP for most standard speed plans.
FTTC can access up to NBN 100 plans. Many FTTC addresses are eligible for upgrade to FTTP.
Maximum speeds: Up to 100Mbps download
Typical evening speed (NBN 100): 85–98Mbps
3. FTTN — Fibre to the Node
FTTN is the most common connection type across Australia, and also the most criticised. Fibre runs to a green street cabinet (the “node”) that serves your neighbourhood, and then your existing copper phone line carries the signal the rest of the way to your home. The length of that copper run — which can be anywhere from 50 metres to over 1 kilometre — directly affects your maximum speed.
If you live close to a node, FTTN can deliver close to 100Mbps. If you’re further away, you might struggle to get above 40–50Mbps. FTTN is capped at NBN 100, but in practice many FTTN users can’t reliably access those speeds.
Maximum speeds: Up to 100Mbps (actual speeds vary significantly with distance)
Typical evening speed (NBN 50): 40–50Mbps
4. HFC — Hybrid Fibre-Coaxial
HFC uses the old Foxtel and Optus Pay TV cable infrastructure to deliver NBN. Fibre runs from the exchange to nodes in your street, and then coaxial cable (the same type used for cable TV) carries the signal to your home. HFC is generally fast and reliable, and it’s one of the few non-FTTP connection types that can access NBN 250 and NBN 1000 speed tiers on some connections.
The main limitation of HFC is that the connection is shared with neighbours in your area, which can mean slower speeds during peak times on congested networks.
Maximum speeds: Up to 1000Mbps on eligible connections
Typical evening speed (NBN 100): 85–100Mbps
5. Fixed Wireless
Fixed Wireless uses 4G-style radio towers to deliver internet to homes in regional and rural areas where running cable is impractical. An antenna is installed on your roof or exterior wall, and it connects to a nearby NBN tower. Fixed Wireless can be surprisingly quick — NBN Co has been upgrading Fixed Wireless towers, and speeds of 50–100Mbps are increasingly common.
The main limitations are weather sensitivity (heavy rain can affect speeds) and data caps. Some Fixed Wireless plans have lower data limits than equivalent fixed-line plans.
Maximum speeds: Up to 100Mbps download on upgraded towers
Coverage: Regional and rural Australia, where cabled NBN isn’t available
6. Sky Muster Satellite
Sky Muster is NBN Co’s satellite service for Australians in remote areas where even Fixed Wireless towers can’t reach. Two satellites in geostationary orbit provide coverage across the continent. Sky Muster is the slowest and most expensive NBN option — speeds top out at 25Mbps download, and the geostationary orbit means latency is high (around 600ms), which makes real-time applications like gaming and video calls noticeably laggy.
Starlink has become a strong alternative to Sky Muster for many rural Australians. We’ve written a detailed comparison of Starlink vs Sky Muster if you’re weighing up the options.
Maximum speeds: Up to 25Mbps download / 5Mbps upload
Latency: ~600ms (not suitable for gaming)
Coverage: Remote Australia only
NBN connection types at a glance
| Type | Last-mile tech | Max speed | Fastest tier available | Can upgrade to FTTP? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FTTP | Fibre | 2000Mbps | NBN 2000 | Already FTTP |
| FTTC | Short copper run | 100Mbps | NBN 100 | Often yes |
| FTTN | Longer copper run | 100Mbps | NBN 100 | Often yes (check address) |
| HFC | Coaxial cable | 1000Mbps (some) | NBN 1000 (eligible HFC) | Some addresses |
| Fixed Wireless | Radio/4G tower | 100Mbps | NBN 100 | No |
| Satellite | Sky Muster satellites | 25Mbps | NBN 25 | No |
How do you find out which NBN connection type you have?
The easiest way is to check your address on the NBN Co website — it will tell you exactly what technology is available at your address, plus whether you’re eligible to upgrade. You can also ring your current internet provider and ask them directly.
If you already have NBN connected, another clue is the equipment in your home. FTTP and FTTC connections have a small white NBN connection box (called an NTD) mounted inside your home. FTTN doesn’t have an NTD — you plug your modem directly into the phone socket. HFC connections have a cable outlet rather than a phone socket.
Can you upgrade to FTTP?
NBN Co has a program called the Fibre Upgrade (formerly “Home Fast”) that lets FTTN and FTTC premises request an upgrade to FTTP. In many cases this is now fully subsidised — meaning no upfront cost. The upgrade typically takes a few weeks from application to installation.
If you’re on FTTN and struggling with slow speeds, getting upgraded to FTTP can be a genuine game-changer. It unlocks faster speed tiers and delivers more consistent performance. Worth checking your address on the NBN Co website to see if you’re eligible.
Which NBN connection type is best?
FTTP is the clear winner — faster speeds, more reliable, and future-proof. After that, HFC and FTTC are solid options. FTTN is the weakest of the fixed-line technologies, and whether it performs well depends heavily on how far your home is from the nearest node.
If you’re trying to figure out what speed plan to get once you know your connection type, our guide on what internet speed you really need is a good starting point. And once you’re ready to compare providers, here’s how to compare NBN plans without getting confused by the jargon.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most common NBN connection type in Australia?
FTTN is the most common, covering the majority of urban and suburban premises. This is largely a legacy of the decision made during the original NBN rollout to use existing copper phone lines rather than running fibre all the way to each home.
Does it matter which NBN connection type I have when choosing a plan?
Yes, it matters a lot. If you’re on FTTN or Fixed Wireless, there’s no point paying for an NBN 250 or NBN 1000 plan — those speeds aren’t available on those connection types. Always check what your connection type supports before choosing a speed tier.
Is FTTC fast enough for working from home?
Yes. FTTC on an NBN 100 plan delivers typical evening speeds of 85–98Mbps — more than enough for video calls, cloud-based work, and streaming simultaneously. If you need faster upload speeds for video production or large file transfers, upgrading to FTTP and an NBN 250 or NBN 1000 plan would help.
What’s the difference between Fixed Wireless NBN and 5G home internet?
Fixed Wireless NBN uses dedicated NBN towers and is available in specific regional zones. 5G home internet (offered by Telstra, Optus, and others) uses the same mobile network as your phone, is available anywhere with 5G coverage, and is increasingly competitive with Fixed Wireless on speed. We compare these options in detail in our NBN vs wireless internet guide.
Compare NBN Plans
Ready to find a better deal? Our best NBN plans page is updated monthly with the most competitive offers from Australian providers. You can also use our plan finder to get a personalised recommendation based on your household size and usage, or compare providers head-to-head to see how they stack up on price and customer ratings.
