If you want broadband internet in the home, you should at least consider NBN. While there are other options like 4G and 5G home internet, NBN is the dominant internet force in Australia. And while most homes are already connected, it's still possible you might be dealing with an NBN installation.
NBN plans
You’ll skip the NBN installation process if your premises already has the necessary equipment installed, in which case you’re free to just order a plan and get online. No matter the technology, you'll need to provide your own router. And, if you have FTTN or FTTB, you'll need to provider your own modem, too. You can get started by comparing your current plan against the market or check out our tables below.
NBN PRICE CHECK
Are you overpaying for your NBN?
Check your plan against the market average in seconds.*
If you don't already have NBN set up at your premises, you need two things. First, you need to live in an area serviced by the NBN (which is almost all of Australia, so you're probably fine there). Second, you must order a plan with an NBN provider to kick off the NBN installation process – you don't order the installation through NBN Co directly.
Here's a quick look at some of the most popular NBN plans in our database:
|
#1
|
SpinTel
All Fixed Line nbn®
Home Starter 25/10
$41/mth
Min. cost $41
|
|
#2
|
Dodo
All Fixed Line nbn®
nbn25 Unlimited Plan
$43.99/mth
Min. cost $43.99
|
|
#3
|
Flip
All Fixed Line nbn®
Editor's Pick
Unlimited Premium nbn25
$48/mth
Min. cost $48
|
|
#4
|
Tangerine Telecom
All Fixed Line nbn®
Value NBN 25/10
$42.90/mth
Min. cost $42.90
|
|
#5
|
TPG
All Fixed Line nbn®
nbn25 Unlimited Plan
$59.99/mth
Min. cost $59.99
Link not supplied
|
NBN 25 is the minimum speed we'd recommend most households consider. Even if you think you can get by with less, NBN 12 plans are often the same price as (or even more expensive than) NBN 25. Not only that, you might not realise just how much background activity modern devices require. Given the paltry 1Mbps upload speed of NBN 12, you might find your connection is often maxed out even if you're not downloading anything
NBN 25 is suitable for one or two person households that have very light internet requirements. It can handle HD video streaming, browsing, video chats, and other general usage. But if you ever need to download large files or use cloud storage, we'd advise something faster. That said, for minor cloud needs, some NBN 25 plans have maximum 10Mbps uploads, which you'll find preferable to the alternative 5Mbps.
|
#1
|
Dodo
All Fixed Line nbn®
Editor's Pick
nbn50 Unlimited Plan
$57.99/mth
Min. cost $57.99
|
|
#2
|
amaysim
All Fixed Line nbn®
NBN50
$45/mth
Min. cost $45
|
|
#3
|
Tangerine Telecom
All Fixed Line nbn®
Value Plus NBN 50/20
$64.90/mth
Min. cost $64.90
|
|
#4
|
TPG
All Fixed Line nbn®
nbn50 Unlimited Plan
$69.99/mth
Min. cost $69.99
Link not supplied
|
|
#5
|
Aussie Broadband
All Fixed Line nbn®
Value nbn - Unlimited
$70/mth
Min. cost $70
Link not supplied
|
NBN 50 is still a common choice for many households, but isn't as good value as it used to be. NBN 100 plans are often very similar in price and offer double the download speeds, which is handy given the increasing demands of our gadgets and online services. If you regularly download large files (e.g. video games or updates for complex software), you might find the extra download speeds of 100Mbps are worth the money.
But if 50Mbps downloads really is all you need, you might as well save yourself a few bucks a month. These plans are generally useful for medium-sized households (three to four people) with light-to-moderate internet demands. 50Mbps can handle multiple 4K video streams simultaneously and juggle most online tasks with ease.
|
#1
|
Dodo
FTTN, FTTB, FTTC
Editor's Pick
nbn100 Unlimited Plan
$62.99/mth
Min. cost $62.99
|
|
#2
|
amaysim
FTTN, FTTB, FTTC
NBN100
$50/mth
Min. cost $50
|
|
#3
|
Superloop
FTTN, FTTB, FTTC
Family nbn100/20
$74/mth
Min. cost $74
|
|
#4
|
iiNet
FTTN, FTTB, FTTC
nbn Home Fast Liimitless
$69.99/mth
+ $10 Upfront
Min. cost $79.99
Link not supplied
|
|
#5
|
Tangerine Telecom
FTTN, FTTB, FTTC
Speedy NBN 100/20
$67.90/mth
Min. cost $67.90
|
NBN 100 is becoming the entry point for many households thanks to its good mixture of speed and affordability. The 100Mbps maximum downloads of these plans can support three or more users with moderate to heavy online needs, and even handle regular large-file downloads. 100Mbps can easily handle multiple 4K video streams without interrupting other activities, but if your upload needs are heavy then you need to be picky. Most NBN 100 plans have the same 20Mbps upload of NBN 50, but some providers offer NBN 100/40 plans, which have maximum uploads of 40Mbps.
All this said, the way the NBN works is changing. As of September 2025, NBN 100 plans will generally be reserved for the FTTN, FTTC and FTTB technology types – the HFC and FTTP technologies will have access to NBN 500 plans, potentially for the same or a similar price, depending on the provider.
|
#1
|
Dodo
FTTP, HFC
Editor's Pick
nbn500 Unlimited Plan
$62.99/mth
Min. cost $62.99
|
|
#2
|
Tangerine Telecom
FTTP, HFC
Speedy Max NBN 500/50
$59.90/mth
Min. cost $59.90
|
|
#3
|
Superloop
FTTP, HFC
Family Max nbn500/50
$74/mth
Min. cost $74
|
|
#4
|
amaysim
FTTP, HFC
NBN500
$50/mth
Min. cost $50
|
|
#5
|
TPG
FTTP, HFC
nbn Home Fast Unlimited Plan
$74.99/mth
Min. cost $74.99
Link not supplied
|
NBN 500 plans are only available for homes with the HFC or FTTP technology types. From September 2025, NBN 500 plans will be (at least from NBN Co's wholesale perspective) the same price as NBN 100 – and might even be labelled as the same product from a given provider. While you might see more of these plans fall short of their maximum potential speeds than slower tiers, anything approaching 500Mbps is vastly more than the majority of Aussie households currently need (though more speed is certainly always nice to have).
|
#1
|
amaysim
FTTP, HFC
NBN1000
$70/mth
Min. cost $70
|
|
#2
|
TPG
FTTP, HFC
nbn Home Ultrafast Unlimited Plan
$84.99/mth
Min. cost $84.99
Link not supplied
|
|
#3
|
Superloop
FTTP, HFC
Lightspeed nbn1000/100
$89/mth
Min. cost $89
|
|
#4
|
SpinTel
FTTP, HFC
Home Ultrafast 1000/100
$76/mth
Min. cost $76
|
|
#5
|
Dodo
FTTP, HFC
nbn Home Ultrafast Plan
$79.99/mth
Min. cost $79.99
|
NBN 1000 plans are currently the fastest around, offering maximum download speeds of 970Mbps and uploads of 50Mbps for FTTP and HFC households.
On September 14, NBN Co. will increase the maximum upload speed to 100Mbps. At the same time, NBN 1000 will be dethroned, with the new NBN 2000 speed tier taking the title for fastest tier in town. But whether you're looking for an ultrafast plan now or in the future, you still need to pay attention to the reported Typical Evening Speeds, which can vary quite a bit in this tier. While you might not need the fastest possible plan out there, it's still worth knowing if you're getting good value out of that premium pricetag.
The NBN installation process
If you or the previous tenants of your home have never signed up for an NBN plan, you’ll need to go through the NBN installation process. Alternatively, if the previous occupant took the NBN equipment with them – which is supposed to stay in the home and is the property of NBN Co – you will need to talk to your new NBN provider about this or arrange for the equipment to be returned.
Usually, the process starts by ordering an NBN plan, then your new provider liaises with NBN Co to send out NBN gear and/or organise an NBN technician to visit your home to install the necessary equipment.
The NBN installation process varies a bit based on the NBN technology that’s used to connect your home. Here’s a look at the different NBN technologies, in order of their plan potential:
| Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) | NBN 1000, NBN 250*, NBN 100*, NBN 50, NBN 25, NBN 12 |
|---|---|
| Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC) | NBN 1000, NBN 250*, NBN 100*, NBN 50, NBN 25, NBN 12 |
| Fibre-to-the-Curb (FTTC) | NBN 100, NBN 50, NBN 25, NBN 12 |
| Fibre-to-the-Building (FTTB) | NBN 100, NBN 50, NBN 25, NBN 12 |
| Fibre-to-the-Node (FTTN) | NBN 100 (some), NBN 50, NBN 25, NBN 12 |
| NBN Fixed Wireless | NBN 400/40, NBN 250/20, NBN 100, NBN 25, NBN 12 |
| Sky Muster satellite NBN | NBN 100, NBN 50, NBN 25, NBN 12 |
Generally, installation involves some kind of NBN connection box, which is also known as an NBN Network Termination Device (NTD), NBN modem, or modem-router. The term "NBN box" also gets thrown about, as does "black box" – though this last one is specifically for HFC connections.
Depending on the technology type, one NBN setup can look very different from another. But the good news is most standard NBN installations are free of charge. You’ll be notified if there are any additional costs.
All technology types require you to supply your own router, but only FTTN and FTTB connections make you bring your own NBN-ready modem, too. You'll often find networking devices listed as a "modem router" or "WiFi modem", which is a modem and router built into the same product. These can work fine, but we generally advise purchasing your own from a retailer, rather than via your internet provider, to increase your chances of getting a good quality unit. If you're in the market, you can check out our guide to the best NBN modems and routers.
The NBN technician
If your NBN installation necessitates a visit from an NBN technician, your provider will let you know ahead of time. Your provider will liaise with NBN Co to organise the technician, and the NBN technician will contact you directly (usually via text) to confirm a day and installation window.
On the day of the NBN installation, the NBN technician will call to confirm the appointment time or window. When they arrive, you can ask to see their ID before giving them access to the premises. The NBN technician will discuss where the necessary NBN equipment will be installed, though your options will likely be limited.
After installation is complete, the technician should test if everything is working. Depending on the technology type and the complexity of the installation, it could take under an hour or up to eight hours to complete the NBN installation.
To find your home's NBN technology type, enter your address in the search field above, then confirm it from the drop-down options. Optionally, select one of the speeds before hitting the blue search button. We’d advise selecting ‘Any speed’, particularly for homes that might have NBN technologies incapable of reaching faster speed tiers. The results page will show the NBN technology available at your address.
Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) NBN installation
An NBN FTTP installation includes an NBN utility box on the outside of your premises that is linked via a cable to another NBN box on the inside. Like all NBN technologies, these boxes require power to operate, so your home phone or internet won't work in a blackout. Optionally, the NBN box can be linked to a power supply with an optional battery backup device in the event of a power outage, though this isn't free.
The NBN box connects to an NBN-compatible router, either from your provider or one you’ve sourced yourself, to share the internet connection around your home.
The technicians will likely need to turn the power to your property off for between 30 minutes and an hour on the day, and will need access to inside and outside of your home, with a person over the age of 18 present for the entire installation – usually two to four hours, but possibly more.
Common FTTP NBN installation hurdles
A small trench might need to be dug to connect fibre from the street to the outside of your property. A wall socket might also be a requirement of your NBN installation, which involves drilling. The NBN utility box and NBN connection box can also only be placed in specific locations, which may not be your preferred spot (discuss this with your NBN technician to see if you can find a compromise).
If you have an older-style wall socket, you might need to purchase an adaptor that will accept the modern cable from your modem to the wall.
When finalising a spot for the internal connection box, don't forget to think about whether small flashing lights will be a problem. They're not too bright and won't be noticeable in something like a lounge room with the lights on, but in the dead of night, it can be a different matter.
Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC) NBN installation
HFC homes may be eligible for self-installation, but usually not. If not, an NBN technician will connect a coaxial cable from the street to an NBN utility box outside your home. A cable from the external NBN box runs to a wall outlet in your home, which then connects to a small, black NBN box that needs power and is not wall-mounted. This NBN connection box is essentially just a modem, so you’ll need to connect it to a router, your own or from your provider, to share the internet around your home.
Common HFC NBN installation hurdles
A trench may need to be dug to connect the coaxial cable from the street to the NBN utility box outside your home. There may also be a need to install a coaxial wall outlet in your home to link the cable from outside to inside. Chat with your NBN technician about the placement of the equipment to find the best spot.
Top tip: If your technician opts to install a splitter, but you don't subscribe to Foxtel cable TV (or some other cable-based PayTV), ask them to remove it. A splitter is a small adapter between the wall and internal NBN box that gives you the option of plugging a second device into your NBN wall outlet. But the splitter itself can sometimes cause problems for your connection, so it's best not to use it if you don't have to.
If you have an FTTN or FTTC NBN connection, it's very possible you can upgrade to FTTP free of charge. So far, about five million premises have been made eligible for the upgrade, thanks to network overhauls, but only 15% of these households have taken advantage of the opportunity.
Though while these lucky premises don't need to pay anything for the installation, you might have to upgrade to a faster speed plan to meet the eligibility criteria. Talk to your internet service provider about whether the upgrade is available to you and what (if any) changes to your NBN plan you might need to make.
Fibre to the Curb (FTTC) NBN installation
Like HFC, select FTTC homes could be eligible for self-installation. For other FTTC homes, an NBN technician will visit to connect a provided NBN connection box to an internal telephone wall socket and power outlet. The NBN connection box is a modem, so you’ll need an ethernet cable to connect it to an NBN-compatible router (provided by you) to share the internet around your home.
Common FTTC NBN installation hurdles
Because FTTC is a simpler installation than FTTP and HFC, there aren’t as many hurdles. The NBN connection box needs to be placed near a telephone wall socket and connected via a short NBN telephone cable.
If your premises has multiple old telephone outlets, ask the NBN technician about disconnecting the ones that won't be used for FTTC. They will no longer work for anything else, but can potentially cause interference for your NBN connection and degrade its quality if left active. And if your sockets are particularly old, you might need to purchase an adaptor that will accept the modern cable from your modem to the wall.
If you used to rely on powerline adapters to transmit internet between areas of your home, you might find that's no longer a great option with FTTC, as it can also create interference.
Fibre to the Building (FTTB) and Fibre to the Node (FTTN) NBN installation
FTTB and FTTN installations are bundled together here because they have identical installation processes, both requiring an NBN-compatible modem router. Unlike other NBN technologies, FTTB and FTTN don't have an associated NBN connection box or NTD. Instead, they use a modem (much like the old ADSL connections), supplied by you. This plugs into your telephone wall socket. A technician will need to activate this the first time around.
Like the other technologies, you'll also need to provide your own router. Often, this is built into the same device as your modem – called a "modem router" or often "WiFi modem". We recommend picking one up through a retailer, rather than via an ISP, based our hands-on testing. And be sure to check reviews of whatever model you're considering. There's no point going to the effort of getting connected to the NBN, only to shackle your internet with a sub-par or unreliable modem, router or both.
Common FTTB and FTTN NBN installation hurdles
The main hurdle for FTTB and FTTN connections is the placement of your wall socket, which is where you'll need to plug your modem into.
Both technologies rely on the pre-existing internal wiring of your building. If this wiring is degraded, it can significantly affect the quality of your connection, even if you remember it being fine back in the days of ADSL – a useful analogy is trying to drive a racecar down a bumpy dirt road.
For FTTN, the distance your premises is from the closest node can have a huge impact on your connection and even dictate whether you can sign up to an NBN 100 plan or not. Unfortunately, there's nothing you can do about this, except for checking if you're eligible for a free FTTP upgrade.
If you used to rely on powerline adapters to transmit internet between areas of your home, you might find that's no longer a great option with FTTB or FTTN, as it can create interference.
NBN Fixed Wireless installation
An NBN Fixed Wireless installation involves the configuration of equipment outside and inside the home. An outdoor antenna is installed where it has a clear signal to the closest NBN tower. It’s then connected to a powered NBN connection box inside the home via cabling that feeds through a wall outlet. You'll need to supply your own router and an ethernet cable to connect it to the internal NBN box.
Common NBN Fixed Wireless installation hurdles
The placement of the indoor connection box can be affected by the location of the outdoor antenna, and the placement of the NBN outdoor antenna is mostly determined by the position that can receive the clearest signal. Ultimately, you might not have the option of placing the antenna or internal NBN box in your ideal locations, so have a chat with your NBN technician to see what you can come up with.
If a suitable signal can’t be found for the antenna, the NBN technician will have to check for other appropriate spots on your property. The wall outlet will also need to be installed in a suitable place inside your home, which involves drilling a hole.
When finalising a spot for the internal connection box, don't forget to think about whether small flashing lights will be a problem. They're not too bright and won't be noticeable in something like a lounge room with the lights on, but in the dead of night it can be a different matter.
Sky Muster satellite NBN installation
Sky Muster satellite NBN installation is similar to NBN Fixed Wireless, with a mix of outdoor and indoor equipment. An NBN satellite dish is installed outside your home, then connected to a powered, wall-mounted NBN connection box by a cable that passes via a wall outlet. The NBN connection box then links to an NBN-compatible router via Ethernet to share the internet around your home.
Common Sky Muster satellite NBN installation hurdles
The NBN satellite dish will either have to be installed on the roof of your home or under the eaves, which will be based on the best signal and may not be your preferred location. Also have an idea of where you’d like the NBN technician to drill a hole for the wall outlet, relative to the placement of the NBN connection box.
NBN installation FAQs
I have an old Optus cable outlet in my home. Why can't I get HFC?
When NBN was rolling out its HFC network, the company discovered much of Optus' old cable internet network was too far gone to be used for the NBN. As such, many areas that were originally planned for HFC ended up getting FTTN or FTTC.
What if I'm renting?
If any equipment is to be installed on your property, or changes made to the property such as drilling holes or digging trenches, NBN Co will need the permission of your landlord.
Who do I contact for an NBN installation?
To organise NBN to be installed on your property, you need to choose an NBN plan and contact that internet provider. You don't contact NBN Co directly.
How to get an NBN connection box
No matter the technology, an NBN connection box will be supplied to you for free. If you've moved into a new place and the NBN equipment is missing, it might have been taken by the previous tenants or owners. That equipment is designated for use at your premises and is not the property of whoever took it (or yours, for that matter), so it should be returned. If you can't get it back, contact your internet provider and hopefully a new NBN box can be arranged for you.
Is it different getting a TPG NBN installation?
No. Signing up to TPG via the NBN is no different than any other provider. TPG owns and operates a separate network, called Vision Network. This is an FTTB network that only connects to certain apartment buildings around the country and isn't something you can generally request be installed. You can only sign up to plans from TPG, iiNet, and Vodafone via the Vision Network.
Do I need to organise a special NBN wall socket installation?
Any wall sockets should be included with the associated installation. However, if you have an FTTN, FTTC or FTTB connection and your phone outlets are particularly old, you might need to buy an adapter to be able to plug your new modem into the wall.
What type is the NBN wall socket?
The type of NBN wall socket depends on the NBN technology you have. FTTP, Fixed Wireless and Sky Muster all require an NBN box be installed internally, which your devices plug into via ethernet – so there's no wall socket required beyond the need for power. HFC uses a coaxial cable socket. FTTC, FTTN and FTTB use a standard RJ11 telephone outlet to connect the modem. For FTTC, you'll need to connect a router to the supplied modem via ethernet. For FTTN and FTTB, you'll need to supply your own modem and router, which might be built into one device or connected via ethernet – it's up to you.
For any ethernet cable for home NBN applications, opt for Category 6 (Cat6), Category 6a (Cat6a), or Category 8 (Cat8). Do not get Category 7 ethernet, as it has a different shaped plug. And anything lower than Cat6 is too outdated at this point.
Do I have to be present for my NBN installation?
Someone aged 18 or over needs to be present during the entire installation.
Nathan Lawrence
Freelance Contributor
Find a better internet plan
Thousands of internet plans unpacked. All the facts. No surprises.
Related Articles
Related Topics
NBN Fixed Line FTTN Sky Muster FTTP Fixed Wireless HFC FTTC NBN modemPopular Topics
NBN Telstra Optus Streaming Internet Broadband smart home 5G Foxtel modemInternet Plans by State
- Internet Plans in ACT
- Internet Plans in NSW
- Internet Plans in NT
- Internet Plans in QLD
- Internet Plans in SA
- Internet Plans in TAS
- Internet Plans in VIC
- Internet Plans in WA
![[Hand-Picked] Best internet providers in Australia](https://r3.whistleout.com.au/public/images/articles/2026/07/man-and-woman-with-laptop-on-green-couch.jpg?w=280&h=280&usm=20&usmrad=0.8&fit=crop "[Hand-Picked] Best internet providers in Australia")
