Researching the NBN can be daunting, it’s full of complex terminology and lots of confusing acronyms. It can be kind of overwhelming. We're here to help though; the first thing you need to know is this:
You can’t choose how your NBN is connected, it’s dependent on where you live and the infrastructure that is being built in your area.
Even though there are seven NBN connection types, your house can only connect in one way and we’re betting that you’re reading this because you've got (or will have) a fixed wireless connection.
So, what is Fixed Wireless NBN?
The simple explanation: Fixed wireless is the technology that connects (or will connect) rural areas (mostly) to fast internet.
The technical explanation: A Fixed Wireless NBN connection is delivered over the same kind of 4G radio signals used to connect your phone to the internet. NBN blasts the signal from the nearest transmission tower to your home, and you receive the signal with an antenna installed on your roof.
In this guide we’ll explain what fixed wireless NBN is, how to a pick plan that is best for you and and what you’ll need to get online.
- How fast is Fixed Wireless NBN?
- How much does Fixed Wireless NBN cost?
- How does Fixed Wireless NBN work?
- How is Fixed Wireless NBN installed?
- Fixed Wireless FAQs
How fast is Fixed Wireless NBN?
Bear with us here, the NBN offers four different speed tiers. However, Fixed Wireless connections currently have access to only three:
NBN speeds
| Tier | Maximum speed | Typical evening speed |
| Basic (NBN 12) | 12Mbps | 7Mbps |
| Standard (NBN 25) | 25Mbps | 15Mbps |
| Standard Plus (NBN 50) | 50Mbps | 30Mbps |
The actual speeds you get at home will be dependent on:
- The NBN plan and provider you subscribe with.
- Congestion during peak hours (this is what is meant by evening speeds).
- Any obstacles (such as trees, and metal objects like colourbond roofs and steel sheds) between your home and the NBN transmission tower.
It's also important to note that your NBN speed is a shared resource. If you subscribe to an NBN 50 plan, your 50Mbps is shared between every person and device in your household.
For example, if you're streaming a movie on Netflix, the internet will be slower for everyone else using your connection at the same time. Faster NBN speeds mean there's more capacity to share: you can stream all the video you want and no one else will notice any slow-down.
How much does a Fixed Wireless NBN plan cost?
The cost of Fixed Wireless will vary based on the speed you want and the provider you go with. The price of NBN plans is always changing, but you can expect to pay somewhere between $60 and $100 per month for your connection.
To choose your plan, there's three things you need to consider: your download speed, your data allowance, and if you want any extras.
Then you just need to decide which provider has the best value package for your current situation.
Best value: NBN Standard Plus (NBN 50)
Selected from plans listed in the WhistleOut search engine.
Maximum Speed: 50Mbps
Typical Evening Speed: 30Mbps
What to expect: NBN 50 plans are a good option for families -- households with about 4 people. You'll have enough speed to ensure everyone can use the internet at the same time, without any fights breaking out over how long YouTube videos are taking to load.
Here are a few of the most popular plans from our database offered on this speed tier.
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#1
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Tangerine Telecom 
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#2
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Dodo 
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Link not supplied
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#3
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Aussie Broadband 
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#4
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SkyMesh 
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#5
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MATE 
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Link not supplied
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#6
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SpinTel 
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Link not supplied
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Best for moderate budgets: NBN Standard (NBN 25)
Selected from plans listed in the WhistleOut search engine.
Maximum Speed: 25Mbps
Typical Evening Speed: 15Mbps
What to expect: NBN 25 plans are better suited for one or two person households. NBN 25 speeds are sufficient for most online tasks, including Netflix video streaming, but you may notice slower speeds if multiple people are using your connection at once.
Here are a few of the most popular plans from our database offered on this speed tier.
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#1
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Tangerine Telecom
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#2
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iiNet 
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#3
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SpinTel
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Link not supplied
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#4
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Internode 
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#5
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Westnet 
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Link not supplied
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Best for tight budgets: NBN Basic (NBN 12)
Selected from plans listed in the WhistleOut search engine.
Maximum Speed: 12Mbps
Typical Evening Speed: 7Mbps
What to expect: NBN 12 plans are best for basic internet usage, such as web browsing, email, and social media. You can still stream HD video through Netflix and YouTube, but you won't be able to do much else with your connection at the same time.
Here are a few of the most popular plans from our database offered on this speed tier.
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#1
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MATE
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Link not supplied
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#2
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iiNet
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#3
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Barefoot Telecom 
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Link not supplied
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#4
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Westnet
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Link not supplied
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#5
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Internode
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Need more help choosing an NBN plan?
If you want to dig even deeper, you can read more about NBN providers here or start searching for your perfect fixed wireless NBN plan here.
How does Fixed Wireless technology work?
The National Broadband Network is made up of fibre optic cables that run out across the country from major hubs and into your general area. These cables are capable of delivering incredibly fast and reliable internet.
In areas where Fixed Wireless is being deployed, NBN Co runs these cables to ground stations that then broadcast the internet as a 4G mobile signal. This signal is then picked up by an outdoor antenna on your house.
In order to work, Fixed Wireless requires line of sight.
As you can see in the image above:
- The NBN runs cable from a main hub (known as a Point of Exchange) to a transmission tower near you
- The transmission tower then beams the internet over the air to an antenna on your roof
The transmission tower supplying your internet should be no longer than 14km away. But in some cases, it may have to be as close as 6km.
Back to topHow is Fixed Wireless NBN installed?
Your home Fixed Wireless NBN installation will proceed as follows:
1. You will need to choose the NBN plan you want and place an order.
2. Your chosen provider will then make an appointment for an NBN installer to visit your premises.
3. The NBN installer will test to make sure your premises can receive a Fixed Wireless signal and that there is no interference from trees or metal objects such as colourbond roofs and steel sheds. (If you can't receive a signal at your home, the installer may look for another location such as a powered shed or garage, or your home may be considered for a Sky Muster Satellite connection instead.)
4. If you can receive a signal, the following equipment will be installed at your home by NBN Co, free of charge:
- Outdoor Antenna (typically installed on your roof)
- Connection Box (typically installed inside your home)
- Wall outlet (typically installed inside your home)
Before the installation of this equipment, will need to do the following:
- If renting, get your landlord's permission
- Consider where you would like the connection box to go. NBN Co recommends choosing a place close to a power point, that is cool, dry, ventilated and easily accessible. It should be in the same building as the main electricity meter box and not be somewhere it could be easily bumped or damaged.
5. A small hole may need to be drilled in the external wall to allow the cable connecting the Antenna to be passed inside your home. This cable will be plugged into your NBN Connection Box inside your home, which requires a power outlet.
6. Once this is setup, your chosen provider should go ahead and commence your NBN plan.
7. You'll need to connect a wireless router to the Connection Box (using an Ethernet cable) to get all of your other devices online. Your NBN service provider should be able to supply you with a new wireless router, and may even offer it for free if you sign up for a long-term contract.
Back to topHFC NBN FAQs
According to NBN Co's 2019 corporate plan, up to 400,000 Australian premises (4%) will be connected to the National Broadband Network via Fixed Wireless.
NBN says Fixed Wireless is being deployed to Australians outside the reach of the Fixed Line network, typically on the outskirts of major cities or in small communities in rural areas (but not as remote as those who'll connect to the network via satellite).
Fixed Wireless uses transmission towers and line of sight antennas to deliver internet in a maximum radius of 14km. Satellite relies on, well, satellites to deliver internet, and could potentially be connecting properties thousands of kilometres apart.
Fixed Wireless is also able to achieve faster speeds and lower latency than a Satellite connection.
Yes. Unlike most other NBN technology types, an NBN Fixed Wireless installation will not involve cutting off your copper phone line. That means you can still use it for landline calls, if you want to.
Alternatively, you could get a VoIP phone service which will deliver your landline service via the internet. Plenty of NBN plans will come with included calls to Australian phone numbers over VoIP. Out of the box, many plans have 'pay as you go' calling, which means you pay per phone call. If you use your phone a lot, you might want to look at a plan with unlimited calls. Many providers will let you add on 'unlimited local calls' for a small additional monthly fee.
While all NBN providers resell access to the same network, maximum speeds during peak hours can vary between providers. As such, some providers have started advertising the speeds you can expect during peak hours. These are known as 'typical evening speeds'.
If you'd prefer to avoid a long-term contract, many providers now offer month-to-month plans. However, signing up for a month-to-month plan often means paying for setup and/or hardware, which telcos tend to waive when you commit to a longer term contract.
Want more information about the NBN?
Got questions? We've got answers. Whether you want to know what the NBN is, how to connect, if you have to connect, how much it will cost, what the alternatives are, or something else entirely, check out our complete guide to the NBN.
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