Researching the NBN can be daunting, it's full of techie terminology and complex 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 Fibre to the Node (FTTN) connection.
So, what is Fibre to the Node?
The simple explanation: Fibre to the Node (FTTN) is a key technology at the heart of Australia's National Broadband Network rollout.
The technical explanation: With a Fibre to the Node (FTTN) connection, an NBN fibre optic cable is laid to a central cabinet in your neighbourhood (the node), where it connects to your home using existing copper wiring.
In this guide we’ll explain what FTTN NBN is, how to a pick plan that is best for you and what you’ll need to get online.
- How fast is FTTN NBN?
- How much does FTTN NBN cost?
- How does FTTN NBN work?
- What equipment will I need for FTTN NBN?
- FTTN NBN FAQs
How fast is Fibre to the Node NBN?
Bear with us here, the NBN offers four different speed tiers.
NBN speeds
| Tier | Maximum speed | Typical evening speed |
| Basic (NBN 12) | 12Mbps | 7Mbps |
| Standard (NBN 25) | 25Mbps | 15Mbps |
| Standard Plus (NBN 50) | 50Mbps | 30Mbps |
| Premium (NBN 100) | 100Mbps | 60Mbps |
The speeds in the table above are the maximum speeds you can get on these plans. However, according to NBN Co, your house will need to be no further than 400 metres from the node to achieve these speeds.
If your house is between 400 metres and 700 metres from the node, you may only be able to achieve speeds of up to 60Mbps, which is still fast enough to give you access to a plan on any NBN speed tier, although you won't be able to achieve maximum speeds if you choose an NBN 100 plan.
If your house is more than 700 metres from the node, your NBN provider should not let you subscribe to an NBN 100 plan, as you won't get the speeds you're paying for.
NBN Co says it expects nine out of ten homes connected to the FTTN network to receive speeds of between 50Mbps and 100Mbps.
It's worth noting that even if your home is less than 400 metres from the node, the maximum speeds you'll experience on your plan will still be dependent on:
- The NBN plan and provider you subscribe with.
- Congestion during peak hours (this is what is meant by 'evening speeds').
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 Fibre to the Node NBN plan cost?
The cost of FTTN NBN 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, we suggest using this formula:
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. 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 is taking to buffer.
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Tangerine Telecom 
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Internode 
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SpinTel 
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Link not supplied
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Belong 
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MATE 
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Link not supplied
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MyRepublic 
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Best for internet lovers: NBN Premium (NBN 100)
Selected from plans listed in the WhistleOut search engine.
Maximum Speed: 100Mbps
Typical Evening Speed: 60Mbps
What to expect: NBN 100 plans are the best bet for large households and anyone who regularly downloads or uploads large files. Games will download at breakneck speed and everyone from the kids to grandma can binge different shows on Netflix, all at the same time.
| Inclusions | ||
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Tangerine Telecom
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Vodafone 
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Link not supplied
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Kogan Internet 
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MATE
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Link not supplied
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Superloop 
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Link not supplied
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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 to one or two person households. There's not much you can do online that needs a faster speed than NBN 25, but you may notice slower speeds if multiple people are using your connection at once.
| Inclusions | ||
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Tangerine Telecom
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Belong
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SpinTel
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Link not supplied
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Kogan Internet
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Superloop
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Link not supplied
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Southern Phone 
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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.
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MATE
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Link not supplied
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TPG 
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iiNet 
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Westnet 
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Link not supplied
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Southern Phone
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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 NBN plan here.
How does Fibre to the Node NBN work?
The National Broadband Network is made up of fibre optic cables that run out across the country from major hubs and into your neighbourhood. These cables are capable of delivering incredibly fast and reliable internet.
Fibre to the Node (FTTN) technology is one of seven different ways the fibre optic cable can be connected to your home. It was also the cornerstone of former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's promise of "cheaper, faster (to roll out) and more affordable" NBN.
With a FTTN connection, fibre optic cable is run to a central cabinet in your neighbourhood: the node. Your house then connects to the nearest node using the same copper wiring you're currently using for your landline phone and your ADSL broadband.
Because less fibre optic cable is used, and more existing phone line is recycled, FTTN NBN connections can be cheaper when compared to other technology types. But it can come at the expense of speed, as we discussed earlier in this guide. If your house is more than 400 metres from the node, your connection may not be able to achieve the maximum speeds of which the NBN should be capable.
As you can see in the image above:
- The NBN has major hubs (known as Points of Interconnect) located all around the country
- Fibre optic cable connects the hub to a smaller connection point (known as a Node) near your home
- Copper cable then connects the node to your house
What equipment do I need for a FTTN connection?
Since FTTN uses existing copper wiring, you'll keep using the same phone line you use for your existing ADSL connection. The NBN does not need to install any new equipment in your home as part of the rollout.
When NBN signups become available in your area, you will need a VDSL2-ready modem router. If your modem router doesn't support VDSL2 connections, it won't work with your FTTN internet connection.
To check the compatibility of your modem, look at the at the row of ports across the back of your modem to locate a phone jack labelled VDSL. If not, look under the modem for a label with a serial number. Most compatible modems will say 'ADSL2+/VDSL2' or something similar.
Most modems sold in the last year or two should be VDSL2-ready. If you sign up for a 24-month internet contract, your telco will almost always include a VDSL2 compatible modem with your plan. If you sign up for a month-to-month plan, you'll need to pay your telco for a new modem (if you don't already have one).
Once you have your modem, your FTTN NBN connection will be easy to set up. After your service is active, you simply use an RJ11 phone cable to connect your modem router to the phone socket. Almost every single modem router includes one of these in the box. VDSL2 modem routers also require a dedicated power source, so you'll need a spare electrical outlet.
Your other devices will connect to your VDSL2 modem router using Wi-Fi or a wired Ethernet connection.
NBN FTTN FAQs
According to NBN's 2019 corporate plan, up to 3.5 million premises (40%) will be connected to the National Broadband Network via FTTN or FTTB technology - NBN Co doesn't currently separate these two technologies.
As it stands, FTTN is rolling out in areas where existing copper internet infrastructure exists. If you connect to the internet with an ADSL connection, there's a good chance you'll end up with a FTTN connection to the NBN.
Run an address search on our broadband database to see which technology you should be expecting.
The use of FTTN technology as part of the NBN rollout was controversial decision because the NBN was originally meant to be an all fibre network (FTTP).
FTTN advocates say it is cheaper and faster to deploy, while still delivering similar speeds.
FTTN detractors claim the technology isn't future-proof, longer lengths of copper result in slower internet speeds, and the reliance on copper will counteract initial savings by increasing maintenance fees and upgrade costs down the line.
Fibre to the building (FTTB) is a similar technology that NBN often groups in with FTTN, but the fibre is run to a central location in an apartment complex rather than to a node. A building's existing copper-wiring is used to deliver connectivity to individual apartments.
If you're connected to the NBN over FTTN, landline phone and internet services won't work if there is a power outage at your place or within the FTTN network itself. Restoring power to your premises with an alternative power option won't do anything if the FTTN network is also experiencing an outage.
NBN will eventually phase out the old copper phone services we use today, and replace them with similar services delivered by the internet. Home phones will connect to 'UNI-D' phone services, provided by your internet supplier.
Here's how it will work: you will plug your handset into the UNI-D port on a VoIP compatible modem-router – which your provider will be able to send to you. You might also connect with a VoIP adapter connected to your existing telephone socket or an ATA (analogue telephone adapter) connected to your NBN Connection Box.
Be aware that UNI-D does not allow for emergency power back-up in the case of a black-out. If the power in your home, building or neighbourhood goes down, so will your phone line. You will also lose landline connectivity if the NBN goes down. For this reason, if you don't already have a mobile phone, we recommend that you keep one charged in your home in case of an emergency.
Fortunately, these days there are plenty of affordable mobile handsets and plans around, offering options to get as much or as little calling credit as you think you might need. You can get a mobile plan as an alternative to VoIP. Or you can get a prepaid mobile with long credit expiry to use as an emergency back-up in case of power or internet outage.
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'.
Unlimited data NBN plans offer peace of mind, but you may be able to save some money with a plan that has a smaller cap if you're not a heavy internet user. That being said, these days unlimited data plans are pretty cheap, and many providers simply offer unlimited NBN plans, with no other options.
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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