76% of FTTN NBN connections won't be able to achieve 100Mbps speeds

Alex Choros - Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor

Last updated 17 January 2018

NBN Co expects that over 75% of customers connecting to the National Broadband Network via Fibre to the Node will not be able to attain 100Mbps speeds by the end of the rollout.

While the network builder believes that 100% of customers connecting through Fibre to the Premises, Fibre to the Building, Fibre to the Curb, and HFC technology types will have access to 100Mbps speeds or faster, it expects that this will only hold true for 24% of FTTN customers.

FTTN makes up the largest part of NBN connections with over 40% of Australian homes and businesses are slated to connect to the network using the technology, suggesting that 30% of all Australian homes and businesses will be unable to access the network's top speeds. NBN Co does expect 90% of homes connected to the NBN via FTTN to achieve speeds of at least 50Mbps so it's little wonder that it is positioning NBN 50 as the flagship plan.

NBN Co leans on FTTN technology for the largest part of the network because the connections are cheaper to rollout, but it come with major disadvantages in regards to speed and performance. Instead of running fibre optic cable directly to your home or drive way, NBN runs it 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.

The actual speed of your FTTN NBN connection will depend on your distance from the node; the further you are, the slower your connection. NBN Co previously estimated that you'd have to live within 400m of your node to get 100Mbps speeds.

What does this mean for you?

If you're one of the many Australians connecting to the NBN over FTTN, we know this kinda sucks. Fortunately there's a decent chance you'll still be able to attain speeds of at least 50Mbps.

If you're signing up for a FTTN NBN connection, we'd initially suggest taking up a NBN 25 plan - ideally, one with no lock in contract and no setup fees. (In most cases, an ISP shouldn't sell FTTN customers anything faster than NBN 25 at first.) Once you're connected, your ISP will be able to speed test your physical connection, and let you know the fastest speeds possible on your line. Using this knowledge, you can work out what service speed is worth your hard-earned.

For example, if your line maxes out at 75Mbps, you might still consider a NBN 100 plan over an NBN 50 plan, even if you're not quite able to get the top speeds. But if it hits the brakes at 55Mbps, you'd probably just stick to NBN 50.

And if you're not happy with your line speed, you can always consider a NBN alternative like mobile broadband or fixed home wireless.

Alex Choros

Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor | X | Instagram | Threads | LinkedIn

Alex Choros is the Managing Editor of WhistleOut Australia and an award-winning journalist. He's been writing about consumer technology for over a decade and is an expert on the Australian telco sector, to the point where he knows far too many phone and internet plans by heart. In addition to leading the WhistleOut editorial team, Alex is responsible for ruining the office Sonos with his troubled taste in music.

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