NBN Upgrades: Australia’s Transition to a Faster Fibre Network

NBN upgrades are reshaping Australia’s broadband network through wider Fibre to the Premises availability, multi-gigabit wholesale speed tiers and improved Fixed Wireless coverage. After years of relying on a multi-technology mix, Australia is progressively replacing more of the remaining copper-based network with fibre.

Consequently, the NBN is moving closer to the fibre-rich network originally envisaged for Australia. However, not every premises will receive the same technology, speed or upgrade pathway. Location, existing infrastructure, retailer participation and the selected service plan will continue to influence what each customer can access.

This article explains how Australia reached its current NBN structure, what has changed since 2025 and what the next stage of the network means for homes, businesses and fibre infrastructure.

How Did Australia’s NBN Develop?

The Australian Government established NBN Co in 2009 to design, build and operate a national wholesale broadband network.

The original plan proposed connecting approximately 93% of Australian premises with Fibre to the Premises. Fixed Wireless and satellite services would cover most of the remaining regional and remote locations.

Under FTTP, optical fibre runs from the wider network directly to the customer’s premises. Therefore, the connection avoids relying on ageing copper cabling for the final section of the broadband link.

However, the Coalition government changed the network strategy after taking office in 2013. Instead of continuing with FTTP for most fixed-line premises, it adopted a multi-technology mix.

This revised model used several access technologies:

• Fibre to the Premises
• Fibre to the Node
• Fibre to the Curb
• Fibre to the Building
• Hybrid Fibre Coaxial
• Fixed Wireless
• Satellite

The multi-technology approach allowed NBN Co to use parts of the existing telecommunications network. As a result, it accelerated the initial rollout and reduced some short-term construction requirements.

Nevertheless, the decision also preserved substantial sections of copper-based infrastructure. Consequently, the performance and long-term upgrade capability of NBN connections varied according to the technology serving each premises.

Understanding the NBN Multi-Technology Mix

Although consumers often refer to the NBN as one network, its access technologies work in different ways.

Fibre to the Premises

FTTP carries optical fibre directly into the home or business. Therefore, it provides the strongest foundation for high-speed, low-latency and multi-gigabit broadband services.

Additionally, FTTP avoids the speed limitations caused by long copper cable runs. Its performance still depends on the selected plan, network conditions and equipment, but the physical access medium offers substantial capacity for future upgrades.

Fibre to the Node

FTTN carries fibre to a street cabinet or node. Existing copper telephone cabling then connects the node to individual premises.

Consequently, the length and condition of the copper section can significantly affect performance. Premises located farther from the node may experience lower speeds than premises located nearby.

FTTN became one of the most debated elements of the multi-technology mix. Therefore, the current fibre upgrade program focuses heavily on replacing FTTN connections with FTTP.

Fibre to the Curb

FTTC brings fibre closer to the customer than FTTN. Usually, fibre reaches a small distribution point near the property boundary, while copper completes the final connection into the premises.

FTTC generally reduces the copper distance and can provide stronger performance than FTTN. However, FTTP removes the remaining copper section entirely and provides a better platform for future speeds.

Fibre to the Building

FTTB commonly serves apartments and other multi-dwelling buildings. Fibre reaches a central communications area within the building, while existing internal cabling connects individual apartments or tenancies.

However, building access, internal pathways, body corporate approval and existing cabling can make upgrades more complex than those for detached premises.

Hybrid Fibre Coaxial

HFC combines fibre in the wider network with coaxial cable for the customer-access section.

NBN Co acquired and adapted parts of existing cable television infrastructure for this purpose. Although HFC does not provide fibre directly to every premises, upgraded HFC infrastructure can support very high wholesale download speeds.

Fixed Wireless

Fixed Wireless uses radio links between an NBN tower and an antenna installed at the customer’s premises.

This technology primarily serves regional and semi-rural areas where fixed-line construction may prove impractical or uneconomical. However, terrain, distance, vegetation, network demand and radio conditions can affect performance.

Satellite

NBN Sky Muster satellites provide broadband to remote locations that fixed-line and Fixed Wireless networks cannot economically reach.

Satellite plays an essential role across Australia’s vast geography. Nevertheless, the long distance that signals must travel introduces higher latency than terrestrial fibre or wireless services.

What Has Changed Since the Original NBN Rollout?

Australia’s broadband requirements have changed significantly since the NBN project began.

Homes and businesses now rely on cloud platforms, video conferencing, remote work, streaming, online education, telehealth, artificial intelligence applications and connected devices. At the same time, organisations transfer and store much larger volumes of data.

Therefore, network capacity and upload performance have become increasingly important.

NBN Co has responded through several major programs:

• Expanding FTTP availability
• Replacing more FTTN and FTTC connections
• Introducing faster wholesale speed tiers
• Upgrading HFC network capacity
• Modernising Fixed Wireless infrastructure
• Moving selected satellite premises into the Fixed Wireless footprint
• Developing higher-capacity fibre technologies for future use

Together, these programs represent a gradual shift away from copper-dependent access technologies and towards a more fibre-based network.

Latest NBN Upgrades

The NBN upgrade program reached several significant milestones during 2025 and has continued into 2026.

More Than 10 Million Fixed-Line Premises Eligible for Faster Services

By 31 December 2025, NBN Co had made more than 10 million premises—approximately 90% of its fixed-line network—eligible to order near-gigabit or multi-gigabit-capable wholesale download services.

This milestone completed the initial five-year Fibre Connect upgrade program. Importantly, eligibility does not necessarily mean that every premises already has an active FTTP connection. In many upgrade areas, the final fibre lead-in occurs after an eligible customer orders a qualifying service through a participating retailer.

Therefore, customers should check their address and discuss the applicable upgrade conditions with their preferred retail service provider.

NBN Co provides current address and technology information through its NBN upgrade checker.

Final FTTN Upgrade Program Extends to 2030

In January 2025, the Australian Government and NBN Co announced the next stage of the fibre upgrade program.

The program targets approximately 622,000 additional premises remaining in FTTN areas. The Australian Government committed an equity investment of up to $3 billion, while NBN Co committed more than $800 million.

More than 95% of these remaining premises are expected to gain the option of upgrading to FTTP by the end of 2030. Furthermore, more than half of the affected premises are located in regional Australia.

This program does not mean that every FTTN connection will disappear immediately. Construction will occur progressively, while fibre lead-ins will generally depend on service orders and local deployment arrangements.

Nevertheless, the investment establishes a pathway for most remaining FTTN premises to move away from copper-based access. The Australian Government’s final NBN upgrade announcement provides additional program details.

Multi-Gigabit NBN Services Have Launched

NBN Co introduced its Home Hyperfast wholesale speed tier on 14 September 2025.

Eligible FTTP premises can access wholesale peak information rates of up to:

• 2,000 Mbps download
• 200 Mbps upload

Eligible HFC premises can access wholesale peak information rates of up to:

• 2,000 Mbps download
• 100 Mbps upload

However, these figures describe wholesale peak information rates rather than guaranteed end-user speeds. Actual performance can vary because of the retail plan, network demand, in-home cabling, Wi-Fi performance, router capability, server capacity and other factors.

Additionally, not every retail service provider offers every NBN wholesale speed tier. Customers also need compatible networking equipment to take advantage of services faster than one gigabit per second.

The launch marked an important transition because multi-gigabit NBN plans had moved from a future proposal to an available wholesale product. NBN Co outlines the program in its multi-gigabit speed announcement.

Existing High-Speed Tiers Became Faster

Alongside the new Hyperfast product, NBN Co’s Accelerate Great program increased the wholesale speeds of selected higher-tier residential services over eligible FTTP and HFC connections.

Consequently, many customers could access substantially faster wholesale speeds without moving to the new 2 Gbps tier. However, customers still needed an eligible access technology, a suitable retail plan and compatible equipment.

These changes also made local network design more important. For example, a customer may purchase a high-speed internet service but fail to achieve the expected performance if the router, Ethernet cabling, network switches or Wi-Fi system cannot support it.

Therefore, businesses adopting faster NBN plans should assess the complete communications network rather than treating the internet connection as an isolated component.

Fixed Wireless and Satellite Upgrades

NBN Co has also completed a major $750 million Fixed Wireless and Satellite Upgrade Program.

The Australian Government contributed $480 million, while NBN Co contributed $270 million. The program upgraded equipment across more than 2,300 Fixed Wireless towers.

As a result, the upgraded network provides increased capacity, improved performance during busy periods and access to faster wholesale speed options in eligible areas.

Additionally, the program expanded the Fixed Wireless footprint. More than 120,000 premises that were previously limited to satellite services can now access NBN Fixed Wireless.

The project used newer radio technologies, including 5G millimetre-wave equipment, to increase network capacity and coverage. However, Fixed Wireless availability and performance still depend on the customer’s location, line of sight, local infrastructure and service eligibility.

NBN Co reports that the Fixed Wireless and Satellite Upgrade Program is now complete.

Why Fibre Infrastructure Matters to NBN Upgrades

The NBN access technology at a customer’s premises represents only one part of the wider telecommunications system.

Behind each connection sits a network of fibre feeder cables, distribution cables, exchanges, points of interconnect, equipment rooms, data centres and carrier facilities. Therefore, increasing access speeds also increases the importance of reliable fibre infrastructure throughout the network.

Higher Speeds Require Greater Network Capacity

As more customers adopt high-speed and multi-gigabit services, the network must carry greater volumes of traffic between access infrastructure and core network facilities.

Consequently, carriers and service providers must plan sufficient fibre capacity, transmission equipment and redundancy. They must also ensure that fibre links remain within their optical loss budgets and transmission-distance limits.

Fibre Deployment Requires the Correct Cable Construction

Telecommunications routes may pass through underground conduits, pits, buildings, equipment cabinets and environmentally exposed locations.

Therefore, designers must match the cable construction to the route. Depending on the environment, the specification may need to consider:

• Water-blocking performance
• Cable diameter
• Conduit capacity
• Maximum pulling tension
• Crush resistance
• Minimum bend radius
• UV exposure
• Termite or rodent risk
• Fire-performance requirements
• Fibre count
• Future capacity

Compact loose tube cable can provide a practical solution for external ducts and space-constrained pathways. The Anderson Corporation Mini Loose Tube Fibre Optic Cable Authority Hub explains the construction, specification and environmental considerations in greater detail.

Factory Termination Can Accelerate Deployment

Many fibre projects require repeatable connections between cabinets, communications rooms, data centres and network equipment.

In suitable applications, Pre Terminated Fibre Optic Cable can reduce on-site termination work. Manufacturers install and test the connectors before delivery, allowing installers to route, connect and commission the assembly more efficiently.

However, pre-terminated cable requires careful planning. Project teams must confirm the cable length, fibre count, connector types, breakout arrangement, pulling method and pathway dimensions before manufacturing begins.

Therefore, pre-termination works best where designers can define the route and connection requirements accurately.

Mini Loose Tube Cable in Telecommunications Networks

Mini Loose Tube Fibre Optic Cable provides a compact cable construction for outdoor conduits, ducts and infrastructure pathways.

Its smaller diameter can improve conduit utilisation, particularly where existing pathways contain other services or provide limited remaining space. Additionally, loose tube construction allows the optical fibres to move independently of much of the mechanical stress applied to the outer cable.

However, cable diameter alone does not determine product quality. Designers should also assess:

• Tensile performance
• Crush resistance
• Water penetration resistance
• Fibre strain
• Tube construction
• Jacket material
• Operating temperature
• Installation temperature
• Bend performance
• Manufacturing consistency

The RapidConnect TR-Series Mini Loose Tube Fibre Optic Cable provides a compact fibre platform for demanding Australian infrastructure projects.

Nevertheless, organisations should not assume that a particular cable holds NBN approval or forms part of an NBN deployment unless the supplier can provide specific supporting documentation.

Pre-Terminated Fibre for Business NBN Projects

An NBN upgrade may deliver faster broadband to the external connection point, but a business must still distribute that capacity throughout its premises.

For example, offices, warehouses, schools, healthcare facilities and industrial sites may require fibre between:

• The building entry point and main communications room
• Separate buildings
• Network cabinets
• Server rooms
• Production areas
• Security and surveillance systems
• Wireless access infrastructure
• Data centres and disaster-recovery facilities

In these environments, custom Pre Terminated Fibre Optic Cable can provide a faster and more controlled alternative to completing every connector termination on site.

Furthermore, factory testing can provide documented insertion-loss results before installation. This supports more predictable commissioning and improves the permanent network records available to the asset owner.

However, installers should still inspect, clean and test connectors during commissioning. Factory testing does not remove the need for proper installation practices or final link verification.

What Do NBN Upgrades Mean for Australian Homes?

For households, wider FTTP access can provide several practical benefits.

These may include:

• Faster available download and upload speeds
• Lower dependence on ageing copper cabling
• Improved support for multiple simultaneous users
• Better capacity for cloud backup and file transfers
• More consistent performance for remote work
• Greater support for high-resolution streaming
• A stronger platform for future broadband services

Nevertheless, moving to FTTP does not automatically correct every internet problem.

Poor Wi-Fi coverage, outdated routers, congested wireless channels and unsuitable internal cabling can still restrict performance. Therefore, households ordering faster plans may also need to upgrade their local network equipment.

What Do NBN Upgrades Mean for Australian Businesses?

For businesses, the NBN upgrades can support greater use of cloud computing, video conferencing, off-site backup, software-as-a-service platforms and distributed workforces.

Moreover, faster upload speeds can improve performance for businesses that regularly transfer large design files, video, medical data, engineering information or backups.

However, organisations should examine more than the headline download rate. They should also assess:

• Upload requirements
• Service reliability
• Restoration arrangements
• Business continuity
• Static IP requirements
• Cybersecurity
• Router and firewall throughput
• Local area network capacity
• Redundant communications services
• Service-level requirements

A standard residential-style service may not provide the operational protection required by a critical business. Therefore, organisations should select the complete service and network architecture according to their risk profile.

Is Australia Moving Towards an All-Fibre NBN?

Australia is clearly moving towards a more fibre-rich NBN, particularly across the fixed-line footprint.

By the end of 2025, more than 10 million fixed-line premises had become eligible for near-gigabit or multi-gigabit-capable wholesale services. Meanwhile, the final major FTTN upgrade program aims to give more than 95% of approximately 622,000 additional premises an FTTP upgrade pathway by 2030.

However, Australia is not moving to FTTP for every location.

HFC will continue serving many premises, while Fixed Wireless and satellite will remain important for regional and remote communities. Furthermore, complex buildings and exceptional locations may require different upgrade solutions.

Therefore, the future NBN will still use several access technologies. Nevertheless, fibre will carry an increasingly large share of the network and provide the foundation for its highest-capacity services.

Frequently Asked Questions About NBN Upgrades

What are the latest NBN upgrades?

The latest NBN upgrades include broader FTTP eligibility, faster wholesale speed tiers for eligible FTTP and HFC customers, 2 Gbps wholesale services and completed improvements to the Fixed Wireless network.

Additionally, work continues on a program intended to give more than 95% of approximately 622,000 remaining FTTN premises access to an FTTP upgrade by 2030.

How many premises can access high-speed NBN services?

By 31 December 2025, NBN Co had made more than 10 million premises—approximately 90% of the fixed-line network—eligible to order near-gigabit or multi-gigabit-capable wholesale download services.

However, actual plan availability depends on the premises, access technology and participating retail service provider.

Can I upgrade from FTTN to FTTP?

Many premises in eligible FTTN areas can request an FTTP upgrade after ordering a qualifying service from a participating retailer.

Nevertheless, eligibility conditions can change, while complex or exceptional premises may require additional work. Therefore, customers should check their address through NBN Co and confirm the process with their preferred provider.

Does Australia now have 2 Gbps NBN plans?

NBN Co launched 2 Gbps wholesale speed tiers in September 2025 for eligible FTTP and HFC premises.

Eligible FTTP services can support wholesale peak information rates of up to 2,000/200 Mbps, while eligible HFC services can support up to 2,000/100 Mbps. However, retailers decide which plans they offer, and actual end-user performance may vary.

Is FTTP better than FTTN?

FTTP carries optical fibre directly to the premises, while FTTN relies on copper cabling between a street node and the customer.

Therefore, FTTP generally provides greater speed capacity, more consistent performance and a stronger upgrade path. However, the customer’s retail plan and local network equipment still affect actual performance.

Is HFC being replaced by FTTP?

The current upgrade program primarily focuses on FTTN and selected FTTC premises. HFC continues to form a significant part of the fixed-line network and can support NBN Co’s multi-gigabit wholesale download tier in eligible areas.

Consequently, customers should not assume that every HFC connection will receive an FTTP replacement.

Have the NBN Fixed Wireless upgrades finished?

NBN Co has completed its $750 million Fixed Wireless and Satellite Upgrade Program. The work included upgrades to more than 2,300 towers and extended Fixed Wireless availability to more than 120,000 premises previously within the satellite footprint.

However, further network maintenance, optimisation and local expansion can continue after completion of the main program.

Will a faster NBN plan improve my Wi-Fi?

A faster broadband plan increases the capacity delivered to the premises. However, it does not automatically improve Wi-Fi coverage or remove limitations caused by old equipment.

Therefore, customers may need a compatible router, faster Ethernet ports, improved wireless access points or better internal cabling to receive the full benefit.

Does Anderson Corporation install NBN residential connections?

Anderson Corporation supplies fibre optic cable, connectivity and testing solutions for commercial, industrial, enterprise and infrastructure projects. It does not represent itself as NBN Co or imply that every Anderson Corporation product carries NBN approval.

Project-specific approval and compliance requirements should always be confirmed before specifying any product for a carrier network.

Conclusion – NBN Upgrades

NBN upgrades have moved Australia into the next stage of its broadband development.

More than 10 million fixed-line premises became eligible for near-gigabit or multi-gigabit-capable wholesale services by the end of 2025. In addition, NBN Co now offers 2 Gbps wholesale products for eligible FTTP and HFC connections.

Meanwhile, the completed Fixed Wireless upgrade program has improved capacity across regional Australia and moved more than 120,000 previously satellite-only premises into the Fixed Wireless footprint.

The next major phase will focus on approximately 622,000 remaining FTTN premises. By the end of 2030, more than 95% of these premises are expected to have the option of upgrading to FTTP.

Consequently, fibre will play an increasingly important role across Australia’s broadband infrastructure. However, successful fibre deployment still depends on correct cable selection, pathway design, installation, connector cleanliness, testing and commissioning.

For commercial and infrastructure fibre projects, explore Anderson Corporation’s Pre Terminated Fibre Optic Cable Authority Hub and Mini Loose Tube Fibre Optic Cable Authority Hub.