What is the NBN fibre upgrade?
With more demands on our internet services than ever, NBN Co is rolling out upgrades to millions of Aussies. This allows eligible homes and businesses across the country to upgrade their current Fibre to the Node (FTTN) or Fibre to the Curb (FTTC) NBN connection to a Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) connection.
But there are some catches to how the fibre upgrade works as not all homes or businesses are eligible.
FTTP connections — along with some Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC) connections — allow for homes and businesses to access the NBN’s fastest speed tiers. Other NBN connection types, such as FTTN and Fibre to the Building (FTTB), can only access the slower speed tiers, which may max out at 100Mbps download speeds.
Why are faster internet speeds important?
According to NBN Co, Australia’s data usage has significantly increased in the past decade and is expected to double by 2032.
In 2025, the average household was using around 508GB per month, doubling since 2019. This usage is spread across an average of 25 devices per household in 2025, which is expected to jump up to 44 devices by 2030.
What are the benefits of an NBN upgrade?
The biggest — and most obvious — benefit of the NBN upgrade is accessing the faster speeds that require an FTTP connection.
You’ll also have a wider range of speed tiers to choose from and you might also find your internet connection generally improves and is more stable, with minimal dropouts. FTTP has a lower latency, meaning you can experience less lag and delays on internet-demanding tasks such as online gaming.
The NBN free fibre upgrade is also a good way of future-proofing your home’s internet connection, as many households may find their internet usage needs increase in the future.
In comparison, NBN connection types, such as FTTN and FTTB, may only be able to access the slower speed tiers, which can only reach up to 100Mbps download speeds.
How to get the NBN free fibre upgrade
Not all homes and businesses are eligible for the NBN upgrade, so you’ll need to do an NBN fibre upgrade check. If your address qualifies, you’ll need to initiate the upgrade process yourself by following the steps below:
- Run your address through the NBN Co website address checker to see if you’re eligible.
- If you’re eligible, you’ll need to sign up for a fast-speed NBN plan with a participating NBN provider. You may be able to stick with your current provider if they offer the upgrade.
- After choosing your NBN provider, check your address on their website and sign up for a fast-speed NBN plan. You’ll most likely need to sign up to a Home Fast II (NBN 500) plan or faster, although this may differ between providers and NBN connection types.
- Once you’ve signed up, your fibre upgrade will be activated and your new NBN provider will then organise the FTTP installation. This will include an appointment with an NBN technician who may need to visit your premises on one or more occasion to upgrade the equipment both inside and outside.
- You may need to upgrade your modem/router, as older modems may not be capable of accessing the new fast speeds — your NBN provider may provide you with this new modem or you may have to BYO modem instead.
- When the installation process is complete and your new FTTP connection is up and running, check with your previous NBN provider that your old plan has been cancelled to avoid paying two bills. If you’ve stuck with the same provider but increased your speed, you’ll most likely start paying more for your internet bill than you were before.
Which NBN providers offer the NBN fibre upgrade?
To find an NBN provider offering fibre upgrades, you’ll need to visit the NBN Co website to find the full up-to-date list of participating providers.
However, you’ll find popular and big-name providers on the list, including:
- AGL
- Aussie Broadband
- Belong
- Dodo
- Exetel
- Flip
- iiNet
- iPrimus
- Mate
- More
- Optus
- Origin
- Southern Phone
- Spintel
- Superloop
- Swoop
- Tangerine
- Telstra
- TPG
- Vodafone
If you’re unsure which provider is right for you, you can check out Canstar's best-rated NBN providers to see what customers think of their current NBN provider.
Is the NBN fibre upgrade free?
If your home or business is eligible, the NBN free fibre upgrade shouldn’t cost you any extra. However, you'll need to sign up for a fast-speed NBN plan from a participating provider to start the process.
This means you’ll pay a different monthly price for your fast NBN plan, which may be more expensive than what you’re currently paying. You might also need to pay for upgraded equipment, like a new modem, if your current setup isn’t compatible with fast-speed NBN technology.
Depending on your building type or if it is a complex upgrade, your provider may be charged additional costs by NBN Co and then choose to pass those costs on to you. You can always talk to your preferred NBN provider before starting the fibre upgrade process to assess if there will be any complications or extra costs.
How much do fast NBN plans cost?
When it comes to NBN pricing, the faster the speed, the more expensive the plan. This means that if you upgrade to FTTP and a faster NBN plan, you’ll most likely be paying more each month when compared to your current, slower NBN service.
For example, if you currently have a NBN 50 plan, this can cost around $70-$90 per month, with many plans available around the $80 per month price point. If you were to sign up for a Home Superfast (NBN 750) plan, these plans can cost around $95 and up per month, so you may end up paying $20 or more monthly for your faster plan.
Keep in mind that you’ll have a much smaller pool of NBN providers to choose from for your NBN fibre upgrade, compared to the large number of NBN providers on the market. This means it may be harder to hunt around for a great value or cheap NBN deal to limit that increased monthly plan fee.
Do I have to stay with the same provider after my NBN fibre upgrade?
You don’t have to stick with the same NBN provider once your NBN connection has been upgraded to FTTP.
If you’ve signed up for a month-to-month fast-speed NBN plan, you may be free to switch NBN plans or providers without any early exit fees.
However, you should always check your plan’s critical information summary, any contract you’ve signed, or terms and conditions available from the provider to see if you are free to switch (or if there are fees for doing so).
What about other NBN connections?
Homes and businesses with an HFC connection should already be able to access the fastest NBN plans. You’ll simply need to sign up for a fast-speed plan with your provider of choice.
If you have an FTTB connection, unfortunately, you’re not currently eligible for a free FTTP upgrade. You may be able to access the Technology Choice program, which will be at a cost to you and can be rather expensive.
The best way to check what NBN connection type you have and whether you can access a free NBN fibre upgrade is to check your address on the NBN Co website.
What is the NBN free fibre upgrade process?
Once you’ve signed up for a fast-speed NBN plan with a participating provider, they will coordinate with NBN Co to initiate the upgrade process.
Your provider may first contact you with instructions on the upgrade process and will then organise the installation date with you. NBN Co will also send you a reminder via SMS to confirm your installation appointment.
In preparation for your fibre upgrade, it’s important to be on the lookout for scams and note that NBN Co will not ask for remote access to any of your devices.
On the installation day, be wary of the following considerations:
- NBN Co requires someone over the age of 18 to be present and also recommends that you secure any pets you have.
- You’ll need to ensure you have your mobile phone nearby and fully charged, as the technician may need to turn the power off during the upgrade process.
- When the NBN technician arrives and before granting them access to your home or business, it’s a good idea to check they are legitimate. All NBN technicians carry an ‘enAble’ identification card.
- Installation may also require drilling and digging on the property, so renters will need their landlord’s permission before signing up.
The upgrade process typically takes anywhere between two and four hours (or less). However, some work may need to be completed on a different day. After the installation, your provider will notify you when your new service is ready, which can take some time. During this waiting time, you should still be able to use your old internet service. If you signed up for your fibre upgrade with a different provider from your old plan, you should wait until after your new fast service is activated before cancelling your old service.
If you’ve experienced any issues along the way, such as a cancelled or missed installation appointment, or your new service isn’t performing as it should, you’ll need to get in touch with the NBN provider that organised your fibre upgrade.
How long does the NBN fibre upgrade take?
It really depends on the NBN provider you choose and the NBN technology type that you will be upgrading from — whether that’s FTTC or FTTN.
While it usually takes around two to four hours to roll out the upgrade during the actual installation appointment, some installations may require more than one appointment to finish. However, the whole process of signing up for the upgrade all the way to getting your fast speed plan activated, may take much longer.
Depending on the NBN provider, you may have to wait several days or even weeks for confirmation and for an installation appointment to be set up. In some situations (such as upgrading from FTTC), you might even need a pre-installation visit, which can drag the process out by several weeks.
As each eligible home and business is different, it’s difficult to know exactly how long the NBN fibre upgrade will take for you. It’s important to follow instructions from your provider and NBN Co and be prepared that this process may take longer than you expect. For this reason, you should also stay connected to your existing internet plan throughout the process until your provider has switched on your new service and it's working as it should.
