What Is FTTC?
Fibre to the Curb (FTTC) is an NBN connection type where fibre optic cable extends to a small distribution point unit (DPU) installed in the telecommunications pit at the front of your property — typically within 30 metres of your home. The final, very short distance uses the existing copper telephone line.
FTTC represents a middle ground between FTTN and FTTP. Because the copper run is so short, FTTC can deliver significantly faster and more consistent speeds than FTTN, while still being quicker and cheaper to deploy than full FTTP.
How FTTC Works
The fibre network terminates at a Distribution Point Unit (DPU) — a small device installed in the underground telecommunications pit near the front of your property. From the DPU, data travels through your existing copper lead-in cable (usually less than 30 metres) into your home, where it connects to an NBN connection device (NCD) or compatible modem.
The DPU is powered via reverse power feeding — it draws a small amount of electricity from the modem inside your home through the copper line. This means during a power outage, your NBN connection will also go down unless you have battery backup.
Typical Speed Range
25–100 Mbps download
Because the copper distance is minimal, FTTC can reliably deliver up to 100 Mbps for most premises. Some premises may achieve higher speeds, though NBN 250 and NBN 1000 plans are not officially supported on FTTC without a fibre upgrade.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Much faster and more reliable than FTTN due to very short copper run
- Supports NBN 100 plans consistently
- Easier upgrade path to full FTTP (fibre already reaches your street)
- Lower installation cost than FTTP
Cons:
- Still uses some copper — cannot match FTTP’s top speeds
- NBN 250 and NBN 1000 tiers not supported without upgrade
- DPU depends on household power (no power = no internet)
- Available in fewer suburbs than FTTN or FTTP
Top 20 Suburbs with FTTC
These are the suburbs with the most FTTC-connected premises in Australia, sorted by total premises count.
| # | Suburb | State | Premises | Score | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Yarra | VIC | 19,886 | 6.5 | B |
| 2 | Dee Why | NSW | 13,279 | 6.5 | B |
| 3 | Hawthorn | VIC | 12,610 | 7.0 | B+ |
| 4 | Cronulla | NSW | 12,483 | 6.5 | B |
| 5 | Kogarah | NSW | 10,067 | 6.5 | B |
| 6 | Guildford | NSW | 9,534 | 7.5 | B+ |
| 7 | Pascoe Vale | VIC | 9,504 | 7.5 | B+ |
| 8 | Caringbah | NSW | 9,008 | 6.5 | B |
| 9 | Manly | NSW | 8,914 | 6.5 | B |
| 10 | Lalor | VIC | 8,620 | 7.5 | B+ |
| 11 | Lilydale | VIC | 8,559 | 7.5 | B+ |
| 12 | Mooroolbark | VIC | 8,502 | 7.5 | B+ |
| 13 | Bexley | NSW | 8,218 | 7.5 | B+ |
| 14 | Rockdale | NSW | 8,199 | 6.5 | B |
| 15 | St Marys | NSW | 7,921 | 7.5 | B+ |
| 16 | Essendon | VIC | 7,874 | 7.5 | B+ |
| 17 | Ballina | NSW | 7,823 | 7.5 | B+ |
| 18 | Altona North | VIC | 7,514 | 7.5 | B+ |
| 19 | Gladesville | NSW | 7,432 | 6.5 | B |
| 20 | Mount Druitt | NSW | 7,341 | 6.5 | B |
FTTC suburbs typically score in the B to B+ range (6.5–7.5 out of 10), reflecting the improved performance of a short copper run. These suburbs are concentrated in inner-suburban Sydney and Melbourne, and are strong candidates for future FTTP upgrades.