Every Australian home connected to the NBN uses one of seven different technologies. Your connection type determines your maximum possible speeds, your reliability, and which internet plans you can actually use. Yet many Australians don’t know which technology they have — or what it means.
This guide helps you identify your NBN connection type, understand its strengths and limitations, and make informed decisions about your internet plan.
The Seven NBN Technologies
Australia’s NBN uses a “multi-technology mix” — different technologies deployed in different areas based on existing infrastructure, geography, and cost. Here’s a quick overview of all seven:
| Technology | Fibre To… | Last Mile | Max Speed | PickNBN Avg Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FTTP | Your home | Fibre | 1000 Mbps | 9.0–10.0 |
| FTTC | Your street pit | Short copper (~30m) | 100 Mbps | 6.5–7.5 |
| FTTB | Building basement | Internal wiring | 80 Mbps | 5.0–7.5 |
| HFC | Street node | Coaxial cable | 250 Mbps | 5.5–7.5 |
| FTTN | Street cabinet | Copper (up to 1km) | 68 Mbps | 5.0–6.0 |
| Fixed Wireless | Tower | Radio signal | 75 Mbps | 3.5–5.5 |
| Satellite | Orbit | Satellite signal | 25 Mbps | 2.5 |
The key pattern: the closer fibre gets to your home, the faster and more reliable your connection. FTTP (fibre all the way) is the best; Satellite (no fibre to your area) is the most limited.
How to Identify Your Connection Type
Method 1: Check PickNBN
Search for your suburb on PickNBN — every suburb profile shows the dominant technology type for that area. This tells you what most homes in your suburb are connected to.
Keep in mind that some suburbs have a mix of technologies. The dominant type represents the majority of premises, but your specific address may differ.
Method 2: Look at Your Equipment
Each NBN technology uses different equipment in your home:
- FTTP: A white or black NTD (Network Termination Device) box on your wall, with a fibre optic cable running to it. Usually has a green light and UNI-D ports.
- FTTN: No special NBN box — your VDSL modem plugs directly into the phone socket. The node is a large green/grey cabinet on the street.
- FTTC: An NCD (Network Connection Device) or compatible modem connected to your phone socket. A small underground DPU in the street pit.
- FTTB: Similar to FTTN — your modem connects to the phone socket. The node is in your building’s basement or comms room.
- HFC: An NBN Connection Box (small white box) on your exterior wall, with coaxial cable running from it to your modem.
- Fixed Wireless: An outdoor antenna on your roof or wall, connected to an indoor NBN connection device.
- Satellite: A satellite dish on your roof, connected to an indoor modem.
Method 3: Check Your NBN Co Account
Log into your NBN account or check the NBN Co address lookup tool. Enter your address and it will show your specific technology type, along with your maximum available speed tier.
What Your Connection Type Means in Practice
Understanding your technology isn’t just trivia — it directly impacts your daily internet experience.
If You Have FTTP
You have the best NBN technology available. You can sign up for any speed tier up to NBN 1000 and expect to receive the speeds you pay for, consistently. Your connection is future-proof and maintenance-free.
Top FTTP suburbs like Tarneit (27,748 premises, score 10.0) and Craigieburn (24,080 premises, score 10.0) demonstrate what full fibre delivers: perfect or near-perfect internet scores.
If You Have FTTN
Your speeds depend heavily on your distance from the node. If you’re within 200 metres, you may get 60+ Mbps. Beyond 600 metres, expect 25–40 Mbps. NBN 100 plans are advertised but many FTTN connections cannot deliver them.
The good news: many FTTN suburbs are eligible for FTTP upgrades. Check whether your area is on the upgrade schedule.
If You Have FTTC
You’re in a good position — the short copper run means you can reliably get NBN 100 speeds. FTTC is also the easiest technology to upgrade to FTTP since the fibre already reaches your street.
Suburbs like South Yarra (19,886 premises, score 6.5) and Hawthorn (12,610 premises, score 7.0) show typical FTTC performance — solid but not quite as fast as FTTP.
If You Have FTTB
Performance varies by building. Modern apartment buildings with well-maintained internal wiring can achieve close to NBN 100 speeds. Older buildings may be limited to NBN 50 or below.
Melbourne CBD alone has 79,627 FTTB premises — the largest concentration in Australia. If your building’s wiring is poor, ask your body corporate about an upgrade to FTTP.
If You Have HFC
HFC can deliver up to NBN 250, making it the second-fastest widely available technology. Performance is generally good but can dip during peak evening hours due to shared neighbourhood bandwidth.
Major HFC suburbs like Castle Hill (19,270 premises, score 7.0) and Ryde (16,411 premises, score 7.5) show that HFC provides a quality experience for most households.
If You Have Fixed Wireless
You’re in a regional area served by an NBN tower. Speeds of 50–75 Mbps are achievable in good conditions, but performance depends on distance from the tower, terrain, and the number of users sharing the cell.
NBN Co is upgrading Fixed Wireless towers with 5G technology, which should improve both speeds and capacity for regional communities.
If You Have Satellite
You have the most limited NBN connection, with speeds up to 25 Mbps and high latency (600ms+). This is adequate for basic browsing and email but challenging for video calls, streaming, and gaming.
If you’re on Satellite, consider whether 4G/5G home broadband alternatives might be available in your area for a better experience.
Getting the Best From Your Connection
Regardless of your technology type, these tips help maximise your internet performance:
Choose the right speed tier — Don’t pay for a speed tier your technology can’t deliver. Check the speed tiers guide to match your tier to your technology.
Use a quality router — A cheap router can be the bottleneck even on fast connections. Invest in a Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 6E router for the best wireless performance.
Use Ethernet where possible — Wired connections are faster and more stable than Wi-Fi. Connect your primary devices (desktop, gaming console, smart TV) via Ethernet cable for the best experience.
Position your router centrally — Place it in the middle of your home, elevated, and away from walls and other electronics. This maximises Wi-Fi coverage.
Check for upgrades — If you’re on FTTN, FTTC, or HFC, check whether you’re eligible for an FTTP upgrade. The improvement can be transformative.
Key Takeaways
- Seven NBN technologies exist — your suburb’s type determines your maximum possible speeds
- FTTP is the best (up to 1000 Mbps), Satellite is the most limited (up to 25 Mbps)
- Check your technology via PickNBN, your equipment, or NBN Co’s address lookup
- Match your speed tier to what your technology can actually deliver
- Many suburbs are eligible for FTTP upgrades that will dramatically improve performance