Last updated: 15 August 2026
The NBN (National Broadband Network) is Australia’s national wholesale internet network: government-owned infrastructure that connects nearly every home and business in the country, which you access by buying a plan from a retail provider like Telstra, Aussie Broadband or Superloop. NBN Co builds and runs the network; the providers sell the connections. That two-layer split explains most of the things people find confusing about it.
How the NBN actually works
Think of it as roads and delivery companies. NBN Co owns the road to your house; your provider is the delivery company you hire to use it. That’s why you can switch providers in 15 minutes without anyone visiting: the physical connection stays put, only the company selling you access changes. It’s also why an outage can be either NBN Co’s problem (the road) or your provider’s (the trucks); our outage checker helps you work out which.
The connection types
Your address got one of several technologies during the rollout: FTTP (fibre all the way, the best), FTTC, FTTN (fibre to a street cabinet, then copper), FTTB, HFC (the old pay TV cable), fixed wireless, or Sky Muster satellite for remote areas. Which one you have sets your maximum speed and can’t be changed by switching providers, though the free FTTP upgrade program is steadily converting FTTN and FTTC addresses. Our connection types guide explains each one and how to check yours.
Speed tiers, in one table
| Tier | Download | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| NBN 12/25 | 12 to 25 Mbps | one person, light use |
| NBN 50 | 50 Mbps | the standard household choice |
| NBN 100 | 100 Mbps | families, streaming on multiple TVs, WFH |
| NBN 250 to 1000 | 250 to 1000 Mbps | big households, heavy uploads, FTTP/HFC only |
| NBN 2000 | up to 2000 Mbps | the new top tier on FTTP |
Prices run from around $50 to over $150 a month depending on tier and provider. Our speed guide helps you pick a tier, the plan finder does it in three questions, and the best NBN plans page shows current picks.
Do you have to use the NBN?
No. The main alternatives are 5G home wireless (a modem on the mobile network; see our 5G vs NBN comparison), Starlink satellite (Starlink vs NBN), and mobile broadband for portable use. For most fixed addresses the NBN remains the default for a reason: no data caps at the top tiers, stable latency, and fierce retail competition that keeps prices honest.
Frequently asked questions
What does NBN stand for?
National Broadband Network: Australia’s government-owned wholesale internet network, completed in its initial rollout in 2020 and still being upgraded.
Is the NBN free?
The connection infrastructure is already at your address, but you pay a monthly plan to a retail provider to use it, typically $50 to $150 depending on speed.
Who owns the NBN?
NBN Co, a company owned by the Australian Government. The providers who sell you plans are private companies buying wholesale access.
What’s the difference between NBN and Wi-Fi?
The NBN is the connection into your house; Wi-Fi is how your devices talk to your router inside the house. A slow connection and slow Wi-Fi are different problems with different fixes.
