Compare NBN Plans with CheapBills

Broadband is a wide term used to describe many different types of internet connections. NBN stands for the National Broadband Network - it is a specific type of high-speed broadband that is being rolled out across Australia.

The types of broadband available are:

• ADSL broadband: An Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) internet connection uses your telephone line for the internet connection.
• AADSL/2+ broadband: An Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line 2+ (ADSL2+) internet connection is the upgraded, faster version of ADSL. ADSL/2+ can reach speeds of 12Mbps, compared to 8Mbps for ADSL.
• Naked DSL broadband: As with ADSL and ADSL/2+, Naked DSL uses your telephone line, but removes the ability to make or receive calls. This can save you money if you don’t use your home phone anymore.
• Fibre-optic cable broadband: Provides a faster internet connection than the ADSL copper lines by using glass and/or plastic cables instead.
• Mobile broadband: Uses transmitters and receivers used by the mobile phone network to provide wireless, fast internet via a mobile phone or portable modem such as 3G, 4G or 5G.
• Cable internet: Uses a combination of fibre and coaxial cables to connect you to the internet and Pay TV services. Cable internet isn’t available everywhere in Australia. Call us to find out if it is an option for your home.
• NBN (National Broadband Network): The NBN is replacing copper wires and cable broadband with optical fibre and other technologies to deliver more reliable, faster internet. You can read all about the different types of NBN here.

Choosing the right type of broadband for your home or small business will depend on the connection type available in your area, as well as your speed requirement, data usage habits and budget.

Talk to a CheapBills expert and we can find out which connection is available at your home and connect you to the best NBN plans in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and throughout Australia.

The biggest difference between cable broadband and NBN is upload speed. Customers on an NBN 100 plan will be able to upload at speeds of 40Mbps, whereas cable broadband upload speeds can be as low as 2Mbps. It's also worth noting that cable can be more prone to congestion than NBN services.

Once you have decided on your NBN provider, you will receive a confirmation email from them, followed by a booking for either a tech appointment or connection date, depending on the infrastructure already in place at your home.

Your new modem will be delivered before your appointment date.

If you need new tech installed, you can prepare for your appointment by:

• Making sure someone is home for the appointment
• Contacting your landlord for permission if you are renting
• Considering where you would like the NBN boxes to be placed

At the appointment, a technician will install A utility box on an outside wall of your home and a connection box inside of your home.

You should try to place your connection box in a central location to provide a good signal throughout your home. In larger, two-storey homes, you might need a WiFi extender to reach areas furthest away from the box.

The recommended positioning is:

• Between one and one and a half metres off the ground
• Away from televisions, speakers and other large electronic devices
• In a place that has easy access
• Somewhere well ventilated
• Somewhere where it won’t be easily knocked

At the appointment, a technician will install A utility box on an outside wall of your home and a connection box inside of your home.

There are several different types of connections that deliver NBN to Australian homes. Three of the most common are

• Fibre-to-the-node (FTTN) - uses high-speed fibre optic cables to a node. Copper cables are then used to deliver the NBN from the node to the home.
• Fibre-to-the-curb (FTTC) - uses high-speed fibre optic cables to the node, and from the node to the curbside. Copper cables are then used to deliver the NBN from the curb to the home
• Fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) - uses high-speed fibre optic cables to the utility box on the side of the home.

Fibre-to-the-premises is capable of delivering slightly higher speeds than fibre-to-the-node or fibre-to-the-curb NBN connections.
Other types of connections available are:

• Fibre to the building (FTTB)
• Hybrid fibre-Coaxial (HFC cable)
• Fixed wireless
• Satellite connection

No, unfortunately, you cannot choose whether your home is fitted with an FTTN, FTTC or FTTP. The type of NBN connection you have depends on the area you live in, and was determined by the government’s NBN roll-out plan.