What are the different NBN™ connection types?

Are you confused with NBN connection types?

Don’t worry you are not alone. There are a lot of new terminologies that exist in the internet world that can be difficult to understand .

We have made it simple, so continue reading this blog and get yourself out of confusion.

The National Broadband Network (NBN) is a national wholesale open-access data network in Australia. The NBN network includes a range of connection technologies for both wired communication (copper, hybrid fibre-coaxial and fibre optic) and radio communication (satellite and fixed wireless). There are seven types of NBN connections. Namely:

Fibre to the premises (FTTP)
Fibre to the node (FTTN)
Fibre to the building (FTTB)
Fibre to the curb (FTTC)
Hybrid fibre-Coaxial (HFC cable)
Fixed wireless
Satellite connection

Before we dive into the detailed description of these types, let’s initiate the NBN discussion.

Many people don’t understand the NBN connection and the terminology related to its types. Secondly, internet providers may also confuse you with bragging about internet speed. Therefore, it is safe and wise to get the idea of these terminologies to avoid any confusion later on.

Moreover, many people ask if the internet connection type will affect their internet speed. Does NBN work better than mobile broadband? These and many other queries might come up in your mind. So, the crux of the matter is that the NBN network is taking advantage of the infrastructure that already exists in Australia.

NBN users in Australia:

The National Broadband Network (NBN) users are going up each year in Australia.

source= Statista

Fixed-line NBN connection types:

A fixed-line connection runs a physical line directly to your property. Depending on your location, some of these rely on an NBN connection box, while others use your home’s copper wiring. All fixed-line NBN connection types are listed below:

1. Fibre to the premises (FTTP):

The best type of NBN connection is the fibre to the premises connection. The most consistent high-speed internet connection type runs directly to your premises through cable wires. In addition, FTTP uses an NBN connection box to connect your modem/router to your internet provider.

On average, 17-21% of premises have fibre-optic internet access provided by the NBN. It will not cost you more for the privilege of having an FTTP connection.

2. Fibre to the node (FTTN):

Indeed, fibre to the node is considered an affordable and new technology than FTTP. This type of connection uses the nearby existing copper wires rather than the modern fibre optics. That is why it delivers slightly slower internet services (downloads and uploads). You can take FTTN as an alternative, but it is likely to get replaced by fibre optics at some stage of advancement.

3. Fibre to the building (FTTB):

Fibre to the building is one of the most NBN connection types for buildings and apartments. This type of fixed-line connection provides internet directly to a building block. In most cases, FTTB connects NBN via MDU (multi-dwelling unit) from the basement of the building.

FTTB NBN gets access to your apartment through the existing cable infrastructure, such as copper cables in older buildings or Ethernet cables in newer ones. Many larger offices use this type of internet connection for their facilities.

4. Fibre to the curb (FTTC):

The fibre to the curb (FTTC) connection is used when the fibre is laid close to a customer’s premises, connecting to a small distribution point unit (DPU). Typically, it is located inside a street pit. As a result, the existing copper network is connected to the fibre and forms the final NBN connection.

Most Australians opt for FTTC because of the costly installation of FTTP and reduced performance of FTTN. Moreover, these fixed-line connections already have a device fixed in the distribution unit. Hence, you only need a router to catch WIFI signals. A perfect router is all you need to get the most out of these wired NBN connections.

5. Hybrid fibre-Coaxial (HFC cable):

HFC- the hybrid fibre-coaxial connection is the oldest way to catch NBN signals in your area. This NBN connection type uses an existing pay-TV or cable TV connection. Furthermore, it’s a broadband network that combines optical fibres and coaxial cables to serve as an NBN connection. This way, the NBN network reaches your premises via a small attachment. All you need is an NBN connection box and a phone line that you might already have.

source= Wikipedia

Wireless NBN connections:

The infrastructure has inadequate power supplies, and cable wiring uses wireless or satellite NBN connection types. These networks serve as a communication bridge between far situated homes.

6. Fixed wireless NBN connection:

The NBN Fixed Wireless connection utilizes similar technology to the 4G mobile phone networks you likely already know. The NBN antennas are attached to your house via an NBN connection from a transmission tower up to 14 kilometers away.

The data transmission takes place from a transmission tower to an NBN outdoor antenna installed by an approved NBN installer at the premises. This wireless connection also requires an NBN box to catch signals from the outdoor antenna that enters your premises.

7. Satellite connection:

The last and final NBN connection type works for hard-to-reach locations. A satellite connection requires two things: an NBN-qualified modem and a satellite dish installed on your property. The Sky Muster satellite promotes reach to remote areas of Australia.

NBN Speed:

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source= Reviews.org

If your NBN connection speed is within the poor range, get in touch with us and select an affordable NBN plan in your area.

Final thoughts:

It is crucial to know the two main categories of NBN connections: fixed-line and fixed-wireless NBN connections. There are seven types of NBN connections you should know. Fiber to the premises (FTTP) is the most efficient and consistent NBN type. Fiber to the building (FTTB) and fiber to the curb (FTTC) are Australia’s second-best options. FTTN and HFC are alternatives. On the other hand, fixed wireless and satellite are wireless NBN types. However, you require an NBN box to connect all the types.

Important Note: All the rates, plans and offers stated in this article are subject to change at the provider’s discretion and might not be updated after the publish date unless stated otherwise. We try our best to update all the rates mentioned in our blogs as soon as possible. All articles updated will have the update dates mentioned. Thank you for your patience!

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