HFC NBN: Internet speeds, plans, and is it worth it?
If you've got an HFC NBN connection at home, you can get a plan with speeds up to 1000Mbps - fast enough for multiple people to stream in 4K at the same time.
Key takeaways
- HFC (Hybrid Fibre Coaxial) is a type of NBN connection that uses a mix of fibre and existing coaxial cable to deliver high-speed internet to your home.
- You can get download speeds between 12Mbps to 1000Mbps, and upload speeds between 1Mbps to 50Mbps.
- This means whether you're flying solo with just a little internet use or part of a busy family with loads of devices online, there's a plan available for you.
- However, you can't just choose to get an HFC NBN connection. It depends on whether your area is covered by the HFC network, as availability varies across different locations.
What is HFC?
HFC stands for Hybrid Fibre Coaxial and it essentially describes a type of NBN connection that uses a mix of newer high-speed fibre optics and existing pay TV coaxial cables (the same ones that deliver Foxtel).
Whether you have it or not depends on where you live, but chances are you'll get it if there is existing cable TV or cable internet from Optus or Telstra in your neighbourhood.
How does HFC NBN work?
Signals are sent from your house to a nearby node through coaxial cables, then switched to the wider fibre network of the NBN. A modem in your house completes the connection.
There's some HFC-specific equipment you'll need to get set up, but it's more or less the same as any other NBN connection. You'll need:
- An NBN connection box – provided by the NBN
- An NBN utility box – provided and installed by the NBN
- A modem-router – purchased from your internet service provider or a third party
If you also have a pay TV subscription, you'll need a cable splitter (provided by the NBN), which lets you attach both your modem and pay TV box to the same wall outlet.
"If you work from home often, check the NBN connection type when you are looking for a place to rent. Moving to an apartment with a HFC NBN connection made a really noticeable difference for me as I could sign up for faster speeds and get a more reliable connection."
How is HFC installed?
The utility box outside your house is installed by NBN Co, so you don't have to worry about it.
If your property is a new development, the technician will require access to your outdoor area to install the utility box. If you live in an apartment, check with your provider if the NBN connection box isn't already installed in your unit.
All you need to do is plug your NBN connection box into the coaxial wall outlet using the provided cable, then attach your modem-router to one of the box's yellow UNI-D ports with an ethernet cable (provided with the modem). You'll also need a couple of spare power outlets for both devices.
For more detailed information on your connection, your chosen NBN provider should give you instructions on how to set up your connection after you've signed up.
How fast are HFC NBN speeds?
HFC connections are able to achieve a maximum download speed of 1000Mbps and upload speeds of up to 50Mbps. This covers all 6 NBN speed tiers.
| NBN speed tier | Maximum download speed | Maximum upload speed | Most suitable for |
|---|---|---|---|
| NBN 12 | 12Mbps | 1Mbps | 1 person |
| NBN 25 | 25Mbps | 5Mbps | 1–2 people |
| NBN 50 | 50Mbps | 20Mbps | 2–3 people |
| NBN 100 | 100Mbps | 40Mbps | 3–4 people |
| NBN 250 | 250Mbps | 25Mbps | 4+ people |
| NBN 1000 | 1000Mbps | 50Mbps | 4+ people |
Like any other fixed-line NBN connection, your HFC plan speeds may slow down during busy periods of the day, especially in the evening between 7pm and 11pm. This is known as your typical evening speed, which is advertised across most NBN plans as a point of comparison.
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How we picked theseHow does HFC compare to other NBN connection types?
HFC is just one of the many NBN technology types. While you can't exactly choose the type of NBN connection type you get at your home, it can be good to know how it stacks up compared to other types just so you know what to expect.
HFC vs FTTN
FTTN is generally less reliable and slower than HFC.
Both connection types run to a central node before connecting to the wider network. However, Fibre to the Node (FTTN) uses inferior copper telephone cables compared to HFC. This means your FTTN connection gets significantly worse the farther you are from the node.
HFC vs FTTC
HFC and FTTC are pretty similar, although HFC usually performs better.
With Fibre to the Curb (FTTC), copper connects your home to a distribution point or "telecom pit" near your house. From there, fibre optic completes the connection to the greater network. Copper is still worse than coaxial cables though, so FTTC connections can suffer.
HFC vs FTTP
Theoretically, FTTP should be the best NBN connection available and outperform HFC.
Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) uses high-quality fibre optic cables that run all the way up to your house, with no mix of other materials. For this reason, FTTP should theoretically operate better than HFC and offer faster speeds for users.
The ACCC's Broadband performance data from December 2024 suggests otherwise though, with average plan download speeds during busy hours performing better with FTTP connections (103.8% hitting maximum plan speeds) compared to HFC connections (102.7%).
HFC vs FTTB
HFC and FTTB can be pretty comparable, depending on the building.
In a Fibre to the Basement (FTTB) connection, fibre optic cables are run to a box in the basement of a building and from there other cables complete the connection to individual apartments. Similar to FTTN, apartments further from the basement will experience worse connections.
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Hi Team
Your finder.com information provided on Broadband services in general is clearly explained, unbiased and informative. However, a confusion exists in your advertised cost for the Bundle package called, (Telstra Home Internet M Bundle – Cable with Speed Boost for $110 with up to 100 mbps and unlimited calls to standard local and national fixed lines and standard Australian mobiles.)
When you click on your ‘Go to site’ link next to your advertised bundle on your site, the information found on the linked telstra site does not offer Speeds up to 100mbps for your advertised price of $110.
You might want to clarify if your details are correct or my details obtained by selecting the same options on the telstra shop site are more than you quote of $110 (a speed boost from 25 mbps to 100 mbps is an add-on cost of $20/mth and the included calls cost more – $15/mth, taking the cost up to between $126 and $146(if a Netgear Frontier modem is needed).
Can you please clarify if I am correct? Thanks
Tango
Hello Tango!
Speeds of up to 100mbps is a maximum hypothetical speed that can be attained using HFC cable technology. Most telco providers in Australia will have the same disclosure on this matter. Speeds are never guaranteed as they are affected by multitude of factors such as your distance to the exchange, technical limitations, the bandwidth demand in your area, devices connected, etc.
If you wish to understand this better, you may check the Critical Information Summary or talk this out with your network provider.
Hope this helps.
Cheers,
Jonathan