FTTC NBN plans: Understanding Fibre to the Curb
Compare FTTC plans in your area, but remember - maximum speeds are capped at 100Mbps. Confirm with your chosen NBN provider what speeds you can expect.
Key takeaways
- FTTC NBN brings fibre right to a distribution point near your home, with the last stretch connected via copper lines. It can deliver speeds of up to 100Mbps.
- If you're on FTTC, you might be able to upgrade to FTTP at no cost and get download speeds up to 1000Mbps.
- If that covers what you need to know about FTTC, you can start comparing plans. Alternatively, read through the guide for more info.
What is FTTC?
Fibre to the Curb (FTTC) is an NBN connection type that brings high-speed fibre cables right to a pit near your property, usually on the street.
From there it is connected to your house by copper wires to complete the connection to the NBN network.
If you're not sure what NBN connection type you have access to, simply input your address in the field below and we'll show you the NBN plans available for your home.
How fast is an FTTC connection?
The maximum download speed you can get is 100Mbps, which matches the NBN 100 plan.
Speeds of up to 100Mbps are good enough for internet users with a need for speed or bigger families.
The speed cap is due to FTTC using copper, which has physical limits. However, because the copper wire is relatively short, it doesn't lead to a significant drop in signal quality.
The good news is that some households on the FTTC footprint could be eligible for a free fibre upgrade to a Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) connection.
You can pop in your address on NBN Co's website to check your eligibility. Just keep in mind that if you're eligible, you'll need to sign up for an NBN 100 plan or above to trigger the upgrade.
Compare FTTC plans
You can use the table sorter to filter plans based on your budget and need for speed. We've included NBN 12, NBN 25, NBN 50 and NBN 100 plans.
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How do I set up an FTTC connection?
You've got two options for setting up your FTTC connection: either an NBN-approved installer will do it for you, or you can set it up yourself, depending on your provider and eligibility.
If you need an installer, it usually takes up to 2 hours, but more complicated setups might take a bit longer.
For self-installation, you'll need:
- A modem-router (either purchased from your provider or you could BYO if it's compatible)
- An NBN connection box (supplied by your provider)
To complete the setup, simply plug the NBN connection box into a power outlet and a compatible telephone wall socket.
Or, connect the NBN box to your Wi-Fi modem using an ethernet cable.
How does FTTC compare to other NBN connection types?
FTTC is considered to be on the slower end of NBN connection types. Performance won't be as poor as Fibre to the Node (FTTN), but won't also be close to FTTP due to the copper involved in the connection type.
According to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's (ACCC) Wholesale Market Indicators report, there are just under 1 million residences using FTTC in Australia, or about 11.3% of NBN all connections, including fixed wireless and satellite.
Here's how FTTC stacks up against the other types of NBN connections:
FTTC vs FTTP
A Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) connection is what its name suggests – a fibre optic line runs from the node directly to your premises. As FTTP only uses fibre for the entirety of the connection, and not any copper wiring, it is generally considered the fastest and most reliable NBN you can get.
You will be able to achieve higher speeds with an FTTP connection as it allows you to get an NBN 250 or NBN 1000 plan, which you can't do with an FTTC connection.
FTTC vs FTTN
While FTTC and Fibre to the Node (FTTN) connections are similar in that they both use copper wire for the final part of the connection, the major difference between them is how much copper wire is used.
With FTTC, there is usually less than 300 metres of copper between the distribution point and any of the properties involved. On an FTTN connection, the node itself can be around a kilometre away from properties.
When signals go through copper cables, they lose strength. So the longer the distance, the slower your connection gets. This means that theoretically, FTTC offers more reliable speeds than FTTN.
FTTC vs HFC
A Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC) connection uses the existing pay TV or cable network to connect your home from an NBN node. As HFC uses coaxial cable to make the final connection as opposed to less efficient copper wiring used in FTTC, HFC generally exhibits superior performance.
FTTC vs FTTB
For Fibre To The Building (FTTB) connections, a fibre optic cable is run to a node in a building's communications room and then existing technology in the building is used to connect to each apartment.
As there is less copper wiring used in an FTTB connection, it would be considered slightly better, especially if it's a newer building that has ethernet cable installed instead of copper wiring.
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