Receive a $50 Woolworths eGift Card*
Receive a $50 Woolworths Bonus Store eGift Card when you purchase a Broadband Plan via Savvy's partner, Econnex Comparison. Terms and conditions apply.
Home > Internet Plans > FTTB NBN Explained
Find out more about FTTB connections on the NBN, how they work and their potential speeds.
Author
Savvy Editorial TeamFact checked
If you live in an apartment block or run your business in a large building and are looking for a connection to the National Broadband Network (NBN), chances are you’ll need a FTTB connection. Because of this, it’s important to understand how this connection type works to help you secure the best available plan for your needs.
You can find out all about FTTB connections on the NBN, including learning about how they work, how to install them and the sorts of speeds you can expect them to support, right here with Savvy in our comprehensive guide. Read more with us today!
FTTB, which stands for Fibre to the Building (or Fibre to the Basement), is one of the seven connection types available on the NBN. It’s one of the more unique options, as it’s tailored to apartments and offices in buildings, rather than directly laying a connection to a single home or business. Like other connection types, such as Fibre to the Node (FTTN) and Fibre to the Curb (FTTC), it utilises the existing copper phone infrastructure in your area to establish a connection.
Here's how FTTC works:
Although FTTN and FTTC connections can be replaced by FTTP connections in some cases to help homes achieve faster speeds and more reliable internet, this isn’t currently an option for those with a FTTB connection. However, upgrades could still come for this technology in the future.
The installation of an FTTB NBN connection in your apartment is very simple and typically only involves these steps:
The process is one of the easiest on the NBN, with all the work able to be done by you in a matter of minutes to ensure your connection is up and running before you know it.
FTTB NBN connections can offer high-speed internet but are only capable of supporting speed tiers up to NBN 100, which is 100Mbps (megabits per second). This means FTTB connections are unable to provide you with access to higher speed tiers such as NBN 250 and NBN 1000, both of which can only be supported by FTTP and certain Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC) connections.
There are several factors which can also impact the speeds delivered to your apartment or office, such as your service provider, network congestion and the amount and quality of copper cable used in your connection.
However, because a lesser portion of your overall physical connection is made up of copper lines, FTTB connections are often considered stronger than FTTN connections. To get the best performance from your FTTB NBN connection, consider selecting an NBN plan which aligns with your internet usage needs and ensure your Wi-Fi router can handle the maximum speed offered by your plan.
There are several other options available if you don’t wish to sign up for the NBN. These include:
The cost of an FTTB NBN plan can vary depending on a range of factors, with the main one being the speed tier you choose; the higher the maximum speed, the more you’re likely to spend. Additionally, plans may also vary in cost based on contract terms and any additional services or features included. Prices are typically outlined by your chosen provider, so it's worth comparing plans from different providers to help you find one which meets your needs and budget.
Yes – as long as you still have a phone wall socket for your modem router to plug into, you can access the NBN through a FTTB connection. However, if your socket has been removed, you’ll likely have to pay for a professional to reinstall one in order to establish your connection.
During an NBN outage, your internet connection will be disrupted. The exact duration of the outage and the cause can vary. To address this:
Receive a $50 Woolworths Bonus Store eGift Card when you purchase a Broadband Plan via Savvy's partner, Econnex Comparison. Terms and conditions apply.
Disclaimer:
Savvy is partnered with Econnex Comparison (CIMET Sales Pty Ltd, ABN 72 620 395 726) to provide readers with a variety of internet plans to compare. We do not compare all retailers in the market, or all plans offered by all retailers. Savvy earns a commission from Econnex each time a customer buys an internet plan via our website. We don’t arrange for products to be purchased directly, as all purchases are conducted via Econnex.
Any advice presented above is general in nature and doesn’t consider your personal or business objectives, needs or finances. It’s always important to consider whether advice is suitable for you before purchasing an internet plan. For further information on the variety of internet plans compared by Econnex, or how their business works, you can visit their website.
Quantum Savvy Pty Ltd (ABN 78 660 493 194) trades as Savvy and operates as an Authorised Credit Representative 541339 of Australian Credit Licence 414426 (AFAS Group Pty Ltd, ABN 12 134 138 686). We are one of Australia’s leading financial comparison sites and have been helping Australians make savvy decisions when it comes to their money for over a decade.
We’re partnered with lenders, insurers and other financial institutions who compensate us for business initiated through our website. We earn a commission each time a customer chooses or buys a product advertised on our site, which you can find out more about here, as well as in our credit guide for asset finance. It’s also crucial to read the terms and conditions, Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) or credit guide of our partners before signing up for your chosen product. However, the compensation we receive doesn’t impact the content written and published on our website, as our writing team exercises full editorial independence.
For more information about us and how we conduct our business, you can read our privacy policy and terms of use.
© Copyright 2024 Quantum Savvy Pty Ltd T/as Savvy. All Rights Reserved.
© Copyright 2024 Quantum Savvy Pty Ltd T/as Savvy. All Rights Reserved.
Quantum Savvy Pty Ltd (ABN 78 660 493 194) trades as Savvy and operates as an Authorised Credit Representative 541339 of Australian Credit Licence 414426 (AFAS Group Pty Ltd, ABN 12 134 138 686). We are one of Australia’s leading financial comparison sites and have been helping Australians make savvy decisions when it comes to their money for over a decade.
We’re partnered with lenders, insurers and other financial institutions who compensate us for business initiated through our website. We earn a commission each time a customer chooses or buys a product advertised on our site, which you can find out more about here, as well as in our credit guide for asset finance. It’s also crucial to read the terms and conditions, Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) or credit guide of our partners before signing up for your chosen product. However, the compensation we receive doesn’t impact the content written and published on our website, as our writing team exercises full editorial independence.
For more information about us and how we conduct our business, you can read our privacy policy and terms of use.
Our consultant will get in touch with you shortly to discuss your finance options.