The six letters that decide your speed

NBN technology types explained

Your address is connected by one of six technologies, and which one you have sets the fastest plan you can order — not the provider you choose. Here is what each one means.

FTTP

Fibre to the Premises

Fibre runs the whole way into your home, which is why it carries the fastest plans on the network.

Plans up to 2000/500 Mbps

HFC

Hybrid Fibre Coaxial

Fibre to a node in your street, then the existing coaxial cable that once carried pay TV into the house.

Plans up to 2000/100 Mbps

FTTC Upgrade may be free

Fibre to the Curb

Fibre to a small pit at the property boundary, then a short copper run for the last few metres.

Plans up to 100/20 Mbps

FTTN Upgrade may be free

Fibre to the Node

Fibre to a street cabinet, then existing copper phone line the rest of the way, which is what limits the speed.

Plans up to 100/20 Mbps

FTTB Upgrade may be free

Fibre to the Building

Used in apartments and units: fibre to the building's communications room, then the internal copper risers.

Plans up to 100/20 Mbps

Fixed Wireless

A radio link from an NBN tower to an antenna on your roof, used where fixed-line cable does not reach.

Plans up to 300-400/10-40 Mbps

Which one do I have?

It is set by your address, not your provider, and it can differ from the house next door. Entering your address on our plans page returns the technology NBN has recorded for that premises, along with the speeds you can actually order.

One exception worth knowing: addresses served by Sky Muster satellite, generally very remote ones, are outside the technologies above and are not something Ripple currently sells.

Check your address Free fibre upgrade