How much does NBN installation cost?

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While the first round of the rollout technically concluded in 2020, upgrades are still being conducted across the country to give more Aussies access to the fastest and most reliable internet speeds possible. This whole process can be very confusing, so we’ve put together this guide to outline the basics of installation and NBN connection fees. Read on to find out more.

NBN plans you might like

• NBN Sponsored Plans
• NBN50 Plans
• NBN100 Plans

The following table shows a selection of sponsored unlimited data Standard Plus Evening Speed (NBN 50), and Premium Evening Speed (NBN 100) plans on Canstar Blue’s database with links to referral partners.

Sponsored Products

NBN 100 SL Bundle BYO 1 Month Contract (1 month min. cost $79.99) Typical evening speed of 97Mbps Special Offer: Save $10/month for the first 6 months! $0 modem available. Plus, get 50% off SIM Plan fees. New customers only. T&C apply.

Unlimited Data/month

$79.99 Cost/month

Go to Site

NBN 50 1 Month Contract (1 month min. cost $85) Typical evening speed of 50Mbps Have a Vodafone phone plan? You’ll save $15/mth on Vodafone internet Get in quick on this package deal. T&Cs Apply

Unlimited Data/month

$85.00 Cost/month

Go to Site

NBN100 Liimitless 1 Month Contract (1 month min. cost $99.99) Typical evening speed of 97Mbps Save $10/mth for first 12 months on selected iiNet NBN plans Available to new customers only Available until withdrawn. T&Cs Apply

Unlimited Data/month

$89.99 Cost/month

Go to Site

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Unlimited Home Standard (NBN 50) Plans

The following table shows a selection of published unlimited NBN 50 plans on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of standard monthly cost (excluding discounts), from the lowest to highest, and then by alphabetical order of provider. Use our comparison tool above to see plans from a range of other providers. This is a selection of products with links to referral partners.

Unlimited Home Fast (NBN 100) Plans

The table below shows a selection of published unlimited NBN 100 plans on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of monthly cost, from the lowest to highest, and then by alphabetical order of provider. Use our comparison tool to see plans from a range of other providers. This is a selection of products with links to referral partners.

What is NBN?

The National Broadband Network (NBN) is an internet network, powered by copper wires, cable broadband and optical fibre to deliver internet speeds faster than ADSL and 4G connections. It has estimated possible download speeds of up to 1000Mbps, making activities such as online gaming, HD video streaming, social media scrolling and video-calling faster.

How much does NBN installation cost?

You may be wondering, how much does it cost to install NBN? The good news is that, generally speaking, there is no NBN installation cost. If additional wiring or cabling is required, or there is extra equipment needed to connect your premises to the NBN, then this may incur an NBN connection fee.

Other instances when there’s an NBN installation cost include if you move address, need additional equipment for your chosen plan speed, have something wrong with your connection or if the property is new.

If it is the case that your house is newly built, or under reconstruction, NBN Co may charge a $300 NBN connection fee, so that the property can be connected to the network.

Once you’ve got your NBN connection, you’ll need an NBN plan from an Internet Service Provider (ISP). This is the only ongoing cost and can vary from about $40 to $150 a month, depending on inclusions, speed tier, data allowances, etc. But this cost is entirely up to you — which is why it is important to compare NBN plans and prices before signing up to a plan.

Read More: Expert Picks – Best NBN Plans

NBN connection types

There are seven different types of NBN connections available. Each connection type allows you to connect to the NBN, however they are not all the same in regard to speed capabilities, with FTTP typically seen as the fastest and FTTN seen as the slowest fibre connections.

You can check which connection type you have by typing your address into the NBN rollout map online. This will also tell you whether your address is eligible for the free NBN fibre upgrade, which offers some homes the option to upgrade their fibre connection but wouthout incuring an NBN connection cost.

The seven different types of NBN connections are as follows:

• FTTP: Fibre-to-the-Premises
• HFC: Hybrid Fibre Coaxial
• FTTC: Fibre-to-the-Curb
• FTTB: Fibre-to-the-Basement/Building
• FTTN: Fibre-to-the-Node
• Fixed Wireless
• Sky Muster satellite

NBN plans

While there might not always be a cost of NBN installation, you will still need to pay for your NBN plan. With several speed tiers to choose from, the plan cost will vary depending on which speed tier you choose, and between each provider. The below tables show a range of NBN providers and plans on several different speed tiers. If you’re looking to save money on your plan fees, you might want to compare a range of cheap NBN plans.

Optional NBN upgrades and NBN connection fees

Due to the nature of NBN installation, which connection type your household receives entirely depends on your location. If you are unhappy with this connection type, you can apply through the Technology Choice Program to get your premises upgraded. The idea of this program is to offer Australians the fastest internet possible. However, this does have an NBN installation cost associated with it.

This can be done by going to the NBN website and requesting a quote. While the quote itself is now free, the work required to upgrade your premises will be done for a fee. Therefore, it may be better to see if you can optimise your existing internet connection before trying to upgrade.

Alternatively, it may be worth checking whether your home is eligible for a free fibre upgrade as a part of the continuous NBN upgrade rollout. This upgrade does not include an NBN connection cost, and all you’ll need to pay for is your NBN plan.