As part of an effort to ensure as many Australians as possible are connected to fast, reliable internet, NBN Co has for some years been offering homes that currently connect to the landline via older copper-based technologies – such as fiber to the node (FTTN) and fiber to the curb (FTTC) – the opportunity to upgrade to the superior fiber to the premises (FTTP) technology for free.
Until now, the FTTP upgrade has been entirely optional for eligible premises, with the only caveat being that upgrade candidates must sign up to one of the faster NBN plans through a supporting Internet Service Provider (ISP). However, from July 1, 2026, this latter requirement will be removed for some premises – and the upgrade itself will no longer be optional.
If you’ve been hesitant to implement the upgrade, your hand may soon be forced, as NBN Co has announced a new targeted upgrade program which it says will require 130,000 specific homes and businesses to move from copper-based services to full-fibre technology. The program is currently expected to start in mid-2027.
NBN Co says premises identified to receive the upgrade will start receiving official notifications from July 2027. If your home or business is one of those identified for the scheme, there is no real downside to adopting it: NBN fiber optic connections support much faster speeds and are generally more reliable than older existing technologies.
Additionally, in the official press release, NBN Co made it clear that it planned to eventually disconnect all copper services in premises targeted by the scheme, saying “the first suspensions of existing copper services where a fiber upgrade order has not been placed are not expected to take place until January 2028”.
In short, if you don’t take advantage of the free fiber upgrade, you will end up without a fixed internet connection. Reminders will be sent six months before disconnection, three months before and 30 days before. If you ignore them all, your service will eventually be suspended.
NBN Co adds that safeguards will however be in place, including “the ability to extend or defer before a service is suspended, and case-managed support, particularly for customers who require additional support”.
Don’t delay, upgrade today
If you know that your home is currently connected via FTTN or FTTC technology, now is a good time to start preparing for the upgrade. Even if your home isn’t among the first 130,000 homes selected, it probably will be one day.
Whether you’re on the list or not, if you’re connecting via older copper technology, there’s a good chance your home is already eligible for an upgrade. If what’s holding you back is uncertainty over which provider to choose, below I’ve selected some of my favorite NBN plans that make the most of superior fiber optic technology.
In fact, now is a great time to consider switching NBN providers, as the annual price hike is also around the corner and you can almost always find a better deal if you shop around.
