When nbn first rolled out its network, customers were not given a choice of the connection type; they received the internet technology available in their area.

Some addresses could get fibre direct to their home, but others could only get fibre near their property, with existing copper phone line wiring used the rest of the way.

The copper phone line wiring used for your existing Fibre to Node (FTTN) internet connection limits your ability to access faster internet speeds. This connection uses older technology and is more susceptible to damage or deterioration, weather events and other things outside your control.

Upgrading to FTTP will provide you with a more reliable connection and open the door to high-speed internet plans unavailable on FTTN.

As nbn is making this upgrade available as part of its Fibre Connect program, you don’t have to pay to get Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) connected if your address is eligible.

However, as you currently have a residential Fibre to the Node (FTTN) connection, you must sign up for one of our eligible high-speed plans when upgrading to FTTP. The plan change will only take effect once your FTTP connection is activated.

We have a great range of eligible upgrade plans, including No Worries nbn 100/20, You Beaut 100/40 and Fair Dinkum nbn 250/25.

You’ll need to opt-in to one of the above higher-speed plans– and remain connected on this plan with MATE as your internet provider – for at least 12 months. Fibre upgrade terms and conditions.

The eligible locations for a fibre upgrade have been selected by nbn for reasons including:

• Demand – nbn anticipates strong demand in these metropolitan and regional locations for higher speed plans.
• Workforce – nbn’s established construction and delivery partners, and their respective workforces, are ready to work here having recently completed the network’s initial build.
• Cost-effectiveness – nbn can deploy at these locations with speed and agility, in a way that their investment is most likely to spread and multiply economic activity across Australia.

nbn’s overall aim is to extend fibre to an additional 3.5 million homes and businesses by the end of 2023.

Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) uses an optic fibre line that runs to an nbn network device (box) that will be installed somewhere inside your home. You then plug your modem/router into the connection device.

Your current Fibre to the Node (FTTN) uses the existing copper telephone network to make the final part of your nbn connection from a nearby FTTN cabinet (node) or micro-node. Your modem/router is plugged into a traditional telephone wall socket in your home.

Additional work is required to install new nbn equipment inside and outside your home to complete the upgrade. MATE will book all necessary appointments with an nbn approved technician, so there’s nothing you need to do.

In most cases, there will be a pre-installation visit, then an installation appointment.

To prepare for your installation appointment, an nbn technician will visit your location to conduct an initial assessment of the outside of your home. nbn will contact you directly to let you know the timeframe for this, but you do NOT need to be home.

This visit will help nbn identify any obstacles early and prepare for your installation appointment. In most cases, the pre-installation visit will take, on average, between 45 mins to 1.5 hours.

Activities performed by the technician in this pre-installation visit may include:

• A review of the external nbn infrastructure on the street and civil works
• Non-invasive construction activities

An nbn technician will arrive at a later time/date to install the required nbn equipment at your premises. You, or an authorised person over the age of 18, MUST be home for this appointment.

In most cases, this visit will take between 3 to 4 hours. Please note it could take longer for complex connections. The technician will test that the nbn equipment has been installed correctly before they leave.

Activities performed by the technician in this installation appointment will include:

• Installation of the nbn fibre lead-in along with the nbn utility box and the drop cable (if it wasn’t installed during the pre-installation visit)
• Installation of the nbn connection box (inside or outside) and a Power Supply Unit (inside) your premises. The technician will advise on the best location to install these equipment.
• Testing of the nbn FTTP service to the nbn connection box so that it’s ready to activate

The nbn technician will install your new Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) connection in parallel to your existing Fibre to the Node (FTTN) connection.

As nbn will be working with a live network, there may be temporary service interruptions during the pre-installation visit and installation appointment.

Once your new FTTP service is up and running, your current FTTN connection will be disconnected by MATE within five (5) days.

The nbn equipment that will be installed both inside and outside your premises will include:

• The nbn utility box (also known the Premises Connection Device or PCD) on the outside of the premises
• The nbn connection box (also known as the Network Termination Device or NTD) on the inside or outside of premises

The nbn technician will advise where the best location is to install the nbn connection box.

In most cases, the nbn connection box needs to be installed:

• Reasonably close to a power point
• Near the nbn utility box (outside your home) to allow easy access – this means usually near the front of the property
• Away from busy areas where it may be knocked or damaged
• A cool, dry, ventilated area (nbn equipment cannot be installed in a damp or wet area such as a kitchen, bathroom, laundry, or under a window that opens, and away from existing utilities such as gas lines or external water systems)
• Somewhere where blinking lights won’t be distracting, but easy for you to see and check the indicator lights
• In the same building as the main electric meter box or distribution board (i.e. not in a separate detached garage or outhouse)

Each property can be different and you can discuss what your options are with the nbn technician on the day of your installation appointment.

While the nbn technician will try to accommodate your choice of location, some environmental factors such as complex walls, distance to power sources and proximity and accessibility to the exterior utility box will influence and inform the location.

It may not be possible to install the nbn connect box for nbn FTTP in the same location as where your original nbn technology connection points are.

If your current modem/router was supplied by MATE, it will be compatible and can be used with your new FTTP connection.

If you supplied your own VDSL modem/router (BYO), in the majority of cases your device will work with FTTP but we can’t guarantee this in all cases.

You will need to update the settings in your modem/router once your new FTTP connection has been activated, but we’ll provide these to you by email once an installation appointment has been issued and then again once your FTTP connection becomes active.

If you’re not sure whether your current modem/router will work if you opt-in to upgrade to FTTP, we recommend that you contact our support team. You can also find a list of compatible modem/routers for FTTP here.

If you choose to upgrade to our elite mates nbn™ Home Superfast plan, a powerful modem/router is required. You can find more information about this here.

MATE is offering an upgrade to eligible customers from Fibre To The Node (FTTN) or Fibre To The Curb (FTTC) technology to Fibre To The Premises (FTTP). The offer is part of the nbn™️ Fibre Connect Program.

Terms and Conditions of this offer include: 

• The offer applies to current Fibre To The Node (FTTN) and Fibre To The Curb (FTTC) addresses that have been identified by nbn™️ as being eligible for an upgrade to Fibre To The Premise (FTTP). The eligibility of the upgrade is determined by nbn™️.
• Additional work will be required to install new nbn equipment inside and outside your location, involving at least two appointments with an nbn technician:
  • Firstly, nbn™️ will complete a pre-installation assessment visit prior to the physical installation. You do not need to be present for this appointment.
  • Secondly, following the pre-installation assessment, an installation appointment will be booked for the new FTTP service to be connected. You, or an authorised person over the age of 18, need to be home for this appointment. The nbn™️ approved technician will arrive to install the nbn™️ equipment inside and outside your premises.

Eligible plans for current FTTN addresses

• • • No Worries nbn 100/20
    • You Beaut 100/40
    • Fair Dinkum nbn 250/25

Eligible upgrade plans for current FTTC addresses

• • • Fair Dinkum nbn 250/25

Cancellation/downgrade fee

A $220 fee will apply if the new FTTP plan is:

• Downgraded to a plan below No Worries nbn 100/20 for previous FTTN services within 12 months of the new FTTP service connecting;
• Downgraded to a plan below Fair Dinkum nbn 250/25 for previous FTTC services within 12 months of the new FTTP service connecting;
• Transferred to another provider within 12 months of that service connecting;
• Disconnected within 12 months of that service connecting, even if it is being reconnected by someone else at the property (e.g. someone moving out and someone else reconnects the service);
• Customers should refer to the general terms and conditions for specific products and services.