NBN Fibre & HFC Network Deployment

Expansion and Upgrades

NBN Co is continually expanding and upgrading its network to meet the increasing demand for fast, reliable, and affordable broadband services across Australia. Investments focus on improving network reach, capability, reliability, and security.

Network Investment Strategy

The company is committed to enabling over 10 million premises, or up to 90% of Fixed Line network homes and businesses, to access ultrafast broadband speeds of up to 1 Gbps by 2025. This strategy supports national data demand and delivers social and economic benefits while ensuring financial sustainability.

Fibre Upgrades

NBN Co is upgrading 5 million premises originally served by Fibre to the Node (FTTN) and Fibre to the Curb (FTTC) to Fibre to the Premises (FTTP). This includes a government-funded $2.4 billion project to upgrade 1.5 million FTTN premises. Fibre offers faster speeds, energy efficiency, and resilience to climate change compared to copper connections.

Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC) Enhancements

The company is enhancing its HFC network, ensuring it can deliver ultrafast speeds nearing 1 Gbps by June 2024.

Focus Areas

NBN Co continues to:

• Expand Fixed Wireless and Satellite coverage.

• Push fibre deeper into communities.

• Reduce copper connections to enhance user experience.

• Operate commercially to meet investment and debt obligations.

Fixed Wireless and Satellite Upgrade Programs

Investment in Upgrades

NBN Co is investing in its Fixed Wireless network to enhance customer experience, increase speeds, and address growing data demands. A $750 million co-investment program with the Australian Government, including a $480 million government contribution, supports these upgrades.

Key Improvements

• Typical busy-period download speeds of at least 50 Mbps across the Fixed Wireless network.

• Increased Fixed Wireless Plus download speeds from up to 75 Mbps to up to 100 Mbps by July 2024.

• Introduction of two new high-speed Fixed Wireless tiers with peak download speeds between 200 Mbps and 400 Mbps.

Technological Advancements

• Deployment of next-generation 4G and 5G mmWave technology.

• Software enhancements to optimize performance and coverage.

Expanded Coverage and Satellite Capacity

• Approximately 120,000 premises previously limited to Satellite are now eligible for Fixed Wireless services.

• Migration of Satellite customers to Fixed Wireless has freed capacity, enabling enhanced Sky Muster® Plus Premium Satellite plans.

• New entry and mid-tier Sky Muster® Plus Premium plans introduced in December 2023, offering cost-effective options alongside the high-tier plan.

These upgrades aim to provide faster, more reliable broadband access for remote and regional Australia, meeting both current and future connectivity needs.

RMSI has delivered specialised design services to many NBN Service Partners from the inception in 2013. Working across multiple Service Partners resulted in RMSI accruing an expansive workforce skilled in the specific requirements of the program. This means we are uniquely positioned to provide a flexible workforce able to rapidly scale in response to fluctuating client volume demands. 

Our turn-key design services provided a holistic end-to-end managed solution that included.

• Design evaluation and pre-survey design

• Field Survey and design validation

• Final design delivery including construction packs, BOM/BOQ and SpatialNet updates

• As-built documentation finalisation and system updates