Australia is a country breaking new ground when it comes to home broadband, as it is the government that have taken control of developing the all new national broadband network (NBN). Because Australia has been lagging behind many other countries in terms of the speed of broadband connections accessible to the general public, significant time and resources are being invested to replace the copper networks that currently power our internet connections. If you are interested in knowing more about the NBN and how it will affect you, keep reading for the answers to many frequently asked questions.

What makes NBN better than existing broadband connections?

The majority of homes in Australia connect to broadband via an ADSL connection that comes through the phone line. Phone lines in the country run on a network of copper cables, and these cables do not have the capability to handle video service. Broadband received through the NBN will not be via a copper network, but instead by a network of fibre optic cables. These cables are created from incredibly thin glass, or occasionally plastic, that can carry light from one source to another due to its reflective properties.

Expect to see a staggering improvement, as a connection through a fibre optic network could be as much as 50 to 100 times faster than the broadband that you currently enjoy at home.

Will the NBN cost me more?

You would think that such a faster broadband connection would cost more money, but in fact the opposite is true. This is because the NBN is a government initiative, and will therefore be charged on a public service basis. In other words, you won’t be paying prices marked up by broadband providers.

Is the whole of Australia going to have access?

Current estimates for coverage suggest that 93% of the population will have a direct connection to NBN within their homes. The other 7% will be provided with a wireless option, as this 7% of people live in areas too rural for the fibre optic cables to reach. Although it would be technically possible to receive similar speeds wirelessly compared with a direct cable connection, due to restrictions within the radio spectrum this is not a possibility for every household.

How long will it take to receive faster broadband?

Replacing the copper network of the entire country will understandably take some time. Early estimates suggest that the entire process could take approximately eight years, so it may take some time for you to benefit, particularly if you live in a rural area. The roll-out will be a gradual process though, so if you live in the pioneer state of Tasmania, for example, you could expect to see a vast improvement to your broadband connection sooner rather than later.

As the old copper phone network will no longer be required in order to allow people to connect to broadband internet, phone exchanges will also gradually be turned off. There are also plans to move all of the phone service to the same fibre optic network within 2021.

What do you need to do?

Absolutely nothing! All that you need to do to receive high speed home broadband access is to sit tight and wait until the fibre optic installation reaches your own neighbourhood.