Over a million premises have taken up NBN's free FTTP upgrades

Over a million homes and businesses have taken advantage of NBN Co's free upgrades to Fibre to the Premise (FTTP) as of the end of December last year, the network builder revealed in its half-year results.

These upgrades are now available to over five million premises that currently connect (or were connected) to the NBN via Fibre to the Node (FTTN) or Fibre to the Curb (FTTC). This means around 20% of eligible Australians have taken advantage of the upgrade program so far.

Notably, upgrading from FTTN or FTTC to FTTP is free. To qualify for an upgrade, a customer simply needs to order an NBN 500 plan or faster from a participating NBN provider. Read more about the process of requesting a free FTTP upgrade here. Here's a look at the most popular NBN 500 plans right now:

#1	amaysim	amaysim FTTP, HFC NBN500 FTTP, HFC nbn® 500/43 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $40/mth off for the first 6 months ($30 NBN Sale + $10 Standard Intro Offer), then $90/mth. Ends 20.10.26 $50/mth for first 6 months, then $90/mth Min. cost $50 Link not supplied	$50/mth for first 6 months, then $90/mth Min. cost $50	Link not supplied
#2	Dodo	Dodo FTTP, HFC nbn500 Unlimited Plan FTTP, HFC nbn® 500/48 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Incl. $30/mth discount for 6 months based on the standard price $92.99/mth. Ends 08.12.26. T&Cs apply. $62.99/mth for first 6 mths, then $92.99/mth Min. cost $62.99 Go to Site*	$62.99/mth for first 6 mths, then $92.99/mth Min. cost $62.99	Go to Site
#3	Tangerine Telecom	Tangerine Telecom FTTP, HFC Speedy Max NBN 500/50 FTTP, HFC nbn® 500/42.5 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $33/mth off for the first 6 mths, $59.90/mth for first 6 mths, then $92.90/mth. Ends 30.10.26 $59.90/mth for first 6 mths, then $92.90/mth Min. cost $59.90 Go to Site	$59.90/mth for first 6 mths, then $92.90/mth Min. cost $59.90	Go to Site
#4	Belong	Belong FTTP, HFC NBN Fast – Unlimited FTTP, HFC nbn® 500/40 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $36 off for 6 months - $59/mth for first 6 mths, then $95/mth (Offer ends 04.11.26) + Free $80 Mobile SIM $59/mth for first 6 mths, then $95/mth Min. cost $59 Go to Site	$59/mth for first 6 mths, then $95/mth Min. cost $59	Go to Site
#5	Exetel	Exetel FTTP, HFC One Plan 500/50 FTTP, HFC nbn® 500/45 Mbps Unlimited Data $80/mth Min. cost $80 Go to Site	$80/mth Min. cost $80	Go to Site
#6	SpinTel	SpinTel FTTP, HFC Home Turbo 500/50 FTTP, HFC nbn® 500/42 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $20.95 off your plan for first 6 months! $69/mth for first 6 months, then $89.95/mth. $69/mth for first 6 mths, then $89.95/mth Min. cost $69 Go to Site	$69/mth for first 6 mths, then $89.95/mth Min. cost $69	Go to Site
#7	Flip	Flip FTTP, HFC Unlimited Fast Speed nbn500 FTTP, HFC nbn® 500/42 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Incl. $19.90/mth off for 6 months - $69/mth for first 6mths then $88.90/mth. New customers only. Ends 31.10.26. T&Cs apply. $69/mth for first 6 mths then $88.90/mth Min. cost $69 Go to Site	$69/mth for first 6 mths then $88.90/mth Min. cost $69	Go to Site
#8	Telstra	Telstra FTTP, HFC Premium Internet Only Plan FTTP, HFC nbn® 500/40 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $30/mth off for 6 months ($69/mth for 6 mths then $99/mth) when you sign up to this plan. Offer ends 02.11.26 $69/mth for first 6 mths, then $99/mth Min. cost $69 Link not supplied	$69/mth for first 6 mths, then $99/mth Min. cost $69	Link not supplied
#9	Superloop	Superloop FTTP, HFC Family Max nbn500/50 FTTP, HFC nbn® 500/45 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Incl. $21/mth off for 6 mths! $74/mth for 6 mths, then $95/mth + Bundle & Save $74/mth for first 6 mths, then $95/mth Min. cost $74 Go to Site	$74/mth for first 6 mths, then $95/mth Min. cost $74	Go to Site
#10	Optus	Optus FTTP, HFC Optus nbn® Promo Plus Plan FTTP, HFC nbn® 500/43 Mbps Unlimited Data Promo plan: $69/mth for 6mths, then $109/mth or as notified. Until 12/11/26. New services only. Minimum cost $375. Terms apply. $69/mth for first 6 months, normally $109/mth Min. cost $69 Link not supplied	$69/mth for first 6 months, normally $109/mth Min. cost $69	Link not supplied

FTTN is widely considered to be the worst NBN technology type, due to the amount of copper used. Conversely, FTTP is regarded as the best thanks to its higher speed potential and increased reliability. FTTP is one of the two technology types that can access speeds faster than 100Mbps while some FTTN connections may not be able to exceed NBN 50 speeds.

While the majority of the work on the free upgrade program is now done, a further 622,000 FTTN premises will be able become eligible for an upgrade by 2030. 5% of these remaining premises may be upgraded to a different technology type, rather than FTTP.

NBN Co CEO Ellie Sweeney says the company is on track to meet this commitment.

"We remain committed and on track to make the last of the eligible homes and businesses served by legacy Fibre to the Node ready for an upgraded service by the end of 2030," said Sweeney.

"With NBN continuing to carry more than 80 per cent of the nation's internet traffic, we are clear on our role as a critical infrastructure provider. We continue to execute on reducing complexity by simplifying technology, products and the way we work."

In addition to NBN Co's fixed-line upgrades, the network builder noted that its Fixed Wireless speed upgrades have seen Fixed Wireless customers use 11.2% more data on average per month.

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Alex Choros

Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor | X | Instagram | Threads | LinkedIn

Alex Choros is the Managing Editor of WhistleOut Australia and an award-winning journalist. He's been writing about consumer technology for over a decade and is an expert on the Australian telco sector, to the point where he knows far too many phone and internet plans by heart. In addition to leading the WhistleOut editorial team, Alex is responsible for ruining the office Sonos with his troubled taste in music.

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