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FTTP, FTTC, FTTN, HFC: the pros & cons of different nbn connections

Knowing what type of fibre you can get for your business internet connection goes a long way.

February 26, 2024
Aline Rivas, Head of Content & Social Media

I think it’s fair to say we’ve all had the benefits of a fibre internet connection well and truly drummed into us. Fibre is the pièce de résistance of internet connections and, if business NBN is available at your business, it’s something you’ll want to take advantage of.

But not all fibre internet connections are the same – they come in different disguises that use different mixes of technologies behind the scenes – and knowing what type of fibre you can get for your business fibre internet connection goes a long way in understanding what to expect from its performance.

These terms will be familiar to you – Fibre to the Node (FTTN), Fibre to the Curb (FTTC), Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) and Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC). But most marketing materials dive straight into the specs and don’t fully explain what impact these connections can have on your business. This is especially important if you need to build a business case for your business internet.

Here's a handy table of pros & cons for each of the fibre connection variations available across Australia. You’re welcome to use it to demystify fibre with your colleagues and make even better decisions about your business internet plans.

Fibre to the Node (FTTN)

Fibre-optic cables connect to a central cabinet in your neighbourhood (node), and then copper cables deliver the internet the rest of the way to homes and businesses.

Pros

Cons

Speed

Offers speeds of around 12Mbps to 100Mbps


Equipment

Limited equipment requirements:

  • Will need a VDSL modem on the premises

  • RJ11 cable, the same that connects landline line or ADSL modem to the wall socket

  • Ethernet cable


Deployment

  • part of infrastructure (existing phone line) already in place for more rapid deployment

  • Most business premises already have a phone line, so can be set up quickly and affordably

  • If available at your site, installation and set-up costs covered by NBN Co

Performance

A better internet delivery system than fully copper wire-based connections, but performance is generally not good enough for business use.

Speed

  • Risk of speed deterioration (similar to ADSL) - NBN Co says speed drops after 400 metres from node

  • Not possible to upgrade to higher speeds due to limitations of copper wiring

  • 100Mbps is the max you can get - NBN Co says providers should not allow connection to NBN 100 plans because of this restriction


Deployment

  • Can’t match the speed of other fibre options, especially FTTP

  • Shared resource – downloads and uploads split with others on the connection

  • Copper cabling susceptible to weather, accidents or other disruptions

The verdict

Good for the basics: emails, light internet browsing with a few users, but that’s about it.

Fibre to the Curb (FTTC)

Similar technology to FTTN, but the fibre-optic cable runs closer to your curb or driveway (i.e. closer to the premises), with a shorter length of copper cable connecting to the home or business.

Pros

Cons

Speed

  • Offers speeds of around 12Mbps to 100Mbps, the same as FTTN

  • Less risk of speed deterioration compared to FTTN

  • Offers speeds of around 12Mbps to 100Mbps


Equipment

Modest equipment requirements:

  • NBN Connection Device with RJ11 cable, the same that connects landline line or ADSL modem to the wall socket

  • Wireless router

  • Ethernet cable


Deployment

  • Faster to rollout than FTTP

  • Most FTTC users should be able to upgrade to FTTP for free by 2025

  • Installation and set-up costs covered by NBN Co

Performance

More reliable and faster than FTTN and non-fibre options.

Speed

Can't match the speeds of FTTP due to reliance on copper cabling.


Deployment

Can't hit performance levels of FTTP due to reliance on copper cabling

The verdict

Decent speeds, even if limited by the copper wiring. May seem affordable up front, but it can still end up costing you more than an equivalent fibre connection. Good for most light business use: basic video conferencing, filesharing, etc on a small scale.

Fibre to the Premises (FTTP)

The purest form of fibre-optic technology that takes the fibre-optic cabling all the way from the source straight into homes and businesses. The gold standard!

Pros

Cons

Speed

The highest internet speeds available - up to 1,000Mbps (1Gbps) - with plans for even further capacity in the future


Equipment

Limited equipment requirements:

  • Utility box outside the premises

  • Wireless router

  • Ethernet cable


Deployment

  • If not available at your site, may still be possible to request a connection from NBN Co for a (very costly) fee - see nbn® Technology Choice Program

  • If available at your site, Installation and set-up costs covered by NBN Co

Performance

  • More reliable and faster than all other options, including FTTN and FTTC

  • Fibre infrastructure less susceptible to weather, accidents or other disruptions

Speed

Maximum speeds are not always achievable in peak times due to congestion (check typical 'evening speeds' for a more accurate indication)


Equipment

Requires installation of a box on the outside of the premises - not required for FTTN and FTTC


Deployment

Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC)

HFC connections use a multi-technology mix, relying on some combination of both fibre optic connections and coaxial electrical cables. Sadly, you can't choose which technology mix you get with HFC – it depends on the infrastructure available in your area.

Pros

Cons

Speed

  • HFC cables offer higher performance compared to the typical copper wires used for FTTN or FTTC connections

  • In theory, HFC can support up to 1000Mbps download and 50Mbps upload


Equipment

  • PCD (Premises Connection Device)

  • HFC wall outlet

  • NTD (Network Termination Device)

  • Internal and external cabling for the premises (if your premises already has cable tv, like Foxtel for example, then you won’t need any additional cable work)


Deployment

  • Available in most residential and suburban areas in capital cities

  • If the cabling is pre-installed at your site, installation and set-up costs are minimal (you might even be able to install the connection yourself)

Performance

  • Second only to FTTP in terms of speed and reliability

  • Fairly resilient to weather, congestion, or other unforeseen events

Speed

HFC cables are also used to deliver television services in your neighbourhood, which means it can experience congestion and slowdown, especially in peak hours.


Equipment

If your premises doesn't have pre-existing HFC cabling, it can be expensive to have the cabling done.


Deployment

Not readily available in all areas of Australia.

The verdict

Common for residential connections, HFC can be a solid option for businesses where FTTP is not available. Does well for most lightweight business use.

Browse Superloop's business internet plans

Wrapping it all up

When it’s all said and done, if Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) is available at your business, then there’s really no argument – it’s the way to go. But Australia is geographically huge, so it comes down to where you’re located and what type of fibre has been rolled out in that area.

You might not be lucky enough to get the fast and furious speeds of FTTP… yet. So, knowing the pros & cons of Fibre to the Node (FTTN) and Fibre to the Curb (FTTC) will, at the very least, give you an idea of how far you can push your business NBN capacity.

And then there’s direct fibre. But that’s a whole other story.

Learn more about Superloop business internet plans

Written by

Aline Rivas
Head of Content & Social Media

I've spent the last 4 years at Superloop making complex telco topics genuinely easy to read, driven by a mission to help challenger telcos take on the big guys.

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