About the upgrades
As part of our commitment to continually improve Australia’s digital infrastructure, we are performing maintenance and upgrade activities on the nbn® Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC) network across Australia to better support an increasing demand for data, now and into the future.
We’re replacing ageing and faulty parts of the network with smarter technologies and providing additional network capacity. These upgrades will provide customers with a more reliable nbn experience, even when multiple people are online at the same time.
What to expect
We’ve designed the upgrade schedule to take place over 5-10 consecutive business days to minimise ongoing disruption in your area over multiple weeks and/or months. You may notice nbn technicians in your area during the upgrade period.
There may be short periods of time when parts of the nbn network are offline, resulting in temporary interruptions to your nbn service. Below is a summary of the upgrade process our nbn technicians will be carrying out:
Day 1: Major equipment upgrade
We’ll replace core parts of the HFC network with next-generation technology. A 3-4 hour outage will occur on this day, likely in the morning. We recommend having a backup connection or make alternative arrangements on this day if possible.
Day 2-5: Signal boosting
We’ll upgrade smaller components of the HFC network to newer technology. You may experience 1-4 service disruptions on these days (each around 45 minutes).
Day 6-7: Replacing damaged equipment
We’ll replace any remaining ageing or damaged parts of the HFC network in your area to help prevent future faults. In some rare cases, our nbn technicians may need to access the outside or inside your home to repair or replace existing nbn equipment at your place. In these instances, if you’re not home on the day, or we have access issues, our nbn technician will leave an nbn appointment request card at your premise with instructions on how to book an alternative time for us to come back. nbn technicians will always be wearing a uniform and carry nbn ID badges, so you can easily identify them when they arrive.
Day 8-10: Final checks and testing
Our nbn technicians will be performing final checks during this time to ensure the network is performing as expected. Most customers will see their nbn service return to normal by this point. We expect there will be minimal disruptions to your nbn service during this period.
We know how important staying connected is to all Australians, and we’re working hard to complete these upgrades as quickly as possible so that you can get back to doing even more great things online.
Keeping you up to date
We’re working closely with internet providers to provide planned outage information ahead of time so they can help keep you informed along the way. You may also receive a letter in your mailbox from us before we plan to commence upgrade and maintenance activities in your area. This letter will provide the days we plan to be in your area, including any planned outage windows in your area so you can be prepared.
Note: some areas may only require activities taking place from days 6-10. If your scheduled upgrade window lasts 5 days, then you will not be impacted by activities taking place on the days 1-5 listed above.
Make the most of the upgraded network
To enjoy the full benefits of your enhanced nbn® HFC service, we recommend you check your nbn speed plan and internet set up to take advantage of the improved reliability.
Check your internet set up
These network upgrades will help provide your area with a more reliable nbn experience but it’s important to remember your in-home internet set up is also a critical part of your experience. To get the best results:
- Use a modern modem/router that supports high-speed connections
- Position your Wi-Fi router in a central location for better coverage
- Connect key devices via Ethernet for maximum speed and stability
- Ensure your devices (laptops, smart TVs, etc.) support the latest Wi-Fi standards
For more information, visit our optimisation hub.
Check you’re on the right speed plan
Talk to your provider about your internet needs and whether your plan is right for you.
Need help or have questions?
If you have any questions about how these upgrades may affect your service, or if you need support during the upgrade period, please contact your internet provider. If you continue to experience issues with your nbn HFC connection following the upgrade window, your provider will be able to help troubleshoot the issue with you.
Frequently asked questions
These upgrades are part of our commitment to continually improve Australia’s digital infrastructure and will better support an increasing demand for data, now and into the future. By replacing ageing and faulty parts of the network with smarter technologies and providing additional network capacity, customers will enjoy a more reliable nbn experience, even when multiple people are online at the same time.
We’ve designed the upgrade schedule to take place over 5-10 consecutive days to minimise ongoing disruption in your area over multiple weeks and/or months. Once the upgrade works in your area are complete, you’ll begin to experience the benefits almost immediately.
There may be short periods of time when parts of the nbn network are offline, resulting in temporary interruptions to your nbn service. We know how important staying connected is to all Australians, and we’re working hard to complete these upgrades as quickly as possible.
We’re working closely with internet providers to provide planned outage information ahead of time so they can help keep you informed along the way. You may also receive a letter in your mailbox from us before we plan to commence upgrade activities in your area. This letter will provide the days we plan to be in your area, including any planned outage windows in your area so you can be prepared.
If you work from home, we recommend having a backup connection or making alternative arrangements on the days when the upgrades are taking place in your area.
If your business relies on a stable internet connection, we recommend speaking with your internet provider to discuss options that can help you stay connected during the upgrade period. While most outages are brief, planning ahead can help ensure your operations continue smoothly.
Upgrades are being rolled out across parts of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth. If you’ve received a notification from nbn or your internet provider, it means your area is scheduled for improvements.
No. In most cases, we’ll only be performing maintenance and upgrade activities to the local network infrastructure in your area. In rare cases, our nbn technicians may need to access the outside or inside your premises to repair or replace existing nbn equipment. If you’re not home on the day, or we have any access issues, our nbn technician will leave an nbn appointment request card at your premise with instructions on how to book an alternative time for us to come back. nbn technicians will always be wearing a uniform and carry nbn ID badges, so you can easily identify them when they arrive.
Once the upgrade works in your area are complete, you’ll be able to enjoy a more reliable experience. If your nbn connection is not performing how you’d expect, we recommend checking your in-home internet set up. Learn more on the optimisation hub. If your service still isn’t working as you would expect it to, your provider will be able to help troubleshoot the issue with you, and discuss your internet needs, including whether your speed plan is right for you.