What is FTTC? 

NBN Fibre to the Curb (FTTC) connection is used in circumstances where fibre is extended close to your premises, connecting to a small Distribution Point Unit (DPU), generally located inside a pit on the street. From here, the existing copper network is connected to the fibre to form the final NBN connection. To power your NBN FTTC service with electricity and provide your connection to the NBN network, an NBN connection box will be required inside your home or business.

Why FTTC? 

FTTC is one step deeper into the network than FTTN, (where fibre is typically around 400 metres from a premises) but, as an existing lead-in can be used, it does not involve the complex and expensive process of taking fibre that last length into a premise as is required by FTTP.

In fact, the cost of driving fibre from the pit to the premises has been estimated to be roughly 25% to 30% of an FTTP build.

When NBN launched FTTC services in 2018, they were one of the first operators in the world to launch reverse-powered distribution point-based FTTC services – again showing that NBN is at the cutting edge of broadband technologies.

If you’re wondering, “FTTC” was used instead of adopting the Australian spelling of “Kerb”, this is because the term “FTTC” (US spelling of “Curb”) is already a globally-understood acronym with its own definition.

When talking about technology, it is important to adopt international standards to avoid confusion in the market.

You can’t choose how your NBN is connected. Your NBN type depends on your address and the infrastructure that is being built in your area.
In saying that, some suburbs around the Adelaide metropolitan area that have FTTC are ready for installation of fibre directly to the home.

Contact your Internet Service Provider (ISP) to see if you are eligible. Some ISP’s are installing fibre from the pit to the home with only monthly fees and no contracts.

What does the NBN Fibre to the Curb (FTTC) equipment look like?