Tech X Telco

NBN fibre upgrades: the FTTN plan rule changes in March 2027

Eligible FTTN customers will gain more plan choice for a fibre upgrade from 31 March 2027. Here’s what to check before changing your service.

Michel Elijah ·

AI-generated editorial image of generic cable work on a suburban verge; not a verified NBN installation.

NBN Co has announced a change to the plan requirement for eligible fibre-to-the-node customers moving to full fibre. From 31 March 2027, they will be able to upgrade using a wholesale speed plan of their choice. The announcement was made on 30 September.

What you need to know

The new FTTN rule begins on 31 March 2027. Until then, the existing upgrade conditions apply. Check your address and ask your provider for the retail offer, installation arrangements and total charges before committing.

What is changing?

NBN says many FTTN upgrades currently require a wholesale plan of 100/40Mbps or above. Removing that threshold gives eligible customers more choice about the plan used to trigger the upgrade. It does not establish the price or terms of a provider’s retail offer.

FTTN and FTTC have different timelines

NBN previously removed the high-speed upgrade requirement for eligible fibre-to-the-curb customers from 1 July 2026. This September announcement concerns fibre-to-the-node. Check the technology at your own premises before applying one announcement’s conditions to the other.

Read our earlier coverage of the FTTC upgrade change

What should copper customers do now?

Start with the problem you want the upgrade to solve. Write down recurring dropouts, the rooms where the connection is weak and the tasks that struggle. A record gives your provider something concrete to investigate and helps you judge the offer against your household’s needs.

  1. Use NBN’s address checker to identify your connection technology and available upgrade information.

  2. Ask your provider which upgrade conditions apply now and which will apply from 31 March 2027. Request the answer in writing.

  3. Get an itemised offer covering ongoing plan charges, any installation or equipment costs, the contract term and cancellation conditions.

  4. Confirm the installation process, expected service interruption and activation arrangements before cancelling or changing your existing service.

For example, a household content with its current speed should compare the full cost of upgrading under today’s conditions with an offer available under the future rule. That comparison needs actual provider quotes. This announcement alone cannot tell you which option will cost less.

Still waiting for address eligibility? Read how NBN’s remaining FTTN rollout target differs from an individual upgrade offer.

Does full fibre solve every connection problem?

Full fibre describes the access connection. When discussing an upgrade, also ask your provider to distinguish a line fault from a problem inside the home. Keep notes on whether the issue occurs on every device and whether it affects a wired connection as well as Wi-Fi.

Power is a separate dependency. NBN’s blackout guidance explains that equipment in the premises needs power and that network equipment can also be affected. A fibre upgrade should not be treated as a promise that internet or connected phone services will continue through a blackout.

Check the equipment and network dependencies in our internet-during-a-power-outage guide.

The useful next step is to confirm eligibility and gather the offer details. If your service needs attention today, ask for fault investigation now; the future policy date is not a reason to leave a current problem unresolved.

Sources and further reading