nbn has told us our building may be eligible for a limited trial that upgrades buildings like ours to Fibre to the Premises (FTTP), with fibre run right into each unit. nbn pays most of the cost, and the body corporate pays the rest in full: $275 per unit, $6,600 in total. Nothing has been decided yet. Right now we’re showing the committee how much support there is.
Right now nbn’s fibre stops in our basement. The last stretch to your unit runs over the building’s old copper phone wiring. It’s like a motorway that turns into a dirt road for the final few metres.
That copper limits how fast our internet can go. The upgrade replaces it with fibre all the way into your unit. That’s the same connection new apartment buildings get.
It also shows up when you sell or rent. Property listings show the nbn technology at the address. Today, units here show “FTTB, 25–100 Mbps”.
7 in 10 potential buyers see full fibre as a value-add and would consider paying more for it.*
Up to 75% of renters find a home with FTTP more appealing.*
nbn calls FTTP its most reliable connection. Smoother streaming and video calls, fewer drop-outs.
Fibre is designed to keep up with future needs, so we’re less likely to need another upgrade later.
One provider, Oct 2026: $95/m for 100 Mbps at our address today, vs $90/m for 500 Mbps at a fibre address.†
Buildings like ours usually can’t get this upgrade. This trial is for selected buildings only.
* Research commissioned by nbn (Ergo Strategy, 2022), from nbn’s brochure. † Neptune Internet plan prices, checked October 2026. Prices vary by provider and change over time.
Owners and tenants, it takes 10 seconds. This informal poll shows the committee how much support there is. It isn’t a body corporate vote.
1 of 24 units have answered. 100% say yes. Yes answers came from 1 owner and 0 tenants.
One square per unit, and each unit counts once. If a unit answers more than once, the latest answer counts. Names and unit numbers are never shown.
Questions, or rather have a chat? Email gustav@dupreez.id.au or knock on Unit 22.
Timeframes are nbn’s typical estimates and depend on the building.
In plain English, from nbn’s brochure, FAQ and sample agreement, and from emails with nbn’s upgrade team. The original documents are below.
Not you. nbn sends one invoice of $6,600 (24 units × $275 inc. GST) to the body corporate, which pays the full fee. Owners and tenants don’t get a bill. nbn covers the rest of the installation cost.
Even if you don’t need more speed, fibre makes your unit more attractive to buyers and renters. nbn says 7 in 10 potential buyers see it as a value-add. It’s also more reliable. The fibre stays in place for whoever lives there next.
No. Your current service keeps working, and you move to fibre when you’re ready. Note: both connections can run side by side, but any new internet order after the upgrade goes onto fibre.
Not necessarily. You don’t have to take a faster or dearer plan. Prices are set by providers, not nbn, so shop around. In our example from one provider, a 500 Mbps fibre plan was $5 a month cheaper than the 100 Mbps plan available at our address today.
No. You choose your provider. Stay with yours or switch.
Fibre goes from the street into the building, through risers and common areas, to a small nbn box in each unit next to a power point. Installers use existing cable paths where they can. Otherwise, cabling runs neatly along skirting boards or ceiling corners, sometimes using near-invisible clear fibre track. nbn expects only minor disruption, and no internet outages are planned.
Videos nbn sent us: FTTP installation · Clear Track fibre pathway · 3M Clear Track fibre pathway
nbn says no outages are planned or expected during installation, and your current service stays on until you choose to switch. In the unlikely event something drops out, contact your phone and internet provider.
When you do switch to a fibre plan, expect a short break on the day while your provider moves your service across, as with any change of connection. Your provider will tell you what to expect.
Yes, by appointment, to fit the nbn box. Appointments are arranged in advance. A few units may also be visited during the site survey. If you’re not home for the install, nbn doesn’t charge to come back later when you order a fibre plan.
nbn runs fibre to just outside your unit and stops, so it’s ready if you or a future owner change your mind. Connecting later is arranged through a provider, and extra fees may apply. nbn says many people who first decline end up connecting once the upgrade is under way.
Nothing has been put to a vote yet. It’s a whole-building upgrade, so the body corporate would decide for all units. nbn suggests a motion at a general meeting, but whether and when that happens is up to the committee. Showing support now helps them decide whether to take it further.
Yes. Only owners can vote on body corporate decisions, but the committee wants to know what the people living here think. Email me or tick the sheet on the noticeboard and I’ll pass your support on. You can also let your landlord or agent know you’d value full fibre.
nbn’s typical estimate is 4–6 weeks for the site survey and design, then about 3–4 months of building work. It depends on the building.
Yes. nbn shares the design, and we have 10 business days to comment on cable routes and how common areas will look. nbn isn’t obliged to change the plan, but it encourages owners and residents to join the design walk-through.
If nbn decides our building isn’t feasible, we pay nothing and nbn restores any work already done.
If we pull out after signing, the sample agreement says nbn can charge a break fee: 70% of the total during design (about $4,620), 85% during construction (about $5,610). So we should ask our questions and make the decision before signing.
Your Wi-Fi router connects to the new nbn box. If it’s over about 5 years old, nbn suggests checking it still suits your needs. Your provider can advise.
When you switch, your provider moves your phone service onto the fibre connection. Like other nbn services, it won’t work in a power outage unless you have battery back-up.
Straight from nbn, so you can check anything above.
These are nbn’s sample documents. The real build quote for our building will come from nbn after the body corporate agrees to go ahead. nbn’s official page: nbn.com.au/upgradeyourbuilding