NBN Guide
NBN100 vs NBN500why your address might show the wrong one
If you've gone looking for an NBN500 plan and ended up staring at an NBN100 plan for the same dollar figure, you're not imagining it and you haven't been shortchanged. It's a genuine quirk of how the NBN500 rollout works, and it depends entirely on what's connected to your house, not which provider you pick.
Why NBN500 isn't showing up at your address
NBN500 only runs over fibre to the premises (FTTP) or hybrid fibre coaxial (HFC). If your address is still on fibre to the node (FTTN) or fibre to the curb (FTTC), which both rely on the old copper phone line for the last stretch, the network physically cannot deliver 500 Mbps to your house. Your provider isn't hiding a better plan from you. NBN100 is the fastest plan your current connection can carry.
The confusing part is what happens next, because providers handle this moment very differently.
The free nbn fibre upgrade: two things get bundled into one word
1. A free fibre upgrade (FTTN or FTTC to FTTP)
NBN Co runs a program that lets eligible copper-connected homes get bumped to full fibre at no cost. You trigger it by ordering a plan of NBN500 or faster. Once the physical upgrade is done, usually a couple of weeks, you can actually get the speed you signed up for.
2. A free speed-tier bump (existing FTTP or HFC customers)
If you're already on fibre or cable and were sitting on an NBN100 plan, NBN Co increased the wholesale speed on that tier in September 2025. Some providers passed the extra speed straight through to existing customers at no extra cost. Others required you to actively move onto a new NBN500 plan to get it.
These are two different mechanisms, and depending on which one applies to your address, your experience of "asking for NBN500" looks completely different.
Why it looks like some providers offer the upgrade and others don't
Here's the part that catches people out: most participating providers do offer the free fibre upgrade if your address is eligible. The difference is how loudly they tell you.
Some providers interrupt the signup flow with a full-screen prompt the moment they detect eligibility, asking you to either upgrade or skip. You can't miss it.
Others quietly slot a small card into the middle of the page, sitting among the plan details, easy to scroll straight past if you're not looking for it.
Same underlying offer, same eligibility, very different chance you'll actually notice it. If a provider's checker shows you an NBN100 plan at NBN500-style pricing and nothing else jumps out, it's worth scrolling the whole page before assuming the upgrade isn't on the table. It might just be sitting quietly further down.
The only way to know for certain what's on offer at your address is to read the whole result page, not just the plan card at the top, and to check your address directly on NBN Co's own eligibility tool if you want a neutral second opinion.
If you'd rather not put your address into an ISP's live form just to check, that's a reasonable instinct. Every address checker on an ISP site logs the lookup and most drop marketing cookies, even if you never sign up.
What to actually do about it
- Check your address on NBN Co's fibre upgrade checker first. It's the neutral source of truth.
- When you check a provider's website, read the full result page rather than just the headline plan card. The fibre upgrade offer isn't always front and centre.
- If you're eligible and want the free fibre upgrade, you'll need to order a plan of NBN500 or faster to trigger it, at whichever provider you choose.
- If you're not eligible yet, NBN100 genuinely is your ceiling for now, and no provider can sell you around that with a different plan name.
- If you're already on fibre or cable and stuck on an old NBN100 plan without the speed bump, ask your current provider directly whether they've passed the September 2025 increase through, or whether you need to move to a new plan to get it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my provider only offering NBN100 when I want NBN500?
NBN500 needs a fibre (FTTP) or cable (HFC) connection. If your address still runs on the old copper network via FTTN or FTTC, NBN100 is the fastest speed physically available until your connection is upgraded.
Is the nbn fibre upgrade actually free?
Yes, for eligible addresses. NBN Co doesn't charge for the physical upgrade to fibre. You trigger it by signing up to an NBN500 plan or faster with a participating provider.
How long does a free fibre upgrade take?
Typically two to six weeks from when you order an eligible plan, depending on the provider and the complexity of the installation at your address.
Why didn't my provider mention the free upgrade?
It's often there, just not prominent. Some providers use a full-screen prompt, others place it in a smaller card further down the results page. Scroll the full page before assuming it isn't offered.
Does entering my address on a provider's website leave a trace?
Generally yes. Most address checkers log the lookup and set marketing cookies, even if you don't proceed with signup. Checking directly on NBN Co's site is a more neutral option if you just want to confirm eligibility.
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