What Is an FTTP Upgrade?

An FTTP (Fibre to the Premises) upgrade swaps out the copper portion of your nbn connection for fibre optic cabling that runs all the way to your home.

If you’re on FTTN (Fibre to the Node) or FTTC (Fibre to the Curb), part of your connection still relies on older copper infrastructure. FTTP removes that bottleneck so fibre runs directly into your premises, delivering faster speeds and more stable performance.

Good news: You don’t need to manage the technical work yourself. Once confirmed as eligible, Skymesh and nbn coordinate everything from there.

How the FTTP Upgrade Process Works

There are five steps to connect to nbn full fibre via nbn Fibre to the Premises (FTTP).

1. Check your eligibility

Everything starts with your address. Not all locations are eligible for an FTTP upgrade yet. It depends on where you live, your current connection type (FTTN or FTTC), and whether nbn has enabled upgrades in your area.

Use the Skymesh eligibility check form to see if your home qualifies. The form only takes about 10 seconds to fill out, and there’s no commitment involved.

2. Choose the right plan

To qualify for an FTTP upgrade, you’ll need to be on a plan that meets nbn’s requirements. That usually means selecting a higher speed tier.

Pay attention to this step. Picking a plan that doesn’t meet the threshold could mean your upgrade request won’t go through. The Skymesh team will walk you through which plans qualify and match one to your actual usage.

3. Book your installation

Once you’re eligible and on a qualifying plan, an installation appointment is arranged. An nbn technician will come to your property to complete the physical upgrade.

Scheduling depends on your location and availability, but Skymesh will coordinate a time that works for you.

4. Installation day

On the day, the nbn technician will:

• Attach a small utility box to the outside of your home
• Install an internal connection box (usually near your existing setup)
• Run fibre cabling from the street to your premises

There may be a brief interruption to your internet during the install, but your existing connection stays active until the new one is ready. Most installations are completed in a single visit.

5. Activation

After the physical install is done, your service switches over to the new fibre connection. At that point, your FTTP connection is live.No separate activation step is needed on your end. It’s all handled as part of the process.emediation needs, and which part of the network your street connects to). That’s why “same suburb” doesn’t always mean “same timing”.

What Happens After You Request an Eligibility Address Check

Once you’ve completed the Skymesh eligibility form and your address has been reviewed, here’s what you can expect next:

What happens	What you should expect
Eligibility review	Your address is reviewed to confirm whether an FTTP upgrade may be available.
Plan review	Your plan options are reviewed with you. If you’re on a qualifying plan, installation is arranged.
Next-step guidance	If you need to switch plans first, the Skymesh team will guide you through it.
Installation arrangement	If everything lines up, an nbn installation appointment can be arranged.
Ongoing support	If anything is unclear, Skymesh can explain your options before you decide to proceed.

There’s no obligation at this stage. Checking your eligibility is just about understanding what’s available to you. You’re not locked into anything.

Skymesh supports you through each step, so if anything is unclear or you want to talk through your options, our Australian-based team is here to help.

What Can Affect Your Upgrade

A few things can influence how (or whether) your upgrade goes ahead:

Property type and layout

Standalone houses are usually the easiest to upgrade because the installation process is often more straightforward.

⚠️ Units, townhouses, or apartments may involve extra steps or body corporate approval. Find out more about upgrading your building or complex.

Existing infrastructure

The state of the network in your area affects timing. Some locations are prioritised earlier than others based on nbn’s rollout schedule.

Plan selection

You need to be on a qualifying speed tier to trigger the upgrade. If you’re on a lower-tier plan, you may need to change before proceeding.

What if your installation is more complex? Some properties may require extra steps before the upgrade can proceed, depending on access, layout, existing infrastructure, or installation requirements. If that happens, Skymesh will flag what’s needed before any work begins to help avoid surprises on installation day.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

#1 Skipping the eligibility check Some people assume they qualify based on a neighbour’s experience or because they’re in the same suburb. Eligibility is assessed address by address, so running a check on the Skymesh address checker first avoids wasted time.	#2 Picking a plan that doesn’t meet upgrade requirements Not every nbn plan qualifies. If you select one that falls below the required speed tier, your upgrade request won’t proceed. Confirm which plans are eligible before committing.
#3 Not preparing the space for installation The technician needs access to the outside of your home and the area where internal equipment will be installed. Clear these areas ahead of the appointment to avoid rescheduling.	#4 Assuming the process is disruptive Some people put off upgrading because they expect long outages or complicated work. Most installs wrap up in a few hours with minimal interruption.

Request a free nbn® Fibre upgrade eligibility check

Complete the form to see if your home qualifies for an upgrade. It’s free to check, with no obligation.

Frequently Asked Questions