Following consultation with industry and stakeholders, nbn today announced a Targeted Upgrade program to support a managed transition for selected homes and businesses from legacy nbn copper to nbn full fibre in specific locations.

nbn’s on demand Fibre Connect program, which has so far delivered more than one million fibre upgrades across the nation, and is continuing to gather pace, will remain the primary driver of the transition from nbn copper to nbn full fibre, while the Targeted Upgrade program will focus on a smaller cohort of targeted upgrades.

The Targeted Upgrade program will complement Fibre Connect by offering a limited number of customers upgrades to full fibre, without requiring high speed plans, with managed suspensions and disconnections of legacy copper services as a last resort. The program will target areas where fibre is already available and where the change will help improve performance and reliability for customers. This may include targeting underperforming copper lines that affect speed and stability and retiring underused network nodes to simplify operations.

For homes and businesses, moving from legacy copper to nbn full fibre delivers a more reliable connection that supports today’s digital needs – including remote work, online learning, telehealth and small business operations. Full fibre connections also offer access to faster speeds and offer more resilience during severe weather events than copper connections.

Fibre demand continues to grow

On average, there are around 47,000 homes and business upgrading to fibre each month via the Fibre Connect program since October 2025, up 32 per cent on the monthly average in the previous year.  For the first time in nbn’s history, there are now more homes and business on full fibre connections across the nbn network than legacy nbn copper-based services.

This transition gained momentum in September 2025 with the launch of the Accelerate Great program, which offered full fibre and HFC customers up to five times faster wholesale download speeds on selected plans.* In December 2025, nbn also announced that FTTC customers in the  Fibre Connect footprint would no longer be required to order a high speed plan from 1 July 2026. 

How the Targeted Upgrade program will work

The program introduces a managed pathway for targeted upgrades in specific circumstances with clear timeframes, giving customers greater certainty about when action is required. Those eligible will be able to remain on their existing speed tier (where applicable) or choose to move to a new plan.

Under the program, nbn aims to upgrade approximately 130,000 homes and businesses in the first year. The first eligible homes and businesses will begin to receive nbn-led notifications from July 2027. Under the program, the first suspensions of legacy copper services where a fibre upgrade order has not been placed are not expected to occur until January 2028.

The program has been shaped by extensive consultation with phone and internet providers, consumer advocates, peak bodies and regional stakeholders.

nbn will work in partnership with phone and internet providers, who will contact those eligible and support their transition. Strong safeguards will be in place, including multiple notifications, the option to extend or defer before a service is suspended, and case‑managed support, particularly for customers who need additional assistance. 

Anna Perrin, Chief Customer Officer at nbn, said:

“This program will target upgrades from specific nbn legacy copper‑based connections to nbn full fibre, delivering a faster and more reliable customer experience while strengthening the resilience and future readiness of the network.

“Fibre is nbn’s fastest and most reliable residential technology. For customers, nbn full fibre delivers connection they can depend on, whether that’s working from home, attending telehealth appointments, running a small business, or keeping connected for learning and entertainment.

“Unlike legacy copper networks, fibre is also far less affected by weather and environmental conditions. We’ve seen during recent severe weather events how important resilient infrastructure is to keeping Australians connected when they need it most.

“Building upon nbn’s on-demand Fibre Connect program which has already seen more than a million fibre upgrades, this Targeted Upgrade program gives nbn the ability to offer upgrades to full fibre to eligible homes and businesses without requiring high speed plans, delivering a more reliable experience today while also preparing the network for Australia’s growing digital needs.

“The program has been carefully designed in close consultation with phone and internet providers, consumer advocates, and stakeholders, and we’ll continue working closely with them throughout the rollout to make sure customers are well supported.

“By taking a managed approach – with strong safeguards and clear timeframes – we’re helping customers transition smoothly, while strengthening the network for the long term.”

Footnotes

* An end customer’s experience, including speeds actually achieved, depends on some factors outside nbn’s control (like equipment quality, software, and how a retail service provider designs its network) and the nbn technology used for the connection.

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