Developers are responsible for providing telecommunications infrastructure to new developments.

It’s important to:

Plan early

In order to meet requirements during the construction phase and obtain the approvals needed, it’s important to start planning as early as possible. 

If you are building a small development, such as a sub-dividing a lot into two residential units, please allow a minimum of three months’ notice before service connections are required.  

For all other developments please allow a minimum of six months’ notice before service connections are required. 

Please note: nbn will endeavour to achieve these timeframes, but cannot guarantee these timeframes in all cases.

Prepare for the nbn New Developments application

Before you start your application, take time to prepare your documents. This will help us accurately assess your development plans.

You’ll need the development address, total number of new nbn connections, the number of eligible non-premises (nbn Smart Places) locations, the development details (including plans) and contact details. Be sure to include the number of non-premises locations in addition to the number of premises locations.

Understand the charges

Under government policy, nbn is required to recover costs of deploying the nbn network by applying a developer contribution charge per premises. Other additional charges may also apply.

You may require a letter of conditional approval (also known as a council letter) that confirms the availability of nbn network infrastructure in your area to support your council application. This letter may be required even if you have not commenced construction.

To receive this letter from us, you must:

1. Submit an nbn New Developments application and complete the online eligibility check.

2. If eligible, you will be sent a confirmation and an invoice for the developer contribution charge. You then need to pay the developer contribution charge for the total number of planned nbn connections in your development.

If you need to make changes to your application once submitted, please submit an enquiry through our website or alternatively, through the nbn New Developments portal.

nbn Smart Places enables the extension of the nbn network to eligible non-premises locations such as traffic lights, digital billboards and public Wi-Fi hotspots.

Under the Australian Government’s Telecommunications in New Developments Policy, nbn may charge a one-time end-user contribution (EUC) of up to $300 (including GST) for each premises in a new development. nbn may recover the EUC from phone and internet providers that place an order for a nbn service at a premises in a new development (and the providers may choose to pass the charge onto their end-users). Alternatively, nbn may recover the EUC from another person (e.g. a housing authority, landlord or developer).

Under nbn’s Wholesale Broadband Agreement, the EUC is referred to as the “new developments charge”, and it is generally applied to the phone and internet provider that submits the first order for a nbn service at each premises in a new development.

Under the Australian Government’s Telecommunications in New Developments Policy, nbn is able to charge for the infrastructure it provides in new developments and is expected to do so. This includes a developer contribution per lot / premises to the cost of the network.

Types of applications that the developer contribution charge applies to include:

• new dwellings or lots being constructed (e.g. houses, apartments, townhouses, villa units); 
• commercial premises – for new lots or tenancies created, including within an existing building or as part of an expansion; 
• broadacre sub-divisions – for example, a greenfield development for a new housing estate; 
• other sub-divisions – for example, in existing urban or brownfields areas (in this case, a developer contribution charge will be imposed for the new lots that are created); 
• granny flats and outbuildings that are newly constructed and separately titled from the primary dwelling/building (these instances will require a unique lead in conduit); 
• knock-down rebuilds where a single house is knocked down and more than one premises is rebuilt in its place (e.g. through a subdivision); 
• where a single dwelling is built on a vacant block in a brownfield area and there is no existing nbn connection. 

The charge is determined on application, and is capped at the following amounts depending on the build type: 

• Single Dwelling Unit (SDU): $600 (incl. GST) per premises 
• Multi Dwelling Units (MDU): $400 (incl. GST) per premises

Backhaul contributions may apply if nbn backhaul required to connect the new development is not already available.

Under the Australian Government’s Telecommunications in New Developments Policy, the maximum backhaul contributions nbn may charge are:

• nbn backhaul already available – no charge 
• Backhaul costs up to $1,000 per premises – up to 50% of costs 
• Backhaul costs over $1,000 per premises – up to 100% of costs over $1,000

We encourage developers (big and small) to seek the assistance and support of an industry professional or an nbn trained New Developments supplier - designer or installer. Ensuring the nbn infrastructure within your property boundary is designed and built to our standards is your responsibility, so working with an expert can be very helpful. 

An nbn trained New Developments supplier can help:

• ensure new development designs and installations are built right first time and to the correct standards
• fast-track the certification process
• get works underway sooner^.

You can use your own contractors, however all works must be undertaken in accordance with nbn guidelines, and if applicable, the provisions of the developer agreement and any approved pre-construct design. It is recommended that the developer asks the contractor to provide evidence that the contractor has the necessary licenses to install telecommunications infrastructure.

The current version of the nbn guidelines for the Lead-in Conduit (LIC), pit and pipe, or pathway build process can be found on the nbn website. If you are unsure of which guidelines to download, log in to the nbn New Developments Portal and refer to the tasks list.

You can go to the nbn New Developments Portal to view the estimated “Ready for Service” date for your development. This is the date from when residents can begin ordering an nbn powered plan from their preferred phone and internet provider. You can track the progress of your application via the nbn New Developments Portal.

Please be aware that this date is subject to change. It is dependent on the complexity of your plans and designs, and certain tasks being submitted on time.

You can submit the Notice of Practical Completion (PCN) through the nbn New Developments Portal. You may also be required to submit an as-built design in addition to the PCN if you were required to build pit and pipe works.

A pre-installation request for the nbn connection box (also known as the Network Termination Device or NTD), can be submitted by developers, builders and authorised representatives on behalf of a developer/builder. A lot owner can initiate a pre-installation request by providing the details of their builder. We will then reach out to the contact provided to complete the request.

The person making the request needs to have the authority of the owner and any other occupier to request the pre-installation, and must provide us with confirmation of such authority for the required works to be completed at the property. The owner or occupier can place an order for phone and internet independently with their preferred phone or internet provider once the installation is complete.

Pre-installing the nbn connection box means residents can connect to the nbn network before moving in day by contacting their preferred phone or internet provider, without the need for a visit from a technician*.

A request can be placed during the ‘frame’ stage, but the pre-installation won’t be conducted until the site is secure, this is usually between ‘lock-up’ and ‘fit-out’ stages. Please note, all pre-installation requests are subject to nbn available resources.

Once you have submitted your request, the site supervisor will be contacted by nbn to arrange an appointment. It is recommended to allow at least 3 weeks for nbn to complete this request. The actual installation of internal equipment and wiring takes approximately 1 hour. Where external infrastructure (in the street) is required, the process will take longer.

We have marketing resources available to share with residents. These can help future occupants understand the various benefits of switching to an nbn powered plan through a phone and internet provider and moving into an nbn ready premises. They also include helpful information such as connection guides so that residents can enjoy the benefits of the nbn network quickly and efficiently.