nbn® Fixed Wireless explained

The first step is to place an order for an nbn Fixed Wireless plan with the phone and internet provider of your choice. The provider will make an appointment for an nbn installer to attend the premises and test for a Fixed Wireless signal. Once the signal is acquired, the installer may put the nbn outdoor antenna on the roof of the main premises, under the eaves or on a wall. The nbn outdoor antenna can also be put on powered buildings (like a shed, garage or Solar Mount Structure) close to the main premises, with the nbn connection box inside an enclosed area.

If you are unable to receive a suitable Fixed Wireless signal at your main premises, the nbn installer will check whether another location on your property would be more appropriate. If a suitable signal can be located, your installer will advise whether a non-standard install may be possible.

All non-standard installations must be carried out by an nbn approved installer. It’s important to note that nbn will not be able to install nbn supplied Fixed Wireless equipment on any resident-provided, non-standard structure. It is not possible for nbn to determine whether infrastructure supplied or organised by a resident meets the necessary requirements.

If you would like to proceed with a non-standard install, your nbn installer will locate the ideal site for the antenna. If necessary, they will set up a ground mounted pole to achieve a suitable signal. This may happen during a subsequent site visit.

After a signal is successfully received, your installer will connect the cable from the nbn outdoor antenna to the main premises. Your installer will then place an nbn connection box inside the main premises or in a powered building nearby.

To connect to the internet, you will need to plug your modem into the nbn connection box. Your modem will need to be supplied by you or your internet service provider.

If you are unable to receive a suitable Fixed Wireless signal at the main building on your property, and nbn determines that a non-standard installation is not possible, you may be able to get connected to the nbn network using an alternate service technology such as Sky Muster™ Satellite.*

If you have a preference for a nbn Fixed Wireless connection, you may wish to consider engaging a third-party vendor to design and build a complying Solar Mount Solution for you (at your cost) if nbn determines that a suitable Fixed Wireless signal can be reached at another appropriate location on your property. The Solar Mount Solution may be suitable where your main building is experiencing line-of-sight obstruction to the Fixed Wireless tower but a suitable Fixed Wireless signal can be located within your property boundary and within the nbn Fixed Wireless coverage boundaries.

A typical third-party Solar Mount Solution comprises of solar panels, an outdoor enclosure (which houses the nbn™ connection box, power supply equipment and batteries), Wi-Fi point to point links (which transmits the service from the Solar Mount Solution to the main premises), and a fixed concrete base with a mounted pole where the nbn outdoor antenna would be installed. nbn has prepared a Guideline which sets out technical, safety and other requirements that must be met for nbn to install its equipment (e.g. nbn connection box and nbn outdoor antenna) on a third-party Solar Mount Solution. Please contact nbn to obtain a copy of the guidelines.

Once a Solar Mount Solution has been constructed in accordance with the nbn Guidelines, you can contact your preferred phone and internet provider to connect to the nbn network and they should arrange for an nbn approved installer to call you and organise a visit to your premises to connect you.

Important: Under this installation option, nbn does not supply the Solar Mount Solution (including any WiFi point to point links) and is not responsible for installing or maintaining it. You will need to engage a vendor of your choice to design and build the Solar Mount Solution (at your cost) and ensure that your main building is connected via the WiFi point to point link. You will also need to maintain the Solar Mount Solution.

• You are required to contact nbn and obtain approval to build a Solar Mount Solution
• You are required to engage a certified vendor to build the structure as per nbn guidelines
• Once the Solar structure is built, nbn approval is required prior to contacting your preferred phone and internet provider to connect to the nbn fixed wireless network

nbn offers a range of wholesale Fixed Wireless plans to phone and internet providers to cater to different needs of premises across the country.

Find out more about our wholesale Fixed Wireless plans and what’s available at your address.

Note - some existing nbn Fixed Wireless users may require their nbn antenna be upgraded in order to experience the full benefits of the boosted speeds on Fixed Wireless Plus and access our new higher speed plans. Your provider will be able to confirm if this applies to you, and what’s involved in the process.

An nbn approved technician will install an nbn outdoor antenna and nbn connection box as part of your Fixed Wireless installation. You may need to organise additional in-home cabling to have the nbn equipment installed in your preferred location. 

Your phone or internet provider will supply a Wi-Fi router and the ethernet cable to connect your devices as required.

Some existing nbn Fixed Wireless users may require their nbn antenna be upgraded in order to experience the full benefits of the boosted speeds on Fixed Wireless Plus and access our new higher speed plans. Your provider will be able to confirm if this applies to you, and what’s involved in the process.

The nbn Fixed Wireless equipment that will be installed in your home comes in two parts:

An outdoor antenna, usually mounted on the roof, will transmit the signal from the nbn Fixed Wireless tower to your premises and then into an nbn connection box, which is usually installed inside your property.

The nbn connection box will then transmit the signal to your modem, then on to your connected devices.

For new installations, we recommend considering where you want the nbn connection box to be installed inside your house (note: for a Solar Mount Structure the nbn connection box will placed within the outdoor enclosure). 

Pick the best location using this checklist:

• Reasonably close to a power point.
• A cool, dry, ventilated area (nbn equipment cannot be installed in a damp or wet area such as; a kitchen, bathroom, laundry, or under a window that opens).
• Away from busy areas where it may be knocked or damaged.
• Somewhere easy for you to see and check the indicator lights.
• In the same building as the main electric meter box or distribution board (i.e. not in a separate detached garage or outhouse).

Whilst the nbn technician will try to accommodate your choice of location, some environmental factors such as complex walls, distance to power sources and proximity and accessibility to the exterior antenna may prevent installation in this location. Try to choose an alternative location if your preferred location is not viable and discuss the options with your allocated installer.

The nbn technician may ask for permission from you (or an authorised person over the age of 18) to drill into walls to complete the installation.

For equipment upgrades, the technician will install the new equipment in the same position as the existing equipment. On some occasions, we may need to relocate the external antenna to improve the strength of the signal, but the technician will ask for permission before doing this.

Here are some tips to help you get the most from your service: 

• Check your networking equipment: An updated Wi-Fi router from your provider is going to make for a much better online experience. 
• Check your Wi-Fi signal strength: Some Wi-Fi routers have a stronger signal than others, so if your Wi-Fi router isn’t performing like it should, you may need to contact your provider. 
• Position your Wi-Fi router away from other devices: Electronics like mobile phones, microwaves and TVs rely on radio signals, which can interfere with your Wi-Fi signal. Positioning your Wi-Fi router away from these devices can solve problems with interference. 
• Check how many devices are online at the same time: More people using more devices on the same connection at the same time will naturally slow things down, so if you’re experiencing this it might be worth a conversation with your provider about an upgrade to an nbn-powered plan with a higher speed. 

If you’re still experiencing issues with your service over the nbn Fixed Wireless network, you may need to talk to your provider for further assistance.

The existing copper lines and services at your premises will not be altered or changed by connecting to an nbn Fixed Wireless (or Sky Muster^® satellite) service.

In Fixed Wireless (or Sky Muster^® satellite) areas, premises will have the choice to keep their existing phone service over the copper network active, or switch over to a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) service on the nbn access network through a preferred phone and internet provider – connecting your new phone via the nbn supplied equipment. Your provider can assist with your phone and internet services.

If your Fixed Wireless outdoor antenna can’t be installed on the roof, wall or gutter, it may need some other mounting arrangement (i.e., a pole). Your nbn technician can advise you on what will be needed on the day of installation. 

If you are unable to receive a suitable Fixed Wireless signal at the main premises on your property, and nbn determines that a non-standard installation is not possible, you may be able to get connected to Fixed Wireless via a “Solar Mount Solution”. This option is only available for end users willing to engage a third-party vendor to build a Solar Mount Solution for you (at your cost).

This option is subjected to guideline which sets out technical, safety and other requirements that must be met for nbn to install its equipment (e.g. nbn connection box and nbn outdoor antenna) on a third-party Solar Mount Solution. 

To obtain a copy of the guidelines, please contact nbn.

The nbn approved technicians who install nbn equipment for a Fixed Wireless connection are from delivery partners UGL and Hills.

We're providing free upgrades of nbn equipment at selected Fixed Wireless locations to deliver better broadband for premises across regional and remote Australia. 

Upgrading your Fixed Wireless equipment now means you could enjoy a better connection^{^} and better yet, eligible premises^# will have the option to access our higher speed plans from mid-2024, from participating providers.

If nbn has identified that your Fixed Wireless equipment requires a free upgrade you will be notified directly. Please call the phone number on the letter or SMS provided to you to schedule your appointment. An nbn approved technician from one of our delivery partners UGL and Hills will then:

• Remove your old Fixed Wireless equipment
• Install a new nbn outdoor antenna and nbn connection box
• Perform checks to ensure your connection is working before they leave
• Complete the appointment generally within two hours

You can continue to use the Wi-Fi router provided by your provider.

If you have any questions about nbn’s Privacy Policy, please call 1800 687 626. Our Privacy Policy contains detailed information about our information handling practices, how you may access, update and correct personal information we hold about you and, if you are concerned about how we have handled your information, how to lodge a complaint.

• Read Hills’ privacy policy , or call 1300 723 585.
• Read UGL’s privacy policy , or call 1300 171 745.

For eligible premises, the new Fixed Wireless equipment includes:

• An nbn outdoor antenna which will be mounted on your roof to transmit the signal from the nbn tower to your premises, and
• An nbn connection box similar in shape and size to your current device, which will transmit the signal to your connected devices.

While we aim to keep you connected as much as possible during this process, you may be offline for up to two hours while the equipment is swapped over.

Please contact your phone and internet provider to raise a service incident request.

If your premises is eligible to receive a Fixed Wireless (or Fixed Line) service, you will not be eligible for a Sky Muster^® satellite service.

However, if your premises is unable to meet the Fixed Wireless signal test, then it may be considered for a Sky Muster^® satellite service.^*

Contact your phone and internet service provider to find out more.

^*Eligibility criteria applies.

If you need to have equipment or cables relocated, you’ll need to contact your provider so that they can advise you of the cost, and arrange for a technician to move the equipment.

Things to consider for the new location of the nbn equipment:

• The nbn connection box must be protected from water, steam and excessive heat.
• The location of the nbn connection box must be well ventilated, near a dedicated power point, and with unrestricted access – to check the indicator lights.
• The nbn connection box must be positioned in a location away from busy areas and protected from damage, and with sufficient access and light to see if the device is functioning correctly.
• The nbn outdoor antenna location is determined by Radio Frequency performance. It may not be possible to relocate this to any other position on premises.
• You are responsible for the cost of relocation.

nbn must have a presence at a tower to provide access to the nbn network. You can ask your technician if your local tower has nbn presence on the day of installation.