Apartment Internet Australia 2026

Apartment internet, not always NBN.

An Australian guide to apartment internet in 2026. How to identify which network your building is on (NBN FTTB, Opticomm, TPG Vision, GigaComm), the new $275 whole-building FTTP upgrade program, and what your body corporate has to do with it.

4networks

Possible at your address

$275/unit

New FTTB-to-FTTP cost

1M+premises

On private fibre networks

The short answer

Your apartment may be on one of 4 different fibre networks: NBN (FTTB, FTTP, or HFC), Opticomm (~600,000 premises), TPG Vision Network (~400,000 apartments), or GigaComm (Sydney and Melbourne). Many newer buildings are on private fibre, not NBN. Check at nbnco.com.au first; if no NBN connection appears, your building is on a private network. NBN FTTB caps at 100 Mbps, but TPG Vision FTTB delivers up to 500 Mbps in upgraded buildings. The big 2026 change: whole-building FTTB-to-FTTP upgrades now cost ~$275 per apartment, paid by the body corporate, vs the old ~$10,500 individual cost. Speak to your strata manager about an upgrade vote.

Which network is your building on

The four apartment fibre networks in Australia

Australian apartment buildings get internet through one of these networks, decided by the developer when the building was constructed. You can't switch networks; you can only choose providers within the network your building is on. Check at nbnco.com.au to confirm; if no NBN service appears, your building is on a private network.

National network

NBN FTTB

The standard NBN apartment connection. Fibre to the building's comms room, then existing internal wiring (usually copper) to each apartment. Capped at NBN 100 maximum, no Accelerate Great upgrades for FTTB. Every NBN provider sells these plans. Sometimes appears as FTTP in newer buildings.

Max speed

100 Mbps

Providers

All NBN

Largest private fibre

Opticomm

Australia's largest private fibre network with around 600,000 premises. Fibre-to-the-premises directly into each unit. Supports new 500/750/1000 Mbps tiers introduced in 2025. Absorbed LBNCo in 2021. Around 52 Australian providers sell Opticomm plans including Aussie Broadband, Superloop, Tangerine.

Max speed

1000 Mbps

Providers

~52 ISPs

Apartment specialist

TPG Vision Network

TPG's private fibre network serving around 400,000 mostly apartment premises. Recently upgraded to deliver up to 500 Mbps on FTTB, faster than NBN FTTB at 100 Mbps. Plans only available through TPG and iiNet (TPG-owned). Some complexes have both NBN and TPG Vision available.

Max speed

500 Mbps

Providers

TPG, iiNet

Sydney + Melbourne

GigaComm

Growing private fibre network focused on Sydney and Melbourne apartments. Supports up to gigabit (1 Gbps) speeds. Smaller provider network than Opticomm but expanding rapidly. Plans typically sold under "Fibre" branding by participating providers. Good option in apartments where it's installed.

Max speed

1000 Mbps

Coverage

SYD + MEL

The 2026 game-changer

FTTB-to-FTTP upgrade now $275 per unit, not $10,500

If your apartment is on NBN FTTB, you've been stuck at 100 Mbps maximum speeds with no Accelerate Great upgrades. In 2026, NBN Co introduced a whole-building FTTB-to-FTTP upgrade program at around $275 per apartment, paid by the body corporate at the time of the upgrade. This replaces the previous individual apartment upgrade cost of around $10,500, a 38x cost reduction.

Whole-building program

Same upgrade, dramatically lower cost

The previous individual apartment FTTB-to-FTTP upgrade required full custom work for one unit at a time. The new whole-building program runs the fibre installation as a single project for the entire complex, sharing engineering and labour costs across all units.

Previous: individual

$10,500

Per single apartment FTTB-to-FTTP upgrade

→

New: whole building

$275

Per apartment when whole building upgrades

How to trigger it: Your body corporate must vote to approve the upgrade because the work involves the building's basement and risers, not just individual units. Raise it at the next AGM or extraordinary meeting. Once approved, NBN Co dispatches a coordinated team to install fibre to every unit. After upgrade, the building's apartments can access NBN 500, 750, 1000, and 2000 plans through any NBN provider.

Why your strata committee matters

The body corporate question explained

Unlike single-dwelling homes where the owner can upgrade independently, apartment internet upgrades typically require body corporate approval because the work affects common property (basement, risers, lobby, exterior). This is the biggest difference between apartment internet and house internet in Australia.

What requires body corporate approval vs what doesn't

Individual unit choice (no approval needed): Switching between providers that already service your building's network. Choosing a faster plan tier within the existing infrastructure. Replacing your modem.

Body corporate approval required: Upgrading the building from FTTB to FTTP (basement and riser work). Installing a brand-new private fibre network in a building that doesn't have one. Adding a second network alongside the existing one.

How to push for an upgrade: Raise it at the next AGM or request an EGM. Most body corporates will vote in favour because the upgrade is now affordable ($275/unit) and improves property values. Highlight that upgraded buildings command higher rental prices and resale values.

All four networks side by side

Apartment fibre network speed comparison

All four networks ranked by maximum supported speed in 2026. NBN FTTB is the slowest at 100 Mbps, while private fibre networks have invested in higher speeds. If you have the choice between NBN FTTB and a private network in the same building, the private option usually wins on speed.

Network

Notes

Premises

Max speed

Opticomm

Largest private fibre. 52+ providers. New 500/750/1000 tiers added 2025. Most new metro developments use Opticomm.

~600k

1000 Mbps

GigaComm

Growing apartment-focused fibre in Sydney and Melbourne. Up to gigabit speeds. Smaller provider list than Opticomm.

Growing

1000 Mbps

TPG Vision

Beats NBN FTTB on speed. Apartment specialist. Some buildings have both NBN and TPG Vision available simultaneously.

~400k

500 Mbps

NBN FTTB

National network. Every NBN provider sells these plans. No Accelerate Great upgrades for FTTB. FTTB-to-FTTP upgrade now $275/unit.

Wide

100 Mbps

Maximum speeds are theoretical wholesale limits. Real-world speeds depend on building wiring quality, modem capability, and provider network management. NBN FTTP is also available in some newer apartment buildings; check your specific address.

Practical apartment internet rules

Six rules for apartment internet in Australia

Check your address before shopping plans. Enter your apartment address at nbnco.com.au first. If a connection appears (FTTB, FTTP, or HFC), you're on the NBN. If nothing appears, your building is on a private network like Opticomm, GigaComm, or TPG Vision. Then check the relevant private network's website to confirm and find providers.
Ask your strata manager which network is installed. If the online checkers are confusing or conflicting, the most reliable source is your building manager or strata committee. They installed it or inherited it. They'll know whether it's NBN, Opticomm, GigaComm, or TPG Vision Network. They may also know which providers are recommended in the building.
Push for a body corp vote on FTTB-to-FTTP upgrade. If your building is on NBN FTTB (capped at 100 Mbps), the new $275/unit upgrade program is excellent value. Bring it to your next AGM. Most strata committees will approve once they see the cost reduction from $10,500 to $275 and the property value impact. After upgrade, every unit can access NBN 500-2000 speeds.
If you're on TPG Vision FTTB, you're already in a good spot. Your building has 500 Mbps capability already without any upgrade work needed. Compare TPG and iiNet plans (they're the only providers on TPG Vision). The upgrade to NBN FTTB doesn't make sense because NBN FTTB is slower than what you already have.
Opticomm plans cost similar to NBN plans of equivalent speed. Don't assume private fibre is more expensive. Opticomm Fibre 50 at Superloop is around $55/mo, similar to budget NBN 50 plans. Opticomm Fibre 100 is around $75/mo, similar to NBN 100. The new Opticomm 500/750/1000 tiers price similarly to NBN's equivalents.
Mesh wifi often matters more than your plan speed in apartments. Apartment walls (concrete, brick, plaster) block wifi signal aggressively. A 200 Mbps plan on a single modem in your living room might deliver 30 Mbps in your bedroom. Consider a mesh wifi system (Google Nest, Eero, TP-Link Deco) to genuinely use your full plan speed across the unit.

FAQ

Common questions about apartment internet

What internet networks are available in Australian apartments?

Australian apartments may be connected to one of four main networks. First, NBN FTTB (Fibre to the Building), the standard NBN apartment connection with a 100 Mbps maximum speed. Second, Opticomm, Australia's largest private fibre network with around 600,000 premises and speeds up to 1000 Mbps. Third, TPG Vision Network, a private fibre serving around 400,000 mostly apartment premises with FTTB speeds up to 500 Mbps (faster than NBN FTTB). Fourth, GigaComm, a private fibre network in Sydney and Melbourne offering up to gigabit speeds. Which network your apartment is on depends on what the developer chose when the building was constructed. You can check at nbnco.com.au, but if no NBN connection shows for your address, your building is on a private network and your strata manager will know which one.

How do I know if my apartment has NBN or Opticomm?

Enter your apartment address at nbnco.com.au using the 'Check your address' tool. If a connection type appears (typically FTTB, FTTP, or HFC), your building is on the NBN network. If the result shows no NBN connection available or 'not currently available', your building is most likely on a private fibre network like Opticomm, GigaComm, or TPG Vision Network. The fastest way to confirm is to ask your building manager or strata manager, who will know which network was installed. You can also check Opticomm's coverage at opticomm.com.au by entering your address, or look at your unit's modem (Opticomm equipment is often labeled with the Opticomm brand).

What is the difference between NBN FTTB and Opticomm?

NBN FTTB (Fibre to the Building) brings fibre to your building's communications room, then uses the existing internal copper or ethernet wiring to deliver internet to each apartment, with a maximum speed of 100 Mbps. Opticomm is a privately-owned fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) network that brings fibre all the way to each individual apartment, supporting much higher speeds including 500, 750, and 1000 Mbps tiers introduced in 2025. Pricing is similar between the two for equivalent speeds. The main differences are that Opticomm supports faster tiers, fewer Australian providers sell Opticomm plans (around 52 providers vs every NBN reseller for NBN FTTB), and Opticomm typically appears in newer developments where the developer chose to install it instead of NBN.

Can I upgrade my apartment from FTTB to FTTP?

Yes, but it requires body corporate approval because the work involves the building's basement and risers, not just your individual unit. As of 2026, NBN Co offers a whole-building FTTB-to-FTTP upgrade program at approximately $275 per apartment, paid by the body corporate at the time of the upgrade. This is a dramatic reduction from the previous individual apartment upgrade cost of around $10,500. The body corporate must vote to approve the upgrade. From July 2027, NBN Co will start sending mandatory upgrade notices to selected addresses, though apartments (multi-dwelling buildings) are likely later in the rollout because of the additional complexity. If you want to push for an upgrade, raise it at your next body corporate meeting.

Which is faster, TPG Vision Network or NBN FTTB?

TPG Vision Network FTTB is significantly faster than NBN FTTB in apartments where both are available. TPG has upgraded its private fibre network to support up to 500 Mbps download speeds on FTTB, while NBN FTTB is still capped at 100 Mbps. This is because NBN Co has focused its recent speed upgrade investments on FTTN, FTTC, and Fixed Wireless customers, not FTTB. TPG Vision Network covers around 400,000 mostly apartment premises in Australia. Unlike Opticomm, it's possible to have the option of both NBN and TPG Vision in the same complex. TPG private fibre plans are typically only available through TPG or its subsidiary iiNet.

Which providers sell Opticomm plans in Australia?

Around 52 Australian internet providers sell Opticomm residential plans in 2026. The major ones include Aussie Broadband, Superloop, Belong, Dodo, iiNet, iPrimus, More Telecom, Optus, Tangerine, Telstra, TPG, and Uniti. Not every provider that sells NBN also sells Opticomm; some providers focus exclusively on NBN. Many providers market their Opticomm plans under the name 'Fibre' (e.g., Superloop Fibre 500), but this terminology isn't universal. Just because a provider offers fibre plans doesn't mean they're available on the Opticomm network. The easiest way to find providers serving your specific Opticomm address is to enter it on a comparison site or directly on Opticomm's own website.

What speeds can I get on Opticomm in 2026?

Opticomm offers the same speed tier range as the NBN in 2026: 12 Mbps (Basic I), 25 Mbps (Basic II), 50 Mbps (Standard), 100 Mbps (Fast I), and following Opticomm's July 2025 wholesale price update, three new high-speed tiers including 500/50, 750/50, and 1000/100 Mbps. The new high-speed tiers are currently offered by select providers like Superloop and others as they become available. Real-world Opticomm speeds tend to be consistently close to the maximum tier speed because the network is fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) like NBN's full-fibre option. Typical evening speeds are usually 95% or more of the advertised maximum.

Why does my apartment have no NBN option?

Your apartment is on a private fibre network instead. When developers build apartment complexes in Australia, they can choose between NBN connection and private fibre networks like Opticomm, GigaComm, or TPG Vision Network. Many newer developments in metro Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane have private fibre installed because it can be installed during construction more flexibly than NBN. The result: your apartment has internet, but it's not NBN. You'll need to sign up to a provider that services your specific private network (around 52 providers for Opticomm, fewer for GigaComm, mainly TPG and iiNet for TPG Vision). Speeds are often comparable to or faster than NBN FTTB, and pricing is similar. Ask your strata manager or building manager which network your building uses.

Found your network, ready for a plan?

Compare Australian apartment internet plans across NBN FTTB, NBN FTTP, Opticomm, TPG Vision, and GigaComm networks, with up-to-date pricing and speeds for your specific building.

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