What is Fibre to the Curb (FTTC) broadband?

Fibre to the Curb (FTTC) is a classification for a type of broadband connection in Australia that uses pre-existing telephone cabling to deliver the internet.

High-speed fibre connects from the closest Point of Interconnect (POI) to its nearest ‘Distribution Point’, which is a nearby connection hub that connects you and your neighbours to the larger broadband network.

Then, data travels through the copper cabling to reach an indoor wall socket at the user’s premises.

Most FTTC locations will have a Distribution Point no further than 3 doors down from the property, as each distribution point serves up to 4 premises’ connections. From the distribution point, or curb, data travels through copper cabling into a telephone point inside the premises, which should have a Network Connection Device (NCD) attached to it.

The maximum potential speeds for this type of connection are 100mbps (megabits per second) when downloading, and 40mbps when uploading. There are many factors as to why a connection may be achieving lower speeds – for improving on slow speeds, check out some of our troubleshooting guides here.

Note: FTTC connections must use an NCD (Network Connection Device). If you do not have one, please contact our team on 1300 880 905.

For more information about what to expect on your appointment day, check out our guide on how to prepare for your Fibre to the Curb installation.