Construction is underway to deliver faster and more reliable internet access to tens of thousands of Canberra households and businesses, as the Albanese Labor Government continues delivering for the ACT.
As part of a significant broadband infrastructure upgrade, about 97,000 ACT premises currently connected via Fibre to the Node (FTTN) will be upgraded to full fibre connections.
These upgrades will support households and businesses to access high-speed internet for work, health services and everyday online activities, works include:
- 50 projects across 85 suburbs in the ACT
- More than 2,500 km of fibre to be hauled
- Over 1,200 poles utilised for aerial design and construction
This work will enable about 99% of ACT premises currently served by FTTN technology to be eligible for an upgrade to full fibre. NBN Co will undertake further design work to determine the most appropriate upgrade path for the small number of remaining premises.
This milestone is part of the Government's announcement in January 2025 to upgrade the remaining premises served by the Fibre to the Node network.
This work is part of the Albanese Labor Government's national investment to upgrade Australia's remaining FTTN network, supported by a $3 billion Commonwealth equity investment in NBN Co, alongside more than $800 million contributed by NBN Co.
The upgrades are expected to be completed in the ACT by the end of 2030, almost doubling the number of premises currently able to access multi-gigabit-capable broadband.
Construction will be delivered using a mix of underground and aerial methods, depending on local conditions, with work coordinated closely with local authorities and utilities to minimise disruption.
Residents may notice activity in streets, verges and, in limited cases, private property. Traffic management and temporary access changes may be required during construction, with advance notice provided wherever possible.
To stay informed about when upgrades will occur in your area, ACT residents can visit: www.nbn.com.au/FibreUpgradeACT .
Quotes attributable to Minister for Finance and Senator for the ACT Katy Gallagher:
"Canberrans deserve fast, reliable and affordable internet, and this upgrade will make a real difference for households and businesses across the ACT."
"Many Canberrans have told me they struggle with slow or unreliable connections when working from home, running a business or accessing online services. This upgrade is about fixing that."
"The Albanese Labor Government is delivering on our commitment to complete the job of upgrading the NBN in Canberra and ensure our community has the digital infrastructure it needs for the future."
"Labor created the NBN, and now we're delivering upgrades that were ignored by the Coalition, so Canberrans can access the speeds and reliability they expect."
Quotes attributable to Minister for Communications, Anika Wells:
"We are getting on with the job of delivering faster broadband access across the ACT, making sure that no one is left behind.
"A resilient and reliable internet connection is important for all Australians and these upgrades to full fibre will boost connectivity and deliver for Canberrans."
Quotes attributable to ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr:
"We all know how important fast, reliable internet is. That's why we're really pleased to see the Commonwealth Government investing in more full fibre upgrades for communities across Australia.
The ACT Government worked closely with nbn co during the first upgrade program, which wrapped up at the end of 2025. We're looking forward to keeping that momentum going, with this next stage seeing another 97,000 Canberra homes and businesses getting access to upgraded fibre connections."
Quotes attributable to Alicia Payne MP:
"Reliable high-speed internet is essential infrastructure for modern Canberra, whether you're studying, working from home or running a local business."
"This investment will improve connectivity across our city and support productivity, innovation and economic growth."
Quotes attributable to David Smith MP:
"These upgrades will help families and businesses across Canberra's south get faster and more dependable broadband."
"Better connectivity means stronger local businesses, improved access to services and more opportunities to work and learn online."
