Yes, if you’re renting, you’ll need your landlord’s or property manager’s approval to request an FTTP upgrade. Equipment will need to be wall mounted, which will involve drilling. A utility box will be installed on the outside of the premise, and a connection box and power supply will be installed internally.

You or an authorised person over the age of 18 need to be present for the installation. No one needs to be at home for the pre-installation visit, however.

You won’t start paying for your new NBN plan until the FTTP upgrade is complete.

Once your FTTP plan is connected, you will need to arrange to have your previous plan cancelled. This will not happen automatically, and if you don’t, you will be billed for two services.

NBN Co says you may lose internet for up to half an hour on the day of your upgrade, but your technician will let you know if this is the case on the day. They also may need to isolate power temporarily depending on the work they need to do.

Most NBN-compatible modems and routers will work across multiple technology types, in the case of FTTP the NBN connection box serves as the modem. You should be able to continue using your existing router but you may need to change some settings.

FTTP vs FTTN modems and routers

Confused about FTTP vs FTTN connection types? Read our guide explaining the core differences and their respective modem types.

After your order is placed, the following steps will happen:

1. Pre-installation visit. An NBN technician may visit your home to prepare for installation and identify any obstacles. On average an NBN technician visit should take between 45 minutes and 1.5 hours. If someone over the age of 18 is present the technician may perform some non-invasive construction work. However, if no one is home they may complete it either on or before the installation date.
2. Installation. An NBN technician will arrive to install NBN equipment both inside and outside your home, they’ll also test it to make sure it’s working. This appointment will take between three and four hours. Complex installations could take longer, however. This appointment will require someone over the age of 18 to be present at home.
3. Connection. Once everything is installed, you’ll need to connect your new NBN connection box and a compatible router. Once this is done, your provider will be able to finalise your connection.
4. Cancelling your old plan. After your new service is live, you’ll need to get in touch with the provider responsible for your previous NBN plan to cancel it. Since it’s being delivered over a different technology type, it won’t be cancelled automatically – no one wants to end up paying for two NBN plans.

Due to the nature of the work, and how many upgrades are being requested the time it takes can vary. NBN Co aims to fulfil orders and complete FTTP upgrades within a matter of weeks. For FTTN customers in urban areas, NBN Co estimates 19 business days. This rises to 24 business days for remote and regional areas. For FTTC, NBN Co estimates 24 business days for urban areas, and 29 business days for remote and regional.

NBN connection box: Everything you need to know

Your NBN connection box is one of a few names for a bit of essential networking tech that gets your home online. Here’s what you need to know.