The NBN Will Start Forcing FTTP Fibre Upgrades from July 2027
For years, upgrading from copper‑based NBN connections to full fibre has been optional for most households. That’s about to change.
From mid‑2027, NBN Co will begin mandating upgrades to Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) in selected areas, with customers on ageing copper connections facing service suspension or disconnection if they don’t make the switch. While the rollout will be gradual, it marks the clearest signal yet that Australia’s copper‑based NBN technologies are on borrowed time.
What’s actually changing and how worried should you be?
What Does “Forcing” a Fibre Upgrade Actually Mean?
Until now, most NBN customers on Fibre to the Node (FTTN) or Fibre to the Curb (FTTC) could remain on copper indefinitely, provided they didn’t request faster speeds. That flexibility is ending.
Under a new Targeted Upgrade Program, NBN Co will identify specific neighbourhoods and require all impacted premises to upgrade to FTTP within a defined window—typically six months.
Customers who don’t act within that timeframe will face escalating consequences:
- Their NBN service may be suspended
- If no upgrade is requested within 30 days, the service may be disconnected entirely
- Reconnection will require ordering a new FTTP service
In short, staying on copper won’t be an option once your area is selected.
When Does This Start?
According to industry consultation documents seen by WhistleOut, NBN Co plans to begin the program in July 2027, starting with around 130,000 premises in the first year and ramping up to 20,000 forced upgrades per month after that.
The rollout won’t be nationwide all at once. Instead, NBN Co will prioritise areas where fibre upgrades are cheapest and simplest to complete, making it easier to retire copper infrastructure suburb by suburb.
Who Will Be Affected?
The forced upgrades will initially apply to customers on:
- FTTN (Fibre to the Node)
- FTTC (Fibre to the Curb)
These technologies rely on copper wiring for the final connection into homes, which NBN Co now classifies as “legacy infrastructure”.
Importantly, this is not limited to heavy internet users. Under the Targeted Upgrade Program:
- You won’t need to order a higher‑speed plan
- You can keep your existing speed tier on fibre
- The upgrade itself will be free for eligible premises
That’s a significant change from current FTTP upgrades, which usually require customers to order a fast plan (often NBN 500 or higher).
Why Is the NBN Doing This?
The short answer: copper is expensive, unreliable, and holding the network back.
NBN Co has been increasingly open about the long‑term cost of maintaining copper‑based services. FTTN and FTTC connections have higher fault rates, are more vulnerable to weather damage, and cost more to repair over time than fibre.
From NBN Co’s perspective, keeping copper and fibre running side‑by‑side no longer makes financial or technical sense. The company has committed to enabling full fibre access for around 90% of fixed‑line premises by the end of 2025, with most of the remainder upgraded by 2030.
Forced upgrades are effectively the final step in retiring copper for good.
How Will Customers Be Notified?
If your area is selected, NBN Co says you’ll receive multiple warnings:
- Initial notice around six months out
- Follow‑up notifications at three months and one month
- Clear instructions on how to book your upgrade
Retail service providers (ISPs) will also contact customers directly, as the upgrade still needs to be initiated through your ISP even if the infrastructure work is handled by NBN Co.
What Does This Mean for Households?
For most people, the switch to fibre will be all upside:
- Far more reliable connections
- Better performance at peak times
- Future access to multi‑gigabit speeds
Crucially, NBN Co has confirmed that customers forced to upgrade won’t be required to pay more just to stay connected.
However, renters may need landlord approval, and some homes may require minor internal work — something households should plan for once notifications start arriving.
The Beginning of the End for Copper
While the language of “forced upgrades” may sound alarming, the reality is that this move has been coming for years. Australia’s copper‑based NBN was always a compromise, and NBN Co has now firmly committed to moving beyond it.
From 2027 onward, the message will be clear: fibre isn’t just better, it’s mandatory.
