# NBN Co
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{{Distinguish|NBN (TV station)}} {{Short description|Australian government-owned broadband network provider}}
{{update|date=February 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox company
| name = NBN Co Limited
| logo = NBN Co logo.svg
| logo_size = 150px
| type = Federal Government Enterprise
| foundation = {{Start date|df=yes|2009|4|9}}
| location_city = [Melbourne](/source/Melbourne),[{{cite web|title=NBN Co Limited | work=Australian Government Directory|url=https://www.directory.gov.au/portfolios/infrastructure-transport-regional-development-communications-and-arts/nbn-co-limited|publisher=Australian Government|access-date=15 May 2023|ref=17}}] Australia
| location_country =
| key_people = {{plainlist|
* Ellie Sweeney, CEO
* Kate McKenzie, chair and non-executive director}}
| industry = [Telecommunications](/source/Telecommunications)
| services = [Wholesale](/source/Wholesaling) [data network](/source/Internet)
| revenue = {{AUD}}5.5 billion[{{cite report | url = https://www.nbnco.com.au/content/dam/nbn/documents/about-nbn/reports/financial-reports/nbn-co-annual-report-2024.pdf.coredownload.pdf | title = 2024 Annual Report | access-date = 9 October 2024 | work = NBN Co Limited |date=6 August 2024 |pages=6, 7, 85, 152, 153, 154, 228|archive-date=9 October 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241009071907/https://www.nbnco.com.au/content/dam/nbn/documents/about-nbn/reports/financial-reports/nbn-co-annual-report-2024.pdf.coredownload.pdf}}]
| revenue_year = 2024
| operating_income = {{AUD}}141 million[{{cite report |title=Annual Report 2009–2010 |url=https://www.nbnco.com.au/content/dam/nbnco2/2018/documents/corporate-reports/nbnco-annual-report-09-10.pdf.coredownload.pdf |work=NBN Co |access-date=22 March 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241009085047/https://www.nbnco.com.au/content/dam/nbnco2/2018/documents/corporate-reports/nbnco-annual-report-09-10.pdf.coredownload.pdf |archive-date=9 October 2024 }}]
==History==
NBN Co was established on {{nowrap|9 April 2009}} under the name of its [company number](/source/Australian_Company_Number), "ACN 136 533 741 Limited".[{{citation |author=NBN Co Limited |title=Organisations & Business Names |publisher=[Australian Securities and Investments Commission](/source/Australian_Securities_and_Investments_Commission) |url=https://connectonline.asic.gov.au/RegistrySearch/faces/landing/panelSearch.jspx?searchTab=search&searchText=nbn+co&searchType=OrgAndBusNm |access-date=2 June 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241009090020/https://connectonline.asic.gov.au/RegistrySearch/faces/landing/panelSearch.jspx?searchTab=search&searchText=nbn+co&searchType=OrgAndBusNm |archive-date=9 October 2024}}] After the establishment, the Australian Government started referring to the company as "National Broadband Network Company",[{{citation |author1=LeMay, Renai |author2=Tindal, Suzanne |title=NBN company established, looks for CEO |archive-date=9 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241009112037/https://www.zdnet.com/article/nbn-company-established-looks-for-ceo/ |url-status=live |publisher=[ZDNet](/source/ZDNet) |date=27 April 2009 |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/nbn-company-established-looks-for-ceo/#google_vignette |access-date=1 June 2011}}] which became the [de facto](/source/de_facto) company name. It was officially named "NBN Co Limited" on {{nowrap|6 October 2009}}.[{{citation |first=Renai |last=LeMay |title=It's official: 'NBN Co. Ltd' is the name |publisher=[ZDNet](/source/ZDNet) |date=7 October 2009 |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/its-official-nbn-co-ltd-is-the-name/ |archive-date=9 October 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241009112402/https://www.zdnet.com/article/its-official-nbn-co-ltd-is-the-name/ |access-date=1 June 2011}}][{{citation |first=Stan |last=Beer |title=NBN to make 49% up for grabs but who wants it? |publisher=iTWire |date=7 April 2009 |url=http://www.itwire.com/opinion-and-analysis/beerfiles/24303-nbn-to-make-49-up-for-grabs-but-who-wants-it |access-date=1 June 2011 |archive-date=3 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110403052405/http://www.itwire.com/opinion-and-analysis/beerfiles/24303-nbn-to-make-49-up-for-grabs-but-who-wants-it |url-status=dead }}][{{citation |first=Suzanne |last=Tindal |title=NBN company constitution revealed |publisher=[ZDNet](/source/ZDNet) |date=1 May 2009 |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/nbn-company-constitution-revealed/ |access-date=1 June 2011}}][{{citation |first=Renai |last=LeMay |title=NBN company details hard to find |publisher=[ZDNet](/source/ZDNet) |date=30 April 2009 |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/nbn-company-details-hard-to-find/ |archive-date=9 October 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241009112729/https://www.zdnet.com/article/nbn-company-details-hard-to-find/ |access-date=1 June 2011}}] It traded as "NBN Co" until 26 April 2015 when it began trading simply as "nbn".[{{citation |first=David |last=Ramli |title=NBN Co spends $700,000 to drop 'Co' |work=[The Sydney Morning Herald](/source/The_Sydney_Morning_Herald) |date=25 April 2015 |url=http://www.smh.com.au/business/nbn-co-spends-700000-to-drop-co-20150425-1msqpx.html |access-date=27 April 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180825002823/https://www.smh.com.au/business/nbn-co-spends-700000-to-drop-co-20150424-1msqpx.html |archive-date=25 August 2018}}]
NBN Co developed a [satellite internet](/source/Satellite_Internet_access) program named [Sky Muster](/source/Sky_Muster) aimed at rural areas. As of July 2023, over $620 million had been invested.[{{Cite web |date=2023-07-06 |title=NBN aims to match Elon Musk's Starlink but may have to write off $620m |url=https://www.afr.com/companies/telecommunications/nbn-aims-to-match-elon-musk-s-starlink-but-may-have-to-write-off-620m-20230704-p5dlon |archive-date=5 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230705190237/https://www.afr.com/companies/telecommunications/nbn-aims-to-match-elon-musk-s-starlink-but-may-have-to-write-off-620m-20230704-p5dlon |url-access=subscription |first1=Nick |last1=Bonyhady |last2=Baird |first2=Lucas |url-status=live |access-date=2023-07-10 |website=[The Australian Financial Review](/source/Australian_Financial_Review) |language=en}}] However, the program experienced fierce competition from [Starlink](/source/Starlink) satellites. Sky Muster consists of two [geosynchronous satellites](/source/Geosynchronous_satellite) orbiting over 35,000 km above Earth's surface, resulting in [latency](/source/Latency_(engineering)) times around 600 milliseconds (at 25 Mbps), compared to Starlink's latency of below 40 milliseconds (for 100-200 Mbps).[{{Cite web |last=Biggs |first=Tim |date=2023-07-07 |title=Telstra's Starlink deal could signal a new era of connectivity in hard-to-reach places |url=https://www.smh.com.au/technology/telstra-s-starlink-deal-could-signal-a-new-era-of-connectivity-in-hard-to-reach-places-20230705-p5dlve.html |archive-date=9 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241009114042/https://www.smh.com.au/technology/telstra-s-starlink-deal-could-signal-a-new-era-of-connectivity-in-hard-to-reach-places-20230705-p5dlve.html |url-status=live |access-date=2023-07-10 |website=[The Sydney Morning Herald](/source/The_Sydney_Morning_Herald) |language=en}}]
In February 2017, CEO Bill Morrow stated that there is no significant demand for wired connections above 25 Mbit/s and consideration of upgrading the network will not be undertaken until demand for high-bandwidth services is proven.[{{cite news |url=http://www.theage.com.au/business/gigabit-per-second-speeds-arent-needed-yet-nbn-co-boss-bill-morrow-says-20170228-gunlkt.html |url-access=registration |first=Lucy |last=Battersby |date=1 March 2017 |orig-date=28 February 2017 |title=Gigabit per second speeds aren't needed yet, NBN Co boss Bill Morrow says |work=[The Age](/source/The_Age) |access-date=1 March 2017 |archive-date=9 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241009114249/https://www.theage.com.au/business/gigabit-per-second-speeds-arent-needed-yet-nbn-co-boss-bill-morrow-says-20170228-gunlkt.html |url-status=live}}]
In 2019, NBN Co announced that by May 2020[{{Cite web|url=https://www.itnews.com.au/news/nbn-co-to-allow-internet-providers-to-pool-cvc-nationally-534587|archive-date=9 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241009113130/https://www.itnews.com.au/news/nbn-co-to-allow-internet-providers-to-pool-cvc-nationally-534587|url-status=live|first=Ry|last=Crozier|title=NBN Co to allow internet providers to pool CVC nationally|website=iTnews|access-date=2020-04-16}}] retail service providers would be able to pool all their connectivity virtual circuit (CVC) bandwidth nationally.
In August 2019, CEO Stephen Rue announced the completion of the $51 billion National Broadband Network by June 2020.[{{Cite web |last=Ryan |first=Peter |date=2019-08-15 |title=NBN will be complete by mid-2020 within revised budget, says CEO Stephen Rue |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-08-15/nbn-co-chief-says-better-times-ahead/11415256 |access-date=2020-04-16 |website=[ABC News](/source/ABC_News_(Australia)) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241009114657/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-08-15/nbn-co-chief-says-better-times-ahead/11415256 |archive-date=9 October 2024 |url-status=live |language=en-AU}}] However, some service areas were still being rolled out in 2020 and 2021 with FTTP for properties with FTTN or FTTC.
On 6 May 2024, CEO Stephen Rue announced his departure from the company to take the CEO position at [Optus](/source/Optus).[{{cite news |work=[The Nightly](/source/The_Nightly) |access-date=9 October 2024 |archive-date=9 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241009115207/https://thenightly.com.au/australia/nbn-chief-executive-resigns-stephen-rue-to-depart-as-he-is-named-new-ceo-of-optus-c-14560855 |url=https://thenightly.com.au/australia/nbn-chief-executive-resigns-stephen-rue-to-depart-as-he-is-named-new-ceo-of-optus-c-14560855 |date=6 May 2024 |first=Max |last=Corstorphan |title=NBN chief executive resigns: Stephen Rue to depart as he is named new CEO of Optus}}]
As of 3 December 2024, Ellie Sweeney, former CEO of [Vocus](/source/Vocus_Group), is the new CEO of NBN Co.
In January 2025, the company announced that over 8.6 million homes and businesses were connected to a plan over the nbn access network – compared with 6.7 million in February 2020.[{{Cite press release|url=https://www.nbnco.com.au/content/dam/nbnco2/2020/documents/how-we-are-tracking/nbn-february-2020-monthly-progress-report.pdf.coredownload.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241009113448/https://www.nbnco.com.au/content/dam/nbnco2/2020/documents/how-we-are-tracking/nbn-february-2020-monthly-progress-report.pdf.coredownload.pdf|archive-date=9 October 2024|title=Monthly Progress Report February 2020 |website=nbnco.com.au}}][{{Cite web | title=Archived copy | url=https://www.nbnco.com.au/content/dam/nbn/documents/about-nbn/network-premises-report/2025/network-premises-report-january-2025.pdf.coredownload.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250407004214/https://www.nbnco.com.au/content/dam/nbn/documents/about-nbn/network-premises-report/2025/network-premises-report-january-2025.pdf.coredownload.pdf | archive-date=2025-04-07}}]
In September 2025, NBN Co introduced wholesale speed enhancements across its [Fibre-to-the-Premises](/source/FTTP) (FTTP) and [Hybrid Fibre-Coaxial](/source/Hybrid_fiber-coaxial) (HFC) networks, upgrading the 100/20 Mbps tier to 500/50 Mbps, the 250/25 Mbps tier to 750/50 Mbps, and increasing the upload capability of the 1000/50 Mbps tier to 100 Mbps. NBN Co also launched a new “Hyperfast” wholesale tier offering up to 2000/200 Mbps on FTTP and 2000/100 Mbps on HFC.[{{cite web |title=Accelerate Great: transforming your internet speed |url=https://www.nbnco.com.au/corporate-information/about-nbn-co/newsroom/articles/customer/accelerate-great-transforming-your-internet-speed |website=NBN Co |date=6 June 2025 |access-date=18 November 2025}}]
==NBN and retail service providers==
The NBN network, as of 2022, draws together [wired communication](/source/wired_communication) (copper, [optical](/source/Optical_networking) and [hybrid fibre-coaxial](/source/hybrid_fibre-coaxial)) and [radio communication](/source/radiocommunication_service) (satellite and fixed wireless networks) at 121 points of interconnect typically located in [Telstra](/source/Telstra) owned [telephone exchange](/source/telephone_exchange)s throughout Australia. NBN Co also sells access for [mobile telecommunication](/source/mobile_telephony) [backhaul](/source/backhaul_(telecommunications)) to mobile telecommunications providers.[{{cite web |url=http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/613689/vodafone-first-telco-use-nbn-mobile-coverage-boost/ |first=Rohan |last=Pearce |date=3 February 2017 |title=Vodafone first telco to use NBN for mobile coverage boost |work=[Computerworld](/source/Computerworld) |access-date=9 March 2017 |archive-date=19 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210619114248/https://www.computerworld.com/article/3470396/vodafone-first-telco-to-use-nbn-for-mobile-coverage-boost.html |url-status=dead}}]
As of 30 June 2016, [Telstra](/source/Telstra) had 45.5%, [TPG group](/source/TPG_Telecom) had 24.8% and [Optus](/source/Optus) had 12.4% of all end users connecting to the NBN.[{{cite news |url=https://www.itnews.com.au/news/three-isps-take-83-percent-of-nbn-market-437927 |archive-date=9 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241009120011/https://www.itnews.com.au/news/three-isps-take-83-percent-of-nbn-market-437927 |url-status=live |first=Ry |last=Crozier |date=22 September 2016 |title=Three ISPs take 83 percent of NBN market |work=itnews |access-date=4 August 2017}}]
There has been a significant failure of the nbn to deliver nominal performance to end users. There has been contention between Retail Service Providers RSPs and NBN on the reasons for this. [Bill Morrow](/source/Bill_Morrow_(executive)), then CEO of NBN Co, admitted in 2017 that 15% of end users received a poor service through the NBN and were 'seriously dissatisfied'.[{{cite news |url=http://www.afr.com/business/telecommunications/nbn-to-review-pricing-as-part-of-image-problem-fix-20170724-gxhk0q |first1=Michael |last1=Smith |first2=Tony |last2=Boyd |date=24 July 2017 |title=NBN to review pricing as part of image problem fix |work=The Australian Financial Review |access-date=25 July 2017 |url-access=subscription |archive-date=26 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220426141209/https://www.afr.com/companies/telecommunications/nbn-to-review-pricing-as-part-of-image-problem-fix-20170724-gxhk0q |url-status=live}}] In addition, Morrow indicated that, at July 2017, prices and performance for end users were suppressed through a 'price war' between RSPs.[{{cite news |archive-date=9 October 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241009120830/https://www.news.com.au/technology/online/nbn/nbn-embarks-on-charm-offensive-to-address-confusion-and-complaints/news-story/07b17fc3b8563ccf706fafa2e2f7db87 |url-status=live |url=http://www.news.com.au/technology/online/nbn/nbn-embarks-on-charm-offensive-to-address-confusion-and-complaints/news-story/07b17fc3b8563ccf706fafa2e2f7db87 |first=Nick |last=Whigham |date=28 July 2017 |title=NBN embarks on charm offensive to address confusion and complaints |work=[news.com.au](/source/news.com.au) |access-date=29 July 2017}}][{{cite web |url=https://www.itnews.com.au/news/nbn-co-boss-declares-war-with-internet-providers-469724 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241009120756/https://www.itnews.com.au/news/nbn-co-boss-declares-war-with-internet-providers-469724 |archive-date=9 October 2024 |url-status=live |first=Ry |last=Crozier |date=31 July 2017 |title=NBN Co boss declares war with internet providers: Blames ISPs for performance problems |work=ITNews |access-date=31 July 2017}}]
===Contractual arrangements===
NBN Co contracts mainly with RSPs to provide wholesale broadband access, with limited supply of [backhaul](/source/Backhaul_(broadcasting)) to other organisations (for example providing backhaul services to [Vodafone](/source/Vodafone_(Australia))).