HFC

If you’re figuring out how to improve your current home internet connection, you’ve probably come across the term ‘HFC’ during your research online. Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC) technology might sound intimidating and complicated at first, but we at Skymesh hope to help you understand it better so that you have everything you need to be informed about your internet connection.

Before we talk about what an HFC connection is, it’s important to understand Australia’s National Broadband Network (nbn®). nbn® is a national open-access data network. This network is composed of wired and radio communication components that are able to facilitate internet connections.

nbn® was partly funded by the Australian Federal Government as a result of rapidly-changing times. The way we use the internet has changed, from the number of users online to the amount of bandwidth that is consumed by people every day. The country’s ageing copper phone lines were in need of newer technology to sit alongside them to accommodate rising demand.

Now, thanks to nbn®, retail service providers (RSPs) can help connect users like you to the internet. Here at Skymesh, we offer fast and reliable internet services at an affordable price via the nbn® network, even to regional parts of Australia.

What is HFC? All kinds of nbn® network connections that use a physical line running to the premises are considered Fixed Line connections. A HFC connection is one of them, which combines optical fibre and a home’s existing coaxial (also known as cable) wires.

Not all locations are outfitted with a pure optical fibre line that runs all the way to their home, building, or street. Luckily, HFC can be used in some premises where the existing ‘pay TV’ or cable network can be utilised to make the final part of the nbn® network connection.

What is HFC, and how does it work? A home’s existing coaxial cable lines can be used to connect the home to the nearest fibre node, which connects to the nearest nbn® exchange via optical fibre. Inside your home, an nbn® Network Termination Device (NTD) and power supply unit would be installed, and your modem would connect to this. This fibre to node system is what gives you access to the internet.

Is HFC faster than an FTTP connection?

If you’re wondering about the difference between HFC and FTTP, you’ve come to the right place. FTTP stands for Fibre to the Premises, which is when a fibre optic line is run from the nearest available fibre node directly to your premises. Unlike HFC, which does not use a 100% fibre infrastructure, FTTP is considered the purest form of connection.

According to an August 2022 report prepared for the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) detailing average speeds during busy hours (7 to 11 p.m., Monday through Friday), HFC was found to have an average download speed of up to 51.9 Mbps on nbn® 50 plans and up to 100.5 Mbps on nbn® 100 plans.

This is not far behind FTTP’s download speed of up to 52.1 Mbps on nbn® 50 and up to 102.8 Mbps on nbn® 100. Therefore, the speed difference between HFC and FTTP in this particular study is not significant. However, your internet speed can vary from time to time, depending on a wide variety of factors, including the quality and age of any existing coaxial cable lines that are used as part of the connection.

What are the advantages of using an HFC connection?

In terms of speed, an HFC connection is said to be typically faster than a Fibre to the Node (FTTN) or Fibre to the Curb (FTTC) connection because it doesn’t use any copper wires to connect. For instance, in the report mentioned above, FTTN’s average download speed at Plan 50 clocks in at up to 46.6 Mbps, which is indeed lower than HFC’s reported speed.

Once again, however, these speed differences are representative of a particular time period and do not necessarily reflect the average speed you will experience once a particular kind of connection is established in your home. The quality of the existing copper lines affects the speed and reliability of the service as well.

Typically, once you make the switch to an nbn® powered plan, you can choose from one of nbn’s speed tiers. However, not all speed tiers are available everywhere. The availability of speed tiers depends on the type of technology your home can be connected to and the speed tiers offered by your preferred RSP.

What are some alternatives to HFC connections?

We’ve discussed some HFC connection alternatives in previous paragraphs. Some alternatives to HFC connections are FTTN, Fibre to the Building (FTTB), FTTC, and FTTP.

While all these different connection types connect to the same nbn® infrastructure, how the connection happens varies from home to home. For instance, FTTB works by running a fibre optic line to a fibre node in a building’s communications room. Then, the building’s existing technology is used to connect to each apartment in that building.

Those curious about getting an nbn® FTTP upgrade should know that not all types of connections are available to them. In short, you cannot choose how you connect to nbn®. Location impacts the service you can receive since what nbn® allocates to your property is based on location, proximity to infrastructure, and other potential factors.

And speaking of location, if you live in a regional area, you may be struggling to find the RSP that can best serve your needs and make your internet installation process as easy and convenient as possible.

That’s where we at Skymesh come in. With over twenty years of experience helping regional Australians access a better and more reliable internet connection, we could help you get connected – and fast.

We offer affordable and data-friendly plans, ranging from capped plans to limitless or unmetered data (depending on your location).

For Fixed Line connections such as HFC, you can choose from three speed tiers: nbn® 25, nbn® 50, or nbn® 100, with typical evening download speeds of up to 25, 49, and 96 Mbps, respectively. Pick a plan based on your family’s monthly internet usage and go from there. Eligible users may also be able to enjoy free standard installations.*

To see if Skymesh is right for you, you can try our Fixed Line plans on a thirty-day no-lock-in contract. Should you be unhappy with the service, we will not charge you a cancellation fee; customers just need to provide a thirty-day notice for cancellation. And if you have any questions about your plan or connection, our Brisbane-based team of experts is happy to help you with your questions.

You may be able to check your address on our platform. Just navigate our website and enter your address, and you may be able to see if nbn’s service is available for your location. For further assistance, you may also speak to one of our agents if your address is not listed.

Enjoy the fast and reliable internet connection that you deserve in remote or regional Australia, whether it’s for work or play. Check your address today!

*Free standard installations exclude the new developments charge and subsequent installation charge.