In the Shoalhaven not all NBN connections will be the same. In fact houses in the same suburb, and in some cases the same street will have different modes of connection set up.

Local IT expert Michael Janos, who has over 35 years industry experience, explained the various ways homes across the Shoalhaven have been connected and will be connected in the future.

“Fibre-to-the-node is a system where fibre is delivered to a large cabinet and then existing copper is used to deliver internet to individual clients,” he said. “Think of it as moving the exchange closer to a house.” 

This is opposed to fibre-to-the-premises in which a pure fiber-optic cable connection runs from an internet service provider (ISP) directly to the user's home or business. 

Many homes in the Shoalhaven will also be connected via fixed wireless. “This is being rolled out at the moment where I live and consists of all of the people between Berry and Bomaderry,” Mr Janos said. “The NBN has used existing mobile towers and has built additional towers. Each house receives a wireless receiver on their roof.”

Is one better than the others? Will you be able to watch Netflix without buffering or conduct online meetings which don’t freeze? While FTTN, the current Liberal government’s preferred option, uses older technology this wasn’t the problem, Mr Janos said.

“The problem with this technology is not that it is old, but that it has no upgrade path - to go any further you need to go to FTTP and even the cabinets cannot be used,” he said.

“I’ve had a few customers on FTTN and the speed has not been great compared to their old ADSL connections. I have yet to see anyone achieve over 20Mbps.

“One client’s speed was slower than dial up. Another client has had intermittent drop outs. These problems could be due to the state of the copper. The problem is getting any response from NBN who I assume are flat out making the roll out schedules.”

The advantage of FTTP he said was not only the greater speed, “but if there is an upgrade, you only need to upgrade the customer’s modem and the hardware at the exchange to implement it”.

Mr Janos has had clients with FTTP from the beginning in Kiama Downs, which was one of the first test sites. 

“There were initial teething problems, with some of the first customers taking months to get connected but once connected, I find very few issues with the internet itself,” he said. “One thing people need to be aware of with FTTP is that their phone becomes an IP phone – that is you plug the handset into the modem and the phone signal goes over the internet. The biggest drawback for this is people who use multiple phone points in the house as these may need to be rewired.”

Fixed wireless customers had been “very happy” Mr Janos said. “Previously they had to use expensive and oversubscribed mobile wireless or use ADSL which due to the distance from the exchange was very slow. The people who are connected manage to get over 20Mb. I have clients who are now happy watching Netflix.

“The problem here is that not all premises can “see” the towers, and also installation is taking a lot longer than expected, so there will be a few who miss out.”

While he said he saw no real issue with a mix of technologies used throughout the city, Mr Janos said there could be one consequence. “In Kiama Downs there was a marked difference in selling prices for houses that had FTTP and houses who rejected the offer.”

NBN Co confirmed it had always used different technologies for different areas, “with some receiving fixed line, some receiving fixed wireless and others receiving services by satellite” according to spokesperson Kelly Stevens.

“NBN selects the most appropriate technology for each area so as to connect all homes and business in Australia in a fast and cost-effective way,” she said.

That meant using existing infrastructure where possible to rollout technology across the country. These all had “a clear upgrade path to meet future needs,” she said.

“All of our technologies will result in a fast and reliable broadband.

“All Australians will get access to the network through either our fixed line, fixed wireless or Sky Muster satellite service.

“Currently more than 2.6 million homes and businesses are able to access fast and reliable broadband through the NBN, including more 14,000 in parts of the Shoalhaven.”