Category: Technologies · Last updated 27 Sept 2026
Do I need a home phone line to get nbn internet?
Why nbn internet doesn't require an active phone service.
No - unlike the old ADSL network, nbn internet does not require you to have an active home phone line. Your internet service runs independently over the nbn connection, whether that's FTTP, FTTN, FTTC, HFC, Fixed Wireless or satellite.
If you still want a home phone
You can add a phone service that runs over your nbn connection (a "VoIP" or hosted voice service), which uses your internet connection to carry calls rather than a separate physical line. See our Phone/Voice help articles for more on how this works.
Remember that a phone service running over nbn will stop working in a power outage unless you have battery backup, since it relies on your home's power rather than the exchange.
Related Articles
- TechnologiesWhat is nbn and how does it work?A plain-English explanation of Australia's national broadband network, how it reaches your home, and why your choice of provider still matters.
- TechnologiesFibre to the Premises (FTTP): what it is and what to expectHow FTTP works and why it's the fastest nbn technology type available.
- TechnologiesFibre to the Node (FTTN): what it is and what to expectHow FTTN works, why your copper line and in-home wiring matter, and how to choose a speed tier.
- TechnologiesFibre to the Curb (FTTC): what it is and what to expectHow FTTC differs from FTTN and what the small device outside your home does.
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