Is Enterprise Ethernet different from standard FTTP, and do I need it?

Enterprise Ethernet is a premium business fibre service delivered over dedicated fibre, separate from the standard FTTP network most homes and businesses connect to. Both are fibre, but they're built for different jobs.

How they compare

• The connection - Standard FTTP shares fibre capacity between nearby premises. Enterprise Ethernet gives you a dedicated, uncontended connection that isn't shared with anyone else.
• Speeds - Standard FTTP plans are asymmetrical, with faster downloads than uploads (for example, 1000Mbps down and 400Mbps up). Enterprise Ethernet offers symmetrical speeds, so uploads are just as fast as downloads.
• Service levels - Standard FTTP can be paired with nbn's Business Service Essentials or Business Service Pro for faster fault restoration. Enterprise Ethernet adds higher availability targets for businesses where any downtime is costly.
• Cost and installation - Enterprise Ethernet costs more and can take longer to install, as the dedicated fibre needs to be provisioned to your premises.

When standard FTTP is enough

Most small and medium businesses are well served by a business-grade FTTP plan. Our Business Pro plans include Business Service Essentials, and our Business Priority plans step up to Business Service Pro by default, so faults are prioritised for faster restoration - reliability you can count on, without the cost of a dedicated connection.

Priority 250 is also available on HFC. HFC upload speeds are limited to 100Mbps, so the higher Priority speed tiers are FTTP only.

When Enterprise Ethernet is worth considering

Businesses that need guaranteed symmetrical speeds, uncontended bandwidth or the highest availability are better suited to Enterprise Ethernet. That includes businesses regularly uploading large files, hosting their own servers, linking multiple sites, or running critical systems in the cloud all day.