---
title: "Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC): what it is and what to expect"
description: "How the former pay-TV cable network delivers nbn through HFC, what the connection box does, and what speeds and reliability to expect."
url: "https://dev.www.lightningip.com.au/help/internet/hybrid-fibre-coaxial-hfc-explained"
canonical: "https://dev.www.lightningip.com.au/help/internet/hybrid-fibre-coaxial-hfc-explained"
updated: "2026-10-04"
---

# Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC): what it is and what to expect

How the former pay-TV cable network delivers nbn through HFC, what the connection box does, and what speeds and reliability to expect.

Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC) uses the same type of cable that used to carry pay-TV services, combined with fibre optic cable running back to the local nbn point of interconnect. It's a shared medium, meaning your street shares available capacity, though nbn Co manages this centrally.

## What's installed at your home

An nbn technician fits a small cable modem-style device called an nbn Connection Box (sometimes referred to as an NTD, or Network Termination Device), connected via a coaxial cable, often to an existing pay-TV cable point in your home. Your router connects to this device with ethernet.

## What to expect

HFC generally supports a good range of speed tiers and is usually a straightforward connection where cable infrastructure already exists at the property.

HFC networks sometimes undergo scheduled maintenance events to improve capacity in an area. If your speed dips temporarily, check for a known event before assuming there's a fault.