NBN Co Boosts Home Broadband with Energy-Efficient Devices
▼ Summary
– NBN Co is deploying new energy-efficient Network Termination Devices (NTDs) that reduce emissions and resource use for Australian households and businesses.
– The new NTDs are approximately 33% more energy-efficient, consuming 4.2 Watts on average compared to 6.4 Watts for previous models.
– These devices support higher speeds from NBN’s Accelerate Great program, including multi-gigabit tiers up to 2000/200 Mbps for FTTP connections.
– The NTDs use recycled materials, with cases containing 84% post-consumer recycled plastic and packaging made from 100% recycled content.
– NBN Co has accelerated its net-zero emissions target to 2045, with validated science-based targets for reducing Scope 1, 2, and 3 greenhouse gas emissions.
NBN Co is rolling out a new generation of energy-efficient Network Termination Devices (NTDs) for homes and businesses across Australia, significantly cutting energy consumption while supporting faster broadband speeds. These updated connection boxes form a crucial part of the company’s Accelerate Great program, which launched on September 14th and delivers enhanced wholesale download and upload speeds for selected plans on the Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) and Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC) networks.
An NTD acts as the primary gateway, linking Wi-Fi routers and all internet-enabled devices within a property. The latest FTTP NTDs not only boost network performance but also reduce environmental impact through better energy and resource efficiency. Every first-time connection customer and those upgrading to fibre will automatically receive one of these new devices.
From an energy standpoint, controlled testing shows the new NTDs are roughly 33 percent more efficient, using an average of 4.2 Watts compared to the previous generation’s 6.4 Watts. The annual energy saved per device is comparable to the electricity needed to run a 55-inch smart TV for 200 hours. This efficiency gain supports NBN Co’s near-term goal of cutting Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions from sold products by 60 percent per customer device by FY30, using FY21 as the baseline.
In addition to energy savings, the new NTDs are much lighter. The complete unit—including power supply and wall bracket—averages just 400 grams, a substantial drop from the earlier version’s 1,165 grams. The cases and wall brackets also incorporate about 84 percent post-consumer recycled plastic, while all paper, wood fibre, and cardboard packaging is made entirely from recycled materials. Single-use plastic packaging has been eliminated, aligning with the resource efficiency objectives outlined in NBN Co’s Circularity Framework.
Steve Smith, Executive General Manager for Safety, Wellbeing and Sustainability at NBN Co, emphasized the importance of the nbn network as essential digital infrastructure. He noted that the new FTTP NTDs are approximately 33 percent more energy efficient, supporting the company’s broader commitment to lessen its environmental footprint through improved equipment used nationwide.
Since September 14, 2025, NBN Co has accelerated several of its popular wholesale products. The nbn Home Fast plan now offers download speeds of 500/50 Mbps, a fivefold increase, while the Home Superfast tier has tripled to 750/50 Mbps. The Home Ultrafast product has also been enhanced, moving from 500/50 Mbps to nearly 1000/100 Mbps. These faster wholesale products are available through participating retail service providers for eligible residential and business customers on FTTP or HFC connections.
NBN Co has also introduced multi-gigabit speed tiers. The new nbn Home Hyperfast product comes in two technology-based variants: FTTP customers can access wholesale speeds of 2,000/200 Mbps, and HFC users can get 2,000/100 Mbps. There are no changes to wholesale pricing as a result of the Accelerate Great Program.
Beyond speed improvements, NBN Co is accelerating its sustainability efforts. In May 2025, the company announced a fast-tracked commitment to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across its operations and value chain by 2045—five years earlier than its original 2050 target. This goal has been validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
As part of its long-term net-zero roadmap, NBN Co has set specific, SBTi-validated targets. The company pledges to maintain at least 95 percent absolute reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions from FY30 through FY45, using FY21 as the base year. It also commits to a 90 percent reduction in absolute Scope 3 emissions by FY45.
In April 2023, NBN Co’s near-term emissions targets received SBTi validation. These include a 95 percent cut in absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions by FY30 and a reduction in Scope 3 emissions from product use. Additionally, the company aims for 80 percent of its suppliers—by spend across purchased goods, services, capital goods, and logistics—to have science-based targets by FY27.
(Source: ITWire Australia)