An NBN compliant phone system is simply a phone system that works with Australia’s National Broadband Network. The NBN roll-out has been ongoing for several years, though most properties across Australia are now able to connect to the network. It’s replacing cable and copper broadband connections with optical fibres and related technologies.

Not only does this promise faster internet speeds, but it also means switching from analogue phone calls to digital phone calls. NBN compatible phones use VoIP, or Voice over Internet Protocol, to make and receive calls via internet connection. Your telephone services provider may have already been in touch to discuss switching to VoIP if you have an NBN connection.

There are several types of NBN connections, which determine how you plug in your landline phone. You may have to plug the phone into your modem and then plug the modem into the phone socket, or plug both the phone and the modem into an NBN connection box. If an NBN connection has already been installed for you, they should have informed you which type it is and how to use it.

As mentioned above, the NBN uses VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) to digitally transfer multimedia messages and connect phone calls. When you switch to the NBN as your broadband provider, your analogue phone line will no longer work, and your phone sockets won’t connect to the telephone exchange anymore.

When the NBN Company technicians visit your home, they explain the type of connection and help you to choose a location for the NBN connection box. It must be easily accessible, as it’s the only place you can plug in a corded primary handset. The technology types available include:

• FTTB (Fibre to the Building) or FTTN (Fibre to the Node) – phone plugs into the modem, which then plugs into the phone socket.
• FTTP (Fibre to the Premises) – phone plugs into the modem if you have Telstra internet service; otherwise, the phone plugs directly into the NBN connection box.
• HFC (Hybrid Fibre Coaxial) – home phone plugs into the modem, and the modem plugs into the NBN connection box.
• Fixed Wireless – phone plugs into the modem, which plugs into the socket; however, you get to keep your copper or cable phone line.

If you’re concerned about losing internet connection during power outages, and therefore being unable to use your NBN compatible landline in an emergency, you may want to opt for a Fixed Wireless NBN connection to retain your copper line, or FTTP with a back-up battery unit. Alternatively, it’s a good idea to have a personal mobile phone in addition to your landline.

Analogue phones aren’t compatible with the NBN, though they can be updated using an Analogue Telephone Adapter to convert the analogue data to the digital data that the NBN uses. An NBN ready phone avoids this hassle, ensuring that your telephone technology won’t become obsolete.

Cloud-hosted technology means that everything is updated remotely, so you can say goodbye to bulky hardware that requires regular maintenance and home visits to upgrade. You’ll keep your existing phone number, but connecting and programming NBN compatible phones is much easier.

While initial purchase and set-up costs are similar to traditional phone systems, the ongoing costs of running NBN phone systems tends to be significantly lower. You could spend up to 3 times less on your phone bills if you choose your provider carefully. Realistically, this technology will become the norm for everyone sooner rather than later, so it’s best to stay up-to-date.

Generally, you only need one handset for a small house or apartment. In a bigger home, for convenience, you might want multiple handsets in different rooms – such as the hallway, living room, kitchen, or bedroom. However, with modems and NBN boxes, there is usually only one active port.

This means that you can only connect one corded phone, unless you have an adapter that can connect two phones at once to the single port. This also applies to cordless NBN phones, because the base unit still needs to be connected even though the handset itself can be removed.

However, some secondary cordless base units may themselves be wireless, meaning you can have another handset in a different location without having to plug it directly into the modem or NBN box. Having a single cordless base plugged into the port with multiple handsets connected wirelessly is the easiest way to go if you really want more than one landline phone in your home.

Even if you have more than one existing telephone socket, these will become inactive when you upgrade to an NBN connection, when you’ll only have one main socket. You can pay to have the wiring upgraded and replaced to allow more connections, but this can get expensive.

No, it’s not mandatory by law to upgrade to the NBN system. However, it’s compulsory in the sense that all properties will eventually be wired this way, and you’ll be left behind if you refuse it. If you reject the installation, you may be able to continue using your pre-existing networks for around 18 months, but copper and cable broadband will be completely disconnected in the near future.

This means that you’ll be left without a fixed line for your landline phone and internet connections, so your existing devices won’t work anymore. If you don’t use the internet and you’re happy to use a mobile phone all the time instead, this shouldn’t be a problem. However, if you still want a landline handset in your home, you’ll have to swap to an NBN connection in the end anyway.

Older analogue phones, including rotary phones, will not work on the NBN network. While you can keep your old landline number for your new NBN phones if you notify your provider before the installation, it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to keep any existing hardwired phones. It’s best to get an NBN compatible cordless phone, especially one that comes with multiple handsets.

When the NBN technicians contact you to discuss setting up your connection, they’ll inspect your property and offer several possible locations for the equipment. This includes an external utility box, and an internal connection box (with an optional battery backup).

Some people find that the exterior box affects the aesthetics of their home, and that the lights on the internal box can be visually distracting or annoying. For these reasons, you might want the NBN boxes to be hidden or in less visible places around your building.

While you can request a specific location, the final decision is the installer’s, as the layout of your home, wiring, and router will determine the viable installation points. It’s also not possible to install a connection box in a wet area, like a bathroom or laundry, for safety reasons.