NBN WALL SOCKET
INSTALLATION

NBN socket installation is quoted individually because every property is different. The cost depends on the distance from the utility box or NTD to the desired socket location, the construction type (concrete slab, subfloor, or pier-and-beam), whether it's a single or double-storey home, and whether the cable needs to run through a roof cavity, wall cavity or subfloor.

We scope the job based on your property details — typically provided over the phone or via email — and allocate an appropriate time block: two hours, three hours, or a half-day. We give you the price before attending so there are no surprises. All materials are included in the quoted price. Contact us or call 02 9188 1577 and we can discuss your specific situation and give you an estimate.

Yes — this is one of the most common reasons customers contact us. Moving the NBN socket typically means running a new Cat6 cable from the utility box or NTD to the new location. The existing socket may be left in place or decommissioned depending on whether it is still connected to anything.

A common scenario is FTTP customers whose NTD is installed in the garage by nbn, leaving the router stuck in the garage with poor Wi-Fi coverage throughout the home. We run a new Cat6 cable from the NTD to a more central socket location — typically a living room or hallway — so the router can be positioned where it is most effective. The new socket is installed to AS/CA S009:2020 standards and tested before we leave.

Technically there is no hard limit on the number of sockets, but for VDSL-based NBN technologies — FTTC, FTTN and FTTB — the key requirement is that the primary socket is a single direct run from the utility box with no branches. Additional sockets connected in series (daisy-chained) will introduce bridge taps and degrade VDSL signal quality.

The correct approach for multiple sockets is a star configuration — each socket runs as a separate, direct cable back to a central distribution point. For FTTP, additional Ethernet sockets can be installed throughout the home as part of a structured data cabling installation. If you need multiple sockets, ask us about our NBN internal cabling service or data cabling — these are designed for multi-socket installations.

It depends on your NBN technology and the condition of the existing cabling. For some FTTN and FTTB services, the existing telephone socket may work adequately if the cabling is in good condition and there are no bridge taps present. However, this is rarely the case in homes more than eight years old, where legacy cabling is almost always daisy-chained and sub-Cat6.

For FTTC, a new dedicated socket is strongly recommended as bridge taps significantly degrade VDSL signal. For FTTP, the existing telephone socket cannot be used at all — a new Ethernet (RJ45) socket must be installed for the router connection. If your NBN connection is working but underperforming, the existing socket and cabling may be the cause. We can assess this as part of an NBN fault finding visit if you are unsure whether new cabling is needed.

Yes — we can install a new socket in any room of the house, including upstairs bedrooms, home offices, living rooms, and garages. The feasibility and cost depends on the routing path from the utility box or NTD to that location, which is determined by the construction of your property.

The most common request is moving the socket from the garage (where the NTD was installed by nbn) to the living room or home office. We assess the best routing path — through the roof cavity, wall cavity, or subfloor — and run a Cat6 cable to the new location. The socket is flush-mounted in the wall with a standard wall plate and looks like any other data point in your home. We can discuss the routing options with you over the phone before confirming the job.

All new NBN socket installations should use an 8-position modular (RJ45) socket — the same type used for Ethernet networking. AS/CA S009:2020, the Australian standard for customer cabling installations, recommends RJ45 for all new telecommunications work.

Older telephone sockets (RJ11, 6-position) were designed for voice services and ADSL. While some FTTN and FTTB connections technically function through an RJ11, using one means connecting via legacy wiring that is unlikely to be Cat6-grade and may have bridge taps. An RJ45 wall socket terminated with Cat6 cable is the correct installation for modern NBN services — it provides a clean, high-integrity termination point regardless of which NBN technology you have.

A straightforward installation — for example, a single Cat6 run from the utility box to an adjacent room on the same floor with subfloor access — typically takes two hours. This includes running the cable, terminating both ends, installing the wall plate, and testing the connection with your modem connected.

A more complex installation — such as running a cable across the full length of a double-storey home, routing through a concrete slab property via roof cavity, or working in a property with limited access — typically takes three hours or a half-day. We communicate the expected time to you before attending so you can plan your day accordingly. We do not leave until the connection is tested and confirmed stable with the NBN network.

Old telephone sockets connected to legacy internal wiring are rarely suitable for modern NBN services without modification. The wiring behind them is typically two-pair telephone cable (not Cat6), often installed in a daisy-chain configuration that creates bridge taps — one of the most common causes of VDSL performance degradation on FTTC, FTTN and FTTB services.

For FTTP services, old telephone sockets cannot be used at all, as FTTP connections require an Ethernet (RJ45) socket and the legacy copper wiring behind a phone socket cannot carry Ethernet data. In most cases, installing a new dedicated Cat6 cable with an RJ45 socket is the correct solution — it removes all the variables of unknown legacy wiring and gives you a direct, compliant path from the NBN connection point to your router. Call us on 02 9188 1577 or contact us online to discuss your situation.