nbn® new development charge: What you will pay and why

If you’re a new homeowner and your house has never had an nbn® or Opticomm connection, learning about the New Development Charges can take the sting out of any expenses you were unprepared for. If your home has never been connected to nbn® or Opticomm before, expect a one-off new development charge. The nbn® connection fee is $300, and the Opticomm connection fee is $300 to $550 depending on your provider and estate.

The good news is that this charge only applies if your property is part of a new development and has never been connected to the nbn® or Opticomm networks before. This means that if your home or business is in a newly developed area where no previous connection exists, you will be subject to this fee. 

This fee is a one-time cost to get your property connected to the high-speed Internet services.

nbn® new development charges

The nbn® New Development charge was introduced on 1 April 2016 for homes and businesses in newly developed areas without existing phone or Internet infrastructure and it still stands today. If nbn® identifies your connection as being within a new development area, known as a Greenfields estate, you will be charged $300 including GST. It applies once per address, as long as the number of residences on the property does not increase.

Wondering if this affects you? Here’s what you need to know about the New Development Charge.

Why was the charge introduced?

The Australian Government brought in a policy to cover the costs of setting up telecommunications services in new development areas. Instead of covering these costs themselves, the government passed them on to households and developers. 

So, if you’ve built or live in a new property that needs to be connected to phone or Internet services, you might need to pay this charge.

Who does the new development charge apply to?

If the nbn® identifies your connection as within a new development area, you’ll be charged $300 (including GST). These areas, called 'Greenfields,' are new housing estates where the necessary fibre for the nbn® network is installed along with other services like telephone lines.

This charge also applies to new customers signing up for Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) services in areas without an existing nbn® connection, usually in Greenfields.

The New Development charge only applies once per address, as long as the number of residences on the property doesn’t increase.

Opticomm new development charges

When you’re connecting to the Opticomm network for the first time, you might face a New Development Fee (NDC) ranging from $300 to $550. This fee is usually applied to newly constructed homes in areas serviced by Opticomm. 

Before an Opticomm technician can finish setting up the necessary equipment at your home, a few things need to be in place, like the initial cabling to your property and sufficient internal wiring. It’s important to note that getting these things sorted is the responsibility of the homeowner or builder.

If a technician comes to your place and finds that the required installation work hasn’t been done, you’ll be hit with a $150 Incorrect Callout Fee (ICF). Plus, you’ll have to schedule a new appointment once everything is ready.

How to avoid or reduce the fee

Ask your builder or developer whether the new development charge has already been included in your build or land contract, since some developers cover it upfront. 

Confirm with your chosen provider before booking a connection date, since the fee is charged by nbn® or Opticomm, not the retailer, and cannot be waived by switching providers. Make sure any required cabling and internal wiring is finished before your appointment to avoid the Opticomm Incorrect Callout Fee on top of the connection charge.

If this fee applies alongside a house move rather than a fresh new build, our guide to moving house and getting connected covers the full relocation timeline provider by provider, including how this fee fits into that process.

Need an expert?

Contacting the expert team at Compare Broadband is a great place to start if you have a new home being built and you’re looking to get connected. 

We’ll break down the best plans and providers for you, giving you options to get your connection date booked in. Call us now on 1300 764 000 today - let’s talk it over.

Hayley Griffin Content Lead Hayley draws on over ten years of experience in technology, internet, and communications fields. Her experience spans across global clients, offering expertise on about the nbn, internet plans and hardware challenges facing Australian households, businesses and consumers. Read full bio

Frequently asked questions

Does the new development charge apply every time I move?

No. It applies once per address, the first time that specific property is connected to nbn® or Opticomm. Moving into an established home that already has a connection will not trigger the charge again.

Who pays the new development charge, me or the developer?

In most cases the homeowner pays it as part of connecting their plan, though some developers negotiate to cover it as part of the land or house package. Check your contract of sale or ask your builder directly.

Can I avoid the Opticomm Incorrect Callout Fee?

Yes, by confirming with your builder that all required cabling and internal wiring is complete before your provider books a technician visit.