A Network Termination Device (NTD), network termination (NT), or NTE (for network termination equipment) is a customer-side

network interface device upTwo simple NIDs, carrying six lines each, on the outside of a building upA German copper phone line termination box called '':de:Abschlusspunkt Linientechnik, Abschlusspunkt LinienTechnik'' (APL, "Demarcation point") In telecommunications, a ...

used by the Australian

National Broadband Network The National Broadband Network (NBN) is Australia’s national wholesale open-access data network. It includes wired and radio communication components rolled out and operated by NBN Co, a government-owned corporation. Internet service provid ...

(NBN). Network termination devices provide multiple

bridges A bridge is a structure built to span a physical obstacle (such as a body of water, valley, road, or railway) without blocking the path underneath. It is constructed for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle, which is usually somet ...

for customers to access the NBN. There are different types of NTDs for the various connection technologies encompassed by NBN. All connection types except FTTN use NTDs on premises. Depending on the kind of link, NTDs typically provide two telephony and four data channels. An external power source is required, and an

uninterruptible power supply An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) or uninterruptible power source is a type of continual power system that provides automated backup electric power to a electrical load, load when the input power source or mains electricity, mains power fai ...

(UPS) can be used to maintain connection in power outages (battery backups are available for the FTTP NTD). FTTC requires power to be provided from the premises to the kerb (distribution point). NTDs provide

user–network interface In telecommunications, a user–network interface (UNI) is a demarcation point between the responsibility of the service provider and the responsibility of the subscriber. This is distinct from a network-to-network interface (NNI) that defines a si ...

(UNI) connections for connection of in-premises devices. They typically have multiple RJ45 jacks for the UNI-D (data) connection, and some models have RJ11 jacks for the UNI-V (voice) connection. All NTDs are capable of passing

VoIP Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), also known as IP telephony, is a set of technologies used primarily for voice communication sessions over Internet Protocol (IP) networks, such as the Internet. VoIP enables voice calls to be transmitted as ...

traffic. FTTN requires premises to have a compatible VDSL2 modem. Each UNI-D port can be activated by retail service providers for different NBN services. The NTD cannot be used as a

Layer 3 In the seven-layer OSI model of computer networking, the network layer is layer 3. The network layer is responsible for packet forwarding including routing through intermediate routers. Functions The network layer provides the means of transf ...

router for in-premises networking. Most devices used in NBN are produced by

Alcatel-Lucent Alcatel-Lucent S.A. () was a multinational telecommunications equipment company, headquartered in Boulogne-Billancourt, Paris, France. The company focused on Fixed line telephone, fixed, Mobile phone, mobile and telecommunications convergence, ...

, currently a division of

Nokia Corporation Nokia Corporation is a Finnish multinational telecommunications, information technology, and consumer electronics corporation, originally established as a pulp mill in 1865. Nokia's main headquarters are in Espoo, Finland, in the Helsinki metro ...

. In FTTC networks, the hardware from domestic manufacturers CASA Systems (formerly NetComm) and Adtran are used (noting that the device is formally called an NCD), and in HFC networks from

Arris In architecture, an arris is the sharp edge formed by the intersection of two surfaces, such as the corner of a masonry unit; the edge of a timber in timber framing; the junction between two planes of plaster or any intersection of divergent a ...

, currently a division of

CommScope CommScope Holding Company, Inc. is an American network infrastructure provider based in Claremont, North Carolina. CommScope employs over 22,000 employees. The company joined the Nasdaq stock exchange on October 25, 2013. CommScope designs an ...

. FTTN networks, based on

VDSL2 Very high-speed digital subscriber line (VDSL) and very high-speed digital subscriber line 2 (VDSL2) are digital subscriber line (DSL) technologies providing data transmission faster than the earlier standards of asymmetric digital subscriber lin ...

technology, can be accessed with any compatible modem or router that supports VDSL2. NBN itself doesn't sell any VDSL2-compatible hardware and it must be supplied by end-user of the network. The network termination used in the specific case of an

ISDN Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) is a set of communication standards for simultaneous digital transmission of voice, video, data, and other network services over the digitalised circuits of the public switched telephone network. ...

Basic Rate Interface Basic Rate Interface (BRI, 2B+D, 2B1D) or Basic Rate Access is an Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) configuration intended primarily for use in subscriber lines similar to those that have long been used for Plain old telephone service, ...

is called an NT1. In 2025 a new series of devices was released for the 2gbps upgrades for the FTTP and HFC networks. On the HFC network the new NTD will be an

ARRIS In architecture, an arris is the sharp edge formed by the intersection of two surfaces, such as the corner of a masonry unit; the edge of a timber in timber framing; the junction between two planes of plaster or any intersection of divergent a ...

CM3500B/AU. There will be at least two FTTP models, one being a Nokia XS-010X-Q with a single service port capable of up to 10gbe symmetrical speeds, and a larger 4 port device from Sercomm capable of sustaining 4 individual services that is intended for business and multi-resident properties.https://www.itnews.com.au/news/nbn-co-wants-simpler-device-setup-to-connect-to-its-network-613264 The NBN have also used the Nokia U-010Y-A for testing and display purposes at the NBN Discovery exhibition area at the NBN Headquarters in Sydney. This device is capable of 25 Gb/s symmetrical speed using 25G PON with two SFP28 ports for the incoming and outgoing connection.

Network technologies

Gallery

References

{{reflist National Broadband Network Networking hardware