Who is Community Fibre?

Community Fibre is Australia's only carrier-grade network purpose-built for existing apartment buildings, backed by institutional investors Macquarie Capital and Palisade Impact.

What is being proposed?

Community Fibre is proposing a full upgrade of the building's telecommunications infrastructure to a modern Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) network. This involves installing discreet, state-of-the-art fibre cabling throughout common areas, giving each apartment a direct connection back to the exchange and access to gigabit-speed internet.

Sounds too good to be true — what's the catch?

There's no catch — but here's how the model works.

Community Fibre is a privately funded business — it does not rely on government grants, levies, or any contribution from the Owners Corporation. The company funds the full cost of design, installation, and ongoing maintenance of the network itself.

Community Fibre generates revenue through the Retail Service Providers (RSPs) that sell internet plans to individual residents within the building. When a resident chooses to connect and signs up with an RSP, the RSP pays a wholesale fee to Community Fibre for use of the network. Residents who do not connect pay nothing, and the Owners Corporation pays nothing — at any point.

Is there any cost to the Owners Corporation?

No. There are no upfront or ongoing costs to the Owners Corporation. All infrastructure is owned, maintained, and replaced (if required) by Community Fibre at no cost to the OC.

Are there installation or activation fees?

Community Fibre does not charge installation or activation fees. Any applicable charges are determined by the resident's chosen Retail Service Provider (RSP).

Does the Owners Corporation need to sign a contract?

No. The Owners Corporation is not required to sign a contract. While rights exist under the Telecommunications Act 1997 (Cth) that may allow network infrastructure to be installed in common areas, it is not Community Fibre's intention to utilise those rights. Instead, we seek agreement from the Owners Corporation committee before proceeding, and works will only commence once the committee has had the opportunity to review the proposal and is comfortable moving forward. Individual service agreements are solely between each resident and their chosen RSP — the OC has no liability or obligation in relation to those arrangements.

What about exit or disconnection fees?

Community Fibre is a wholesale network and does not set retail pricing or contract terms. Exit and disconnection fees vary between RSPs and plans — some offer month-to-month arrangements while others may include fixed-term contracts. Residents are encouraged to review their chosen RSP's terms and conditions carefully before signing up, including any early termination provisions.

Who owns the infrastructure?

All infrastructure is owned and maintained by Community Fibre. This includes any replacement of equipment if required, all at no cost to the Owners Corporation.

Will the upgrade affect the building's power consumption?

No. The fibre network does not introduce any additional power consumption to common property. There is no impact on building electricity costs and no requirement for OC-funded power outlets.

Is there a complimentary service for the building?

Yes. As part of the proposal, Community Fibre will provide one complimentary 2 Gbps service to the building for the first five years. This can be used for applications such as the building manager's office or CCTV. At the end of the five-year period, the OC can choose to disconnect the service or review ongoing plan options directly with their chosen RSP.

Is there a minimum uptake required?

No. There is no minimum uptake required for the upgrade to proceed at no cost. The network will be installed regardless of how many residents choose to connect.

How disruptive will the installation be?

Works are designed to minimise disruption and are primarily confined to common areas. All works are carried out during standard business hours (typically 7:00am–5:00pm on weekdays), in line with applicable state noise and access regulations, and coordinated in advance with the building manager or nominated contact.

Will access be required to individual apartments?

Individual apartment access is only ever required after all common area infrastructure has been fully installed and tested. At that point, access to individual apartments is only required with the resident's consent, and only for those who have requested a service through an RSP. Coordination will occur directly with each resident once they have signed up with their chosen RSP. No access will be sought from residents who do not opt in.

What about fire safety compliance?

Any fire penetrations will be completed by licensed fire contractors and reinstated in accordance with the National Construction Code (NCC) and relevant Australian Standards (including AS 1530.4 where applicable). Certification of all penetration works will be provided upon completion, ensuring no adverse impact on the building's Annual Fire Safety Statement.

What are the next steps after approval?

Once approved by the Owners Corporation, Community Fibre will commence planning and procurement, followed by coordination with the building's nominated contact to schedule and deliver the installation.

Do residents have to connect?

No. Connection is entirely optional. Residents are free to choose whether or not to connect, and existing services can remain unchanged. There is no mandatory migration.

How are residents billed?

Residents are billed individually by their chosen RSP, and only if they elect to connect. There is no bulk billing or mandatory participation agreement.

What plans and speeds are available?

Plan details are set by each RSP and are subject to change. Based on currently available offerings on the Community Fibre network, plans include:

• Unlimited data

• Speed tiers from 100 Mbps up to 2,000 Mbps

• Infrastructure that is scalable to support even higher speeds in the future

Can residents change or upgrade their plan?

Yes. Residents can select, upgrade, or downgrade plans at any time, subject to their chosen RSP's terms.

Can residents use their own modem or router?

Yes. Residents may use their own compatible modem or router.