There are frustrations that Tasmania's copper phone network is being phased out before customers in areas where the National Broadband Network is in place are switched on.

Under NBN Co's agreement with Telstra, the copper network has to be decommissioned 18 months after an area has optic fibre ready for service.

It means phone and internet services are already being cut in those areas, even though some customers are still waiting for connection to the NBN.

The Lewincamp family lives in an area where the network is available, but one month ago its internet and phone connection on the old copper network was cut by the service provider.

Sona Lewincamp runs a business from home and is struggling to get connected to the NBN.

"We've been told the next available appointment is in January when they will come and see whether they can connect us or not," she said.

"In the meantime, we live in an area with virtually no mobile reception, we're without internet, and we're trying to run a business."

The agreement with Telstra does not allow the copper to be switched back on.

Delays explained

NBN Co's Lalla McKenzie says there is a big demand for connection to super-fast broadband.

"Transitioning over to the NBN network is incredibly popular at the moment, so as you can appreciate we have a huge amount of orders that come through to our system, but if you don't have yours in we can't actually come and connect," she said.

The ABC has also been contacted by people who have recently moved to NBN-ready areas but into homes that are not connected.

When they have contacted Telstra to get a landline for a phone or internet access, they have been told new customers cannot legally be connected to the old copper network.

That means many will be left in limbo for months because of the lengthy delays in getting an NBN hook-up.

Mrs Lewincamp says something has to be done.

"All we're wanting is a bridging ADSL connection, it's not that difficult."

Ms McKenzie says consumers should seek advice.

"Go back to their telephone or internet provider who may have some other options for the interim," she said.

Telstra has issued a statement saying affected customers will be issued with a home phone and modem which will work over the mobile network.