NBN Co believes its network build will be halfway complete by the end of this financial year, as its roll out moves into metropolitan areas.

As of January 5, 2017, NBN's footprint included 3.8 million premises. However, only 1.6 million premises have activated their connection. By the end of June, it expects up to 5.4 million homes will be passed.

NBN's footprint currently includes roughly 3.8 million premises. However, only 1.6 million premises have activated their connection.

"This will be a significant turning point as we aim to finish the build by 2020 and become the first fully-connected continent in the world," NBN's chief executive Bill Morrow said.

"As the NBN network rolls out into cities we will be met with new problems to solve," he added.