DGtek operates a fibre to the premises (FTTP) broadband network, filling a gap left by the Coalition Government's decision to scrap the NBN's mostly-FTTP design for the Multi Technology Mix which has proved less than satisfactory for at least some customers.

DGtek's network currently covers Melbourne's CBD and some south-eastern suburbs: Port Melbourne, South Melbourne, St Kilda, Elwood, Bentleigh and Moorabbin.

"With recent investment in our infrastructure we have materially increased our fibre rollout and network footprint and have the capacity to now extend rapidly throughout large parts of Melbourne and ultimately throughout Australia," said founder and CEO David Klizhov.

That wider expansion is planned to happen by 2023, subject to further investment. The network would then cover more than one million homes across all capital cities and some regional areas.

"The DGtek fibre optic infrastructure is fully owned and managed by us and we have a 99.99% service availability. Our service is 10 times faster and more reliable than the NBN. The current NBN network cannot provide the speeds and reliability that Australian businesses and residents currently need and is already not meeting demand," he added.

"Our internet speed does not vary during peak hours as we manage all contention ourselves, preventing RSP's over contending the line resulting in performance degradation. If you have a 100Mbps service with DGtek, you'll receive at least 100Mbps download and 100Mbps upload all the time, 24/7. It's that simple."

The company offers speeds up to 10Gbps symmetrical.

Current DGtek RSPs include Pineapple, TrueFibre, Axecom, Spirit Telecom and Exetel for business plans, including services to apartment buildings.

The service is also available to individual residential customers through RSPs such as Roctel, which charges from $99.95 a month for unlimited data on a 100/100Mbps plan – but apparently only operates in Elwood.

DGtek is currently offering free 500/500Mbps services with "no strings attached" to help support people during the COVID-19 pandemic. Pensioners, retirees and residents of aged care facilities can get six months of free service, while "all families impacted by COVID-19" are offered three months of free service.