Malcolm Turnbull concedes complaints about the national broadband network will increase as more homes are connected.
Total NBN complaints, including those about delayed connections, soared from 10,487 to 27,195, according to the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman's annual report released on Wednesday.
Residential customers accounted for 88 per cent of total NBN complaints, with complaints about internet service outweighing those about fixed-line phones 60-40.
The prime minister acknowledges it is never good enough to have complaints and he's working with the minister and management to improve the experience for customers.
"It is a bit like television. If you've got hardly any viewers, you won't get a lot of complaints," he told the Nine Network.
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Mr Turnbull said about three million people were actively connected on to the network.
"(Customers) are rolling on and around 30-40,000 a week. Clearly you are going to get more complaints."
Mr Turnbull would like a 100 per cent satisfaction rate but accepts that is unreasonable.
"The goal is to ensure that the installation experience is a good one and obviously that people are satisfied with the service when they get it," he said.
Opposition communications spokeswoman Michelle Rowland said the government had declared 2017 would be the "year of the customer".
"Surely the prime minister can no longer pretend the deteriorating NBN situation is 'in hand' whilst households and small businesses continue to suffer from slow speeds, unreliable services and missed appointments," she said.
"It is time Malcolm Turnbull discovered the humility to accept his failures, and got on with the task of making things better."
