Fibrus vs BT Broadband
Comparing Northern Ireland's local full fibre champion with the UK's biggest provider. Which should you choose?
Different Approaches
Fibrus is a Northern Ireland-based provider building their own full fibre network across the region. They focus exclusively on FTTP (Fibre to the Premises), offering some of the fastest speeds available in NI with symmetrical upload speeds on many packages.
BT in Northern Ireland uses a mix of their own infrastructure and Openreach. They offer a wider range of packages including slower FTTC options in areas without full fibre, plus TV and sports bundles that Fibrus doesn't offer.
The key difference is that Fibrus is a specialist full fibre provider with lower prices and symmetrical speeds, while BT is a full-service provider with more extras but higher prices.
Where both are available, Fibrus often offers better value for purebroadband performance, while BT provides more flexibility with TV and sports packages.
Price Comparison
Fibrus is significantly cheaper than BT for equivalent speeds. Here's how the pricing compares:
| Speed Tier | Fibrus | BT |
|---|---|---|
| Entry | 150 Mbps - £24/mo | 150 Mbps - £32.99/mo |
| Mid-Range | 300 Mbps - £29/mo | 300 Mbps - £42.99/mo |
| Fast | 500 Mbps - £34/mo | 500 Mbps - £49.99/mo |
| Ultrafast | 1 Gbps - £39/mo | 900 Mbps - £59.99/mo |
| Maximum | 2 Gbps - £49/mo | N/A |
Prices are indicative and may vary. Check each provider for current deals.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Fibrus | BT |
|---|---|---|
| Network Type | Own FTTP | Openreach FTTP/FTTC |
| Max Speed | 2 Gbps | 900 Mbps |
| Upload Speeds | Symmetrical | Asymmetrical |
| Coverage NI | Expanding | Established |
| TV Bundles | No | BT TV |
| Sports | No | BT Sport |
| Price | Lower | Higher |
| Contract | 12-24 months | 24 months |
Why Choose Fibrus
- ✓Local Provider: Northern Ireland-based company investing in local communities.
- ✓Full Fibre Only: All packages are 100% FTTP - no copper, no compromise.
- ✓Symmetrical Speeds: Upload equals download on many packages - great for creators.
- ✓Competitive Pricing: Often cheaper than BT Full Fibre for equivalent speeds.
- ✓Growing Network: Rapidly expanding across Northern Ireland.
- ✓Local Support: UK-based customer service team.
- ✓No Price Rises: Fixed pricing during contract on many packages.
Why Choose BT
- ✓Established Brand: UK's largest provider with decades of experience.
- ✓Wider Coverage: Available in more areas across Northern Ireland.
- ✓BT Sport: Available as an add-on (now TNT Sports).
- ✓Stay Fast Guarantee: Speed guarantee with money back if not met.
- ✓Complete WiFi: Whole-home mesh WiFi system available.
- ✓Bundles: TV and phone packages available.
- ✓BT Reward Cards: Often includes gift cards on new deals.
Which Should You Choose?
Choose Fibrus If You:
- Want the fastest speeds at the best price
- Need symmetrical upload speeds for work or content creation
- Prefer supporting a local NI company
- Don't need TV or sports bundles
- Want guaranteed full fibre, not copper
Choose BT If You:
- Want BT Sport for Premier League football
- Need TV bundles with your broadband
- Fibrus isn't available at your address
- Prefer an established, trusted brand
- Want Complete WiFi mesh coverage
Our Verdict
If Fibrus is available at your address, it's often the better choice for pure broadband performance and value. Their full fibre network is purpose-built, offers faster speeds, and costs significantly less than BT.
The symmetrical upload speeds are particularly valuable for working from home, video calling, and content creation - areas where BT's asymmetrical speeds can be limiting.
Choose BT if you need BT Sport, want TV bundles, need the Complete WiFi mesh system, or if Fibrus isn't yet available in your area. But for most Northern Ireland households focused on getting fast, reliable broadband at a fair price, Fibrus is the better choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fibrus available in my area of Northern Ireland?
Fibrus is rapidly expanding across Northern Ireland but isn't yet available everywhere. They focus on building their own full fibre network from scratch. Use their online checker to see if your address is covered. Even if not available now, they may be coming to your area soon.
Is Fibrus faster than BT in Northern Ireland?
Yes, Fibrus offers faster maximum speeds (up to 2 Gbps) compared to BT's maximum of 900 Mbps. Fibrus also offers symmetrical upload speeds on many packages, which BT doesn't. However, both providers offer sufficient speeds for most households - the difference only matters for very heavy users.
Which is cheaper - Fibrus or BT?
Fibrus is significantly cheaper than BT for equivalent speeds. For example, Fibrus 500 Mbps is around £34/month while BT's 500 Mbps is nearly £50/month. Over a 24-month contract, you could save £300+ by choosing Fibrus for the same speed tier.
Can I get BT Sport with Fibrus?
No, BT Sport (now TNT Sports) is only available as an add-on to BT broadband. If you need BT Sport for Premier League football or Champions League, you'll need BT broadband. With Fibrus, you'd need to subscribe to TNT Sports separately (if available as a standalone service).
Is Fibrus reliable?
Fibrus builds and owns its own full fibre network, which means they control the entire infrastructure from exchange to your home. This can actually be more reliable than providers using Openreach, as there's only one company responsible. Early reviews have been positive for reliability.
What happens if Fibrus has problems?
Fibrus has UK-based customer support and can respond quickly to issues since they own their network. They don't need to wait for Openreach engineers like BT sometimes does. This can mean faster fault resolution, though as a newer provider, their support processes are still maturing.
Should I switch from BT to Fibrus?
If Fibrus is available at your address and you don't need BT Sport or BT TV, switching to Fibrus will likely save you money while getting the same or faster speeds. Check your BT contract end date first to avoid early termination fees.
Does Fibrus offer symmetrical speeds?
Yes, Fibrus offers symmetrical upload and download speeds on their higher packages. This is ideal for video calls, uploading content, cloud backups, and working from home. BT's packages have much slower upload speeds compared to download speeds.