What is Full Fibre Broadband?
Full fibre (FTTP/FTTH) is the fastest, most reliable type of broadband available in the UK, using pure fibre optic cables all the way to your home. No copper, no compromises.
Understanding Full Fibre
Full fibre broadband (also called FTTP - Fibre to the Premises, or FTTH - Fibre to the Home) means that fibre optic cables run directly from the telephone exchange all the way to your property, with no copper cable involved at any point.
Fibre optic cables transmit data using light pulses rather than electrical signals, allowing them to carry vastly more information at much higher speeds with virtually no signal degradation over distance. This is the same technology that powers the internet's undersea cables connecting continents.
The UK government and Ofcom have set ambitious targets for full fibre rollout, aiming for nationwide gigabit-capable coverage. Full fibre is considered future-proof infrastructure that will serve homes for decades without needing replacement—unlike copper-based technologies that are reaching their physical limits.
Full Fibre (FTTP) vs Standard Fibre (FTTC)
Full Fibre (FTTP/FTTH)
100% fibre optic from the exchange to your home. The fibre cable terminates inside your property with a small Optical Network Terminal (ONT) box that converts the light signals to electrical signals for your router.
Maximum speeds: 100 Mbps to 8 Gbps (8000 Mbps) depending on package. Most providers offer 150-1000 Mbps packages, with upload speeds from 30 Mbps up to matching download speed (symmetric).
Standard Fibre (FTTC)
Fibre to the green street cabinet, then old copper telephone line for the final distance to your home (typically 100-300 meters). This copper section creates a bottleneck that limits speeds.
Maximum speeds: Typically 67-80 Mbps download, 10-20 Mbps upload. Speeds decrease significantly if you're far from the street cabinet—at 300 meters you might only get 40-50 Mbps despite paying for 67.
Key Difference:
The copper cable used in FTTC is the same Victorian-era telephone infrastructure, often 50+ years old. It was never designed for high-speed data and physically cannot support speeds beyond ~80 Mbps. Full fibre removes this bottleneck entirely, offering 10-100x faster speeds with zero distance degradation.
Technology Comparison
| Aspect | Full Fibre (FTTP) | Standard Fibre (FTTC) | ADSL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technology | 100% fibre optic cable to your home | Fibre to cabinet, copper to home | 100% copper telephone line |
| Max Download Speed | 1000-8000 Mbps (1-8 Gbps) | ~80 Mbps | ~24 Mbps |
| Typical Upload Speed | 50-1000+ Mbps | 10-20 Mbps | 1-2 Mbps |
| Latency (Ping) | 5-15ms (excellent) | 15-30ms (good) | 30-80ms (poor) |
| Reliability | Excellent - weather/distance independent | Good - can degrade over distance | Poor - highly distance dependent |
| Future-Proof | Yes - decades of capacity | No - copper bottleneck | No - obsolete technology |
Benefits of Full Fibre Broadband
Full fibre offers transformative improvements over older broadband technologies:
- ✓Ultrafast Speeds: Up to 1000+ Mbps download compared to ~70 Mbps max on FTTC. Some providers offer 2Gbps or higher.
- ✓Superior Upload Speeds: 50-1000+ Mbps upload vs 10-20 Mbps on FTTC. Critical for video calls and content creation.
- ✓Maximum Reliability: No copper cables means fewer faults, no corrosion, and consistent performance in all weather.
- ✓Future-Proof Infrastructure: Fibre optic technology will serve homes for decades without needing replacement.
- ✓Distance Independent: Speeds don't decrease with distance from the exchange, unlike FTTC and ADSL.
- ✓Ultra-Low Latency: Direct fibre connection provides 5-15ms ping, perfect for gaming and real-time applications.
- ✓Symmetric Speeds Available: Some providers offer equal download and upload speeds (e.g., 1000/1000 Mbps).
- ✓Higher Bandwidth Capacity: Can handle dozens of devices simultaneously without performance degradation.
Real-World Performance
How full fibre performs in everyday use compared to standard broadband.
Downloading a 100GB Game
Multiple 4K Streams + Gaming
Video Call Quality (Upload)
Peak Time Performance
Full Fibre Availability in the UK
Full fibre rollout is accelerating across the UK, with multiple competing networks.
As of 2025, over 50% of UK homes can access full fibre broadband, up from just 25% in 2020. The government's target is for 85% coverage by 2025 and nationwide gigabit-capable coverage by 2030.
Multiple networks are building infrastructure simultaneously, meaning some areas have choice between providers while others have only one option. Urban areas typically have the best choice, while rural rollout is ongoing through government-subsidized schemes.
Major Full Fibre Providers
BT / Openreach FTTP
Largest network, available in most areas
Virgin Media (FTTP rollout)
Transitioning from cable (HFC) to FTTP in many areas
CityFibre
Major alternative network, cities and towns
Hyperoptic
Urban apartment buildings and new developments
Community Fibre
Competitive pricing, London coverage
Gigaclear / Trooli / Others
Specialized rural full fibre providers
Is Full Fibre Worth It?
For most UK households, yes, absolutely—if it's available and affordably priced. Full fibre packages often cost only £5-10/month more than FTTC but deliver 5-10x faster speeds with better reliability and upload performance.
Definitely worth it if you: Work from home with video calls, game online, have 4+ people in your household, regularly download large files, stream 4K content, or create/upload content. Full fibre dramatically improves quality of life for these activities.
May not be essential if you: Live alone, only browse web and check email, rarely download large files, and stream only SD/HD video. However, full fibre is still recommended for future-proofing—your needs will likely increase.
The price difference between FTTC and entry-level full fibre (150 Mbps) is typically minimal (£2-5/month), making it a no-brainer upgrade. Even if you don't need ultrafast speeds now, the improved reliability, upload speed, and future-proofing make full fibre the smart choice when available.
Full Fibre FAQs
Does full fibre installation require work inside my home?
Yes, a small Optical Network Terminal (ONT) box will be installed inside your property, usually near your master phone socket or where the fibre cable enters. Installation typically takes 2-4 hours and may require drilling a small hole to bring the cable inside. The ONT connects to your WiFi router via Ethernet.
Is full fibre more expensive than standard fibre?
Entry-level full fibre (150 Mbps) typically costs similar to or only £2-5/month more than FTTC (67 Mbps), making it excellent value. Higher-speed packages (500-1000 Mbps) cost more (£35-55/month) but deliver 10-15x faster speeds than FTTC. Installation is usually free or included in signup promotions.
Will my old router work with full fibre?
Your router connects to the ONT box via Ethernet, so any modern router will work. However, older routers may not support gigabit speeds (they max out at 100 Mbps). Most providers include a new router with full fibre packages that can handle the faster speeds. Check your router supports gigabit Ethernet (1000 Mbps ports) if using your own.
What's the difference between Openreach full fibre and other providers?
Openreach (BT's network division) provides wholesale full fibre infrastructure that ISPs like BT, Sky, EE, Plusnet, TalkTalk, and others all use. Alternative networks like CityFibre, Hyperoptic, and Community Fibre build their own independent infrastructure. Both offer full fibre, but alternative networks may have faster speeds (2-3 Gbps options) and different coverage areas than Openreach.
Check Full Fibre Availability
Full fibre is being rolled out rapidly across the UK. Even if it wasn't available last year, it might be now. Check your postcode with multiple providers to see all your options.