Full Fibre Broadband UK: The Complete 2025 Guide

Full fibre broadband represents the future of home internet in the UK. Unlike traditional "fibre" broadband that relies on copper cables for the final connection to your home, full fibre (also known as FTTP - Fibre to the Premises) delivers a pure fibre optic connection directly into your property, enabling speeds up to 10 times faster than standard fibre.

With the UK government's target of 85% gigabit coverage by 2025 and full coverage by 2030, full fibre is rapidly becoming the new standard. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about full fibre broadband in 2025—from understanding the technology to finding the best deals from providers like BT, Fibrus, and alternative network providers.

What is Full Fibre Broadband?

Full fibre broadband, technically known as FTTP (Fibre to the Premises) or FTTH (Fibre to the Home), is a broadband connection where fibre optic cables run all the way from the exchange to inside your property. This differs significantly from the more common FTTC (Fibre to the Cabinet) connections that most UK "fibre" broadband customers currently use.

The key advantage of full fibre is that fibre optic cables transmit data using light, which travels faster and with less signal degradation than the electrical signals used in copper telephone lines. This means full fibre connections can achieve much higher speeds with greater reliability than any copper-based technology.

FTTP vs FTTC: Understanding the Difference

Many UK households are surprised to learn that their "fibre broadband" connection isn't actually full fibre. Understanding the difference between FTTP and FTTC is crucial when evaluating upgrade options.

FTTC (Fibre to the Cabinet)

FTTC is the most common type of "fibre" broadband in the UK. With FTTC:

• Fibre optic cable runs from the telephone exchange to your local street cabinet (the green box you see on pavements)
• The final connection from the cabinet to your home uses traditional copper telephone lines
• Maximum speeds typically range from 36Mbps to 80Mbps depending on your distance from the cabinet
• Performance degrades significantly the further you are from the cabinet
• Upload speeds are limited (typically 10-20Mbps maximum)

FTTP (Fibre to the Premises)

Full fibre FTTP eliminates the copper bottleneck entirely:

• Fibre optic cable runs directly from the exchange into your home
• No copper cables are used at any point in the connection
• Speeds from 100Mbps to 10Gbps+ are possible on the same infrastructure
• Distance from the exchange has virtually no impact on performance
• Upload and download speeds can be symmetrical (equal)

What About Virgin Media?

Virgin Media uses a third technology called HFC (Hybrid Fibre-Coaxial). This uses fibre to street cabinets and coaxial (TV) cable to your home—not copper telephone lines. Virgin's network can deliver gigabit speeds via Gig1, but with limited upload speeds (52Mbps). It's not true FTTP, but it's faster than FTTC for downloads.

Full Fibre Speed Tiers Explained

Full fibre providers offer various speed tiers to suit different needs and budgets. Here's what the common packages actually deliver:

Full Fibre Coverage in the UK

Full fibre coverage in the UK has expanded dramatically in recent years, though availability still varies significantly by location. As of late 2024, approximately 65% of UK premises can access full fibre broadband—a figure that's growing every month.

Openreach FTTP Rollout

Openreach, the infrastructure arm of BT, is the largest full fibre builder in the UK. Their network supplies wholesale access to providers including BT, Plusnet, TalkTalk, EE, Sky, and many others. As of 2024:

• Over 14 million premises can access Openreach FTTP
• Target of 25 million premises by December 2026
• Priority given to urban areas, exchange-only lines, and new build developments
• Rural areas being addressed through the UK government's Project Gigabit subsidy scheme

Alternative Network Providers (Altnets)

A wave of alternative network providers are building competing full fibre infrastructure, often providing service to areas before Openreach arrives:

How to Check Your Coverage

To find out which full fibre providers serve your address, you can:

1. Use our broadband comparison tool to see all available providers at your postcode
2. Check individual provider websites (BT, Fibrus, etc.) for address-specific availability
3. Contact your local council to ask about planned infrastructure projects in your area
4. For rural areas, check eligibility for government voucher schemes through the Project Gigabit programme

Full Fibre Providers Compared

Here's how the major full fibre providers compare on key factors:

BT Broadband

BT is the largest retail full fibre provider in the UK, offering packages from Full Fibre 100 to Full Fibre 900. Key features include:

• Smart Hub 2 router with WiFi 6 on higher tier packages
• Stay Fast Guarantee ensuring minimum speeds
• Option to add Complete WiFi for whole-home mesh coverage
• BT Sport and mobile bundles available
• Premium pricing but comprehensive support

Plusnet

Plusnet, a BT-owned budget brand, offers full fibre at more competitive prices. Their Full Fibre 145 and Full Fibre 500 packages provide excellent value for those who don't need BT's premium features.

Fibrus

Fibrus has emerged as a leading altnet, particularly strong in Northern Ireland and expanding into GB. They offer true symmetrical gigabit speeds and competitive pricing. Read our Fibrus 2025 expansion coverage.

EE Broadband

EE offers full fibre with attractive bundling for EE mobile customers, including data boosts and priority customer service.

Full Fibre Installation Process

Installing full fibre broadband typically requires an engineer visit to connect the fibre cable to your property. Here's what to expect:

Before the Installation

• Your provider will survey the route for the fibre cable
• You'll receive an appointment time (usually a 4-hour window)
• Clear access is needed to the front of your property and the point where cables will enter
• Consider where you want the router positioned—the fibre enters at a fixed point

During the Installation

1. External work: The engineer runs fibre cable from the nearest distribution point to your property (may involve underground ducting or overhead poles)
2. Entry point: A small hole is drilled to bring the fibre into your home (usually through an external wall near the front of the property)
3. ONT installation: An Optical Network Terminal box is fitted inside your home—this converts the light signals from the fibre into electrical signals
4. Router setup: The router connects to the ONT and your service is activated
5. Testing: The engineer verifies speeds and ensures everything works correctly

Is Full Fibre Worth the Upgrade?

Whether full fibre is worth upgrading to depends on your current speeds, household usage, and budget. Here's an honest assessment:

Upgrade is Worth It If:

• You're currently on slow FTTC (under 50Mbps) and experience buffering or slow downloads
• You have a large household with multiple heavy internet users
• You work from home and need reliable, fast upload speeds for video calls and file sharing
• You're a content creator who regularly uploads large files
• You're a serious gamer who wants lower latency and fast game downloads
• Your current contract is ending and full fibre pricing is competitive

Maybe Not Worth It If:

• You're already on fast FTTC (67Mbps+) and have no performance issues
• You live alone and only browse, stream occasionally, and check emails
• Full fibre packages in your area are significantly more expensive than your current deal
• You're locked into a long contract with high exit fees

Future-Proofing Your Connection

One of the strongest arguments for full fibre is future-proofing. The same fibre cable installed today can support speeds far beyond what's currently offered to consumers.

Why Bandwidth Demands Are Growing

• 8K streaming: Netflix, YouTube, and others are developing 8K content requiring 80-100Mbps per stream
• VR and AR: Immersive experiences require high bandwidth and ultra-low latency
• Cloud gaming: Services like Xbox Cloud Gaming and GeForce NOW benefit from faster connections
• Smart home devices: The average home now has 20+ connected devices, a number expected to triple by 2030
• Remote work: Video conferencing quality and cloud application performance continue to increase

How to Get Full Fibre Broadband

Ready to upgrade to full fibre? Here's how to get started:

1. Check availability: Use our comparison tool to see which full fibre providers serve your address
2. Compare packages: Consider your household's needs—most homes are well-served by 100-300Mbps packages
3. Check contract terms: Look for deals with no setup fees and reasonable contract lengths
4. Schedule installation: Book a slot that works for you (someone over 18 needs to be home)
5. Prepare your home: Decide where you want the router and ensure clear access for the engineer

Frequently Asked Questions