Is BT Full Fibre Better Than Fibre?
Compare Full Fibre (FTTP) with standard fibre (FTTC) broadband. Understand the technology differences, speed comparisons, and which option is best for your home.
Quick Answer: Yes, Full Fibre is Better
BT Full Fibre offers significantly faster speeds (up to 900 Mbps vs 80 Mbps), lower latency, and more reliable performance than standard fibre. The price difference is minimal, making Full Fibre the better choice for most households where it's available.
How Each Technology Works
100% Fibre Optic
Fibre optic cables run all the way from the exchange to your home. Data travels at the speed of light through glass fibres, with no copper to slow things down.
- Speeds up to 900+ Mbps
- Ultra-low latency (5-10ms)
- Highly reliable
- Weather resistant
Fibre + Copper
Fibre runs to the street cabinet, but copper phone lines carry data for the final stretch to your home. This "last mile" of copper limits speed potential.
- Max speeds of 80 Mbps
- Higher latency (15-25ms)
- Speed varies by distance
- Susceptible to interference
Full Fibre vs Standard Fibre: Complete Comparison
| Feature | Full Fibre (FTTP) | Standard Fibre (FTTC) |
|---|---|---|
| Technology | 100% Fibre Optic | Fibre + Copper |
| Max Download Speed | 900+ Mbps | 80 Mbps |
| Max Upload Speed | 110+ Mbps | 20 Mbps |
| Latency | 5-10ms | 15-25ms |
| Reliability | Very High | Good |
| Weather Resistance | Excellent | Moderate |
| Distance Impact | None | Significant |
| UK Availability | ~70% | ~96% |
| Monthly Cost (Starting) | £29.99 | £28.99 |
| Installation | Engineer required | Self-install possible |
Why Full Fibre is Better
- ✓10x faster maximum speeds: Up to 900 Mbps vs 80 Mbps maximum on standard fibre
- ✓More reliable connection: No copper cables means less interference and fewer faults
- ✓Lower latency: Better for gaming, video calls, and real-time applications
- ✓Symmetric upload speeds: Great for working from home, video calls, and content creation
- ✓Future-proof: Infrastructure supports speeds up to 1 Gbps and beyond
- ✓Consistent performance: Speed doesn't degrade based on distance from exchange
- ✓Weather resistant: Fibre optic cables aren't affected by moisture or temperature
- ✓Better for multiple users: Handles many devices and users simultaneously
When to Choose Full Fibre
Large Households
If you have 5+ devices or 3+ people frequently using the internet simultaneously.
Heavy Internet Users
For 4K streaming, online gaming, video calls, and large file downloads.
Work From Home
Need reliable upload speeds for video conferencing and file sharing.
Future-Proofing
Want a connection that will handle increasing internet demands for years.
When Standard Fibre Might Be Enough
Standard fibre can still work well for certain use cases, though Full Fibre is generally recommended where available:
- Light internet usage: Browsing, email, social media
- 1-2 person household with few devices
- Full Fibre not available at your address
- Very tight budget (though price difference is minimal)
- Only need basic streaming (HD, not 4K)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Full Fibre really that much faster?
Yes, significantly. BT Full Fibre offers speeds up to 900 Mbps compared to a maximum of 80 Mbps on standard fibre (FTTC). That's over 11 times faster at the top end. Even the entry-level Full Fibre Essential (36 Mbps) matches what many FTTC connections actually deliver.
Why is standard fibre slower?
Standard fibre (FTTC) uses fibre optic cables to the street cabinet, but copper telephone wires for the final connection to your home. Copper can't transmit data as quickly as fibre, and performance degrades over distance. Full Fibre eliminates this copper bottleneck entirely.
Is the price difference worth it?
BT Full Fibre starts at £29.99/month, only slightly more than some FTTC packages. Given the massive speed and reliability improvements, most users find the small premium worthwhile. The price difference has narrowed significantly as full fibre becomes more widespread.
Can I get Full Fibre at my address?
BT Full Fibre is available to approximately 70% of UK premises and growing. Check availability by entering your postcode on BT's website. If not available yet, standard fibre remains a good option until the rollout reaches your area.
Do I need special equipment for Full Fibre?
Yes, Full Fibre requires an Optical Network Terminal (ONT) installed in your home, which connects to your router. BT provides this and a Smart Hub 2 as part of the installation. Standard fibre uses your existing phone line.
Will I notice the difference in daily use?
Most users notice improvements in download times, streaming quality, and video call reliability. The biggest difference is felt in households with multiple users or devices. Gaming and 4K streaming particularly benefit from full fibre's speed and low latency.
Ready to Upgrade to Full Fibre?
Check if BT Full Fibre is available at your address and experience the difference that true fibre-to-the-premises technology makes.