What Is Fibre Broadband? FTTP vs FTTC Explained 2026

Fibre broadband refers to internet connections that use fibre optic cables instead of copper telephone wire. In the UK, there are two main types: FTTC (Fibre to the Cabinet), which uses fibre to a street cabinet and copper to your home — delivering up to 80Mbps — and FTTP (Fibre to the Premises), also called full fibre, which uses fibre all the way to your home and delivers speeds from 100Mbps to 2Gbps+. FTTP now covers 78% of UK premises as of 2025.

FTTC vs FTTP: What's the Difference?

FTTC (Fibre to the Cabinet) — marketed as 'fibre' by most providers but technically part-fibre — uses a fibre optic cable from the telephone exchange to a green street cabinet, then copper telephone wire for the final stretch to your home. Average download speeds range from 35–80Mbps, though actual speeds depend heavily on how far your home is from the cabinet. The further away you are, the slower the connection. FTTC is delivered over the Openreach network by providers including BT, Sky, and TalkTalk. FTTP (Fibre to the Premises), also called full fibre or pure fibre, runs a fibre optic cable the entire distance from the exchange directly into your home. There is no copper involved. This eliminates distance-related speed degradation and offers much higher, more consistent speeds — typically 100Mbps to 2Gbps+ download with matching upload speeds on many networks. In Q3 2025, FTTP connections overtook FTTC connections in the UK for the first time, with 11.56 million FTTP vs 10.60 million FTTC connections (Ofcom 2025).

Fibre Broadband Coverage in the UK 2026

Ofcom data from 2025 shows that FTTP (full fibre) now covers 78% of UK premises, while gigabit-capable broadband (including Virgin Media's cable network) reaches 87% of homes. The Openreach network — used by BT, Sky, Plusnet, TalkTalk, and others — is the UK's largest full fibre infrastructure. CityFibre has passed approximately 4.7 million premises across 68+ towns and cities. Specialist city providers such as Hyperoptic and Community Fibre serve urban areas with their own FTTP networks. Rural households may be served by altnets like Gigaclear, Voneus, and Wessex Internet. FTTC superfast broadband (30Mbps+) is available to approximately 96–98% of UK premises via Openreach.

What Speed Do You Actually Need?

The average UK broadband speed reached 223Mbps in 2025 (Ofcom). For context, a single 4K Netflix stream uses approximately 25Mbps, a video call 3–5Mbps, and an online game 1–3Mbps. A household of four with multiple simultaneous users could comfortably operate on 100–150Mbps. Working from home users who upload large files or use video conferencing benefit from faster upload speeds, making FTTP preferable to FTTC. FTTC upload speeds are typically 9–20Mbps; FTTP upload starts at 15–30Mbps on entry-level packages and reaches 100–900Mbps on higher tiers. If your current FTTC connection is causing frustration during peak evening hours or with multiple household users, upgrading to FTTP is worth considering — prices for 100–150Mbps full fibre have fallen below £25/month with many providers.

How to Find and Switch to Fibre Broadband

The first step is checking whether full fibre is available at your address. Not all FTTP networks cover every street — even within towns where the network has been partly deployed. Use CompareFibre's address checker to see which providers offer FTTP at your specific postcode. Once you've identified available providers, compare prices, contract lengths, and speeds. Switching is now easier than ever: Ofcom's One Touch Switch (OTS) scheme, launched in 2024, saw over 1.6 million switches in its first year. You simply sign up with the new provider and they manage the transfer. Most FTTP installations require an engineer visit to install the optical network terminal (ONT) at your property — usually takes 2–4 hours and is free with most providers.

Compare Broadband Deals at Your Address

Full fibre (FTTP) is available to 78% of UK premises and the rollout is ongoing. Enter your postcode on CompareFibre to see every fibre broadband provider available at your address — from national brands to local altnets — and compare speeds, prices, and contract terms.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is FTTC real fibre broadband?

FTTC (Fibre to the Cabinet) is marketed as 'fibre' but uses copper wire from the street cabinet to your home. It is a part-fibre connection delivering 35–80Mbps. FTTP (Fibre to the Premises) is true full fibre, using fibre optic cable all the way to your home for speeds of 100Mbps–2Gbps+.

What is the difference between fibre and broadband?

Broadband is the generic term for high-speed internet connection delivered to your home. Fibre broadband is a type of broadband that uses fibre optic cables rather than copper phone lines. All fibre connections are broadband, but not all broadband is fibre — older ADSL connections use only copper wire.

How fast is full fibre broadband?

Full fibre (FTTP) packages start at 100Mbps download and can reach 2Gbps or more with some providers. Entry-level packages (100–150Mbps) cost from approximately £22–27/month. Gigabit packages (900Mbps–1Gbps) range from approximately £29–50/month depending on provider and network.

Related Guides

Fibre Optic Broadband Explained · Fibre Broadband Packages · Fibre Broadband Deals · Gigabit Broadband Deals · Ultrafast Broadband

Methodology

This guide is based on publicly available data from Ofcom, provider websites, and independent sources including ISPreview.co.uk, Thinkbroadband, and Point Topic. Pricing, speeds, and availability were verified in April 2026 and are subject to change. CompareFibre is editorially independent — providers do not pay for placement or influence our recommendations.