What Is FTTP Broadband? Full Fibre Explained (2026)

FTTP stands for fibre to the premises and means a fibre optic cable runs directly from the exchange to your home. Unlike FTTC, there is no copper section, so speeds reach up to 1.8 Gbps. Openreach FTTP now covers 82% of UK premises as of March 2026, with gigabit availability at roughly 90%.

How FTTP Works and Why It Matters

FTTP uses a continuous fibre optic cable from the telephone exchange all the way into your property, eliminating the copper wire that slows older connections. An optical network terminal, or ONT, is installed inside your home to convert the light signal into an electrical signal your router can use. Because there is no copper section, FTTP avoids the signal degradation that limits FTTC and ADSL. Openreach has now passed 82% of UK premises with FTTP infrastructure, and the government's Project Gigabit programme aims to push coverage beyond 95% by 2028. BT offers FTTP packages starting at 36 Mbps up to 1.8 Gbps on its Full Fibre 1800 plan. Download speeds are symmetrical on many packages, meaning upload performance matches download, which is ideal for video calls and cloud backups. Installation typically takes two to three hours and involves running a small cable from the nearest distribution point into your property.

FTTP Speeds and What You Can Expect

FTTP packages in the UK range from entry-level 36 Mbps right up to 1.8 Gbps, depending on your provider and plan. The average UK broadband speed sits at 157 Mbps as of early 2026, but FTTP customers typically achieve far more. Sky Broadband offers Ultrafast at 500 Mbps, while Virgin Media delivers speeds up to 1.1 Gbps over its own cable and FTTP network. For most households streaming 4K content across multiple devices, a 150–300 Mbps FTTP package provides ample headroom. Gamers benefit from the low latency that full fibre delivers, often seeing pings below 10 ms compared to 15–30 ms on FTTC. Upload speeds on FTTP are vastly superior to copper-based services, typically 50–100 Mbps versus the 10 Mbps cap on standard FTTC. Ofcom's 2025 report confirmed FTTP delivers advertised speeds 99.3% of the time during peak hours.

FTTP Availability and How to Check Coverage

Openreach remains the largest FTTP network builder, covering 82% of premises, but alternative networks such as CityFibre, Hyperoptic and Community Fibre are expanding rapidly. Hyperoptic focuses on multi-dwelling buildings in cities, offering 1 Gbps packages from around £30 per month. Community Fibre covers over 2.2 million London premises with plans starting at 50 Mbps. In rural areas, providers like Gigaclear and Wessex Internet use FTTP to serve communities often overlooked by larger networks. Project Gigabit has pledged £5 billion to connect hard-to-reach premises, with contracts awarded across 26 counties. To check FTTP availability at your address, use CompareFibre's postcode checker, which searches Openreach, CityFibre and alt-net databases simultaneously. If FTTP is not yet available, you may find FTTC speeds sufficient in the interim, though upgrading once full fibre arrives is strongly recommended.

FTTP vs FTTC: Key Differences

The critical difference between FTTP and FTTC is where the fibre optic cable ends. With FTTC, fibre runs to a street cabinet and the final stretch to your home uses copper telephone wire, capping download speeds at roughly 80 Mbps and uploads at 20 Mbps. FTTP eliminates that copper bottleneck entirely. Vodafone sells FTTC packages from around £25 per month, while its FTTP Pro plans start at £28 for 73 Mbps and scale up to 910 Mbps. Reliability is another advantage, as copper lines suffer from electrical interference and moisture ingress, leading to dropouts. Ofcom data shows FTTP connections experience 12% fewer faults per year than FTTC. The PSTN switch-off in January 2027 will retire the old copper telephone network, making FTTP the future-proof standard. Zen Internet provides FTTP with a traffic-management-free promise, appealing to heavy users who need consistent peak-time performance.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is FTTP the same as full fibre?

Yes. FTTP, or fibre to the premises, is the technical name for full fibre broadband. It means the fibre optic cable runs all the way to your home with no copper section. Terms like ultrafast and gigabit-capable also refer to FTTP connections.

How much does FTTP installation cost?

Most major providers install FTTP free of charge when you sign up to a contract of 18–24 months. Openreach charges providers an excess construction fee for premises beyond standard build distance, and in some cases this cost is passed to the customer, typically £100–£300.

Can I get FTTP in a rural area?

FTTP is expanding into rural areas through Project Gigabit and alt-net providers like Gigaclear, Wessex Internet and Voneus. Coverage varies by postcode. Around 82% of UK premises have access as of March 2026, with rural rollout accelerating through government subsidies.

Do I need a new router for FTTP?

FTTP requires an ONT box to be installed, but most providers supply a compatible router with your package. If you prefer your own router, check it supports gigabit Ethernet ports and Wi-Fi 6 to take full advantage of higher FTTP speeds.

Related Guides

What Is FTTC Broadband? · What Is ADSL Broadband? · Fibre Broadband Explained · Types of Broadband UK

Methodology & Sources

Information in this guide is sourced from Ofcom market reports, Openreach coverage data, ISPreview.co.uk, provider websites and independent broadband research from Point Topic and Thinkbroadband. Prices and availability are checked monthly. Speed data reflects advertised average speeds from provider Key Facts documents.