Full fibre broadband.
What it actually is and why it matters.
FTTP explained in plain English. What makes it different from superfast, how fast it actually is, who builds it, and whether it is available at your address right now.
Full fibre broadband (FTTP, Fibre to the Premises) brings a fibre optic cable all the way from the exchange to your home with no copper telephone cable involved at any point. That copper final section is what limits speed and increases latency on older superfast (FTTC) broadband. Remove it and you get faster speeds, much better upload, lower latency, and a more consistent connection overall. Prices have dropped significantly as competition has increased and in many areas full fibre now costs the same or only slightly more than older superfast products. Whether it is available at your address is the key question.
Check if full fibre is available at your address
Full fibre availability varies street by street. Enter your postcode to see which providers have built full fibre to your specific address and what deals are available.
Check my postcodeWhat actually makes full fibre different from superfast broadband?
The term fibre broadband has been used loosely for years in a way that has confused a lot of people. Here is what the two main types actually mean in plain terms.
Superfast broadband
Fibre runs from the telephone exchange to the green street cabinet near your home. From there, your existing copper telephone cable carries the signal the remaining distance to your property. That final copper stretch is where speed is lost and latency increases. The longer the copper run, the slower the connection.
Full fibre broadband
Fibre optic cable runs all the way from the exchange directly to your home. No copper involved at any point. The connection terminates at a small unit on your wall called an Optical Network Terminal, which your router then connects to. No phone socket, no phone line, no copper bottleneck.
What full fibre speed do you actually need?
Full fibre providers offer a range of speed tiers. The headline number is the download speed. Most full fibre connections also offer near-symmetrical upload which is a significant practical advantage for anyone who works from home. Here is what each tier looks like in real use.
For most households, 100 to 150Mb full fibre is more than sufficient and is usually the most competitively priced entry point. Upgrading to 500Mb or 1Gb makes sense if you regularly download large game files, have many people streaming 4K simultaneously, or do serious content creation with large file transfers. The upload speed improvement from entry-level full fibre over superfast is significant regardless of which tier you choose.
Which companies have built full fibre infrastructure in the UK
Unlike most countries where one state utility controls the infrastructure, the UK has a competitive full fibre market with multiple network builders. This is good for prices and coverage but makes availability complex to navigate. Here is who is building what and where.
Full fibre network builders in the UK
Full fibre vs superfast broadband compared
| Factor | Full fibre FTTP | Superfast FTTC | Practical difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Download speed | 100Mb to 1Gb+ | 35Mb to 80Mb | Significant for large downloads |
| Upload speed | Near symmetrical | 10Mb to 20Mb only | Major for video calls and cloud work |
| Latency | 5 to 20ms typically | 20 to 50ms typically | Noticeable for gaming |
| Consistency | Very consistent | Can vary with distance | Relevant for peak-time use |
| Phone line required | No | Yes (bundled in price) | Saves line rental cost |
| Price vs FTTC | Similar or slightly more | Often slightly cheaper | Small difference, often worth it |
| Availability | Expanding, not universal | Most UK addresses | Check by postcode |
Is full fibre actually worth switching to, or is superfast still fine?
For most households the practical difference between a good 67Mb FTTC connection and a 150Mb full fibre connection during typical daily use is smaller than the marketing suggests. Both are fast enough for HD streaming on multiple devices, video calls, and general browsing. The areas where full fibre makes a genuine real-world difference are upload speed for home workers, latency for gamers, and speed consistency at peak times. If you work from home regularly, upload files frequently, or game online, full fibre is a meaningful upgrade. If you primarily use the internet for streaming and browsing, the difference is real but less dramatic than the speed numbers imply.
Where the decision becomes easy is price. In areas with strong full fibre competition, entry-level FTTP deals are now available for similar prices to superfast products. If you can get 150Mb full fibre for the same monthly cost as 67Mb superfast, the choice is straightforward. Check your postcode to see what the actual price difference is at your address rather than relying on national estimates, because the competitive landscape varies significantly by area.
If you are currently out of contract on FTTC and full fibre has recently been built in your street, this is the ideal moment to switch. You avoid paying exit fees, you get a faster connection, and you likely get a better new customer price than you are currently paying as an out-of-contract customer. Use our comparison tool to see what is available at your postcode.
Questions people ask about full fibre
Full fibre (FTTP, Fibre to the Premises) brings a fibre optic cable all the way from the exchange to your home with no copper telephone cable involved at any point. This makes it faster, lower latency, and more consistent than older superfast broadband (FTTC) which uses copper for the final stretch from the street cabinet to your home.
Check by postcode using our comparison tool. Full fibre availability varies street by street in some areas. Two neighbouring properties can have completely different availability depending on which builders have reached each street. The postcode check is the only reliable way to know what is available at your specific address today.
Yes. Full fibre connections use different equipment to older broadband. The connection terminates at an Optical Network Terminal on your wall rather than a standard phone socket. Your new provider will supply a compatible router when you sign up. You do not need to buy one separately.
Where the price difference is small, yes. Full fibre offers faster speeds, much better upload, lower latency, and more consistent performance. In many areas prices are now comparable to superfast products. The case is strongest if you work from home, game online, or have multiple heavy users in the household.
Yes, though installation in a flat can involve running cable through communal areas which may require landlord or building management permission. Hyperoptic specialises in full fibre for flat blocks and may already be installed in your building. Contact the provider before signing up to confirm what the installation involves at your specific property.
No. Full fibre is entirely separate from the copper telephone network. There is no phone line involved and therefore no line rental charge bundled into the price. This is one of the financial advantages over older FTTC superfast products where line rental is included whether you use it or not.
Related deals and guides
Check if full fibre is available at your address
See which full fibre providers cover your postcode and compare deals on speed, price, and contract length.
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