Last reviewed: 11 May 2026. Full-fibre broadband, also called fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP), runs a fibre-optic cable all the way to your home rather than to a street cabinet. By the end of 2025, more than 70% of UK homes were able to order a full-fibre service, with Openreach, Virgin Media O2, CityFibre, and a number of alt-net builders covering the country. This guide explains the difference between full fibre and part-fibre, what speeds and prices to expect in 2026, which provider type to pick, how social tariffs work, and how the One Touch Switch process makes changing providers easier.
TL;DR
- Full fibre (FTTP) brings fibre directly to your home, supporting 100 Mbps to 1 Gbps and beyond, with symmetric upload speeds on most alt-net networks.
- "Fibre" broadband sold by most legacy providers is often fibre-to-the-cabinet (FTTC), which still uses copper for the final stretch and caps at 30 to 80 Mbps.
- Average full-fibre prices in the UK in 2026 range from £25 a month (100 Mbps) to £60 a month (1 Gbps symmetric).
- Openreach, Virgin Media O2, CityFibre, Hyperoptic, Community Fibre, and dozens of regional alt-nets supply the wholesale infrastructure.
- Switching is covered by the One Touch Switch process (since 12 September 2024), making provider changes easier and faster.
- Ofcom requires mid-contract price rises to be disclosed in pounds and pence at sign-up since January 2025; check the contract.
- The analogue telephone network is being switched off by January 2027, after which all landlines run digitally over broadband.
What is full fibre?
Full fibre means a fibre-optic cable runs continuously from the local exchange to your home. There is no copper segment, so the line is not subject to the speed and reliability limits of older Openreach copper telephone wires. Typical full-fibre packages offer download speeds of 100, 300, 500, 900, and (in some areas) 1,000+ Mbps. Upload speeds are usually symmetric (same as download) on alt-net networks and asymmetric on Openreach FTTP (for example 900 down, 110 up).
"Superfast fibre", "fibre broadband", "fibre to the home" (used loosely), and similar terms used by traditional ISPs sometimes still refer to FTTC, where the fibre stops at the green street cabinet and the last stretch to your home uses copper telephone wires. This caps the realistic speed at 30 to 80 Mbps depending on line length. Ofcom has clamped down on the misuse of "fibre" in product naming, but it still appears in some retail packages. Always check the product is described as FTTP, full fibre, or "fibre to the premises".
Speed in practice
| Package | Typical download | Suits | Typical price 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry full fibre | 100 Mbps | 2-3 person household, streaming, video calls | £24 to £30 a month |
| Mid-tier | 300 Mbps | 4+ person household, 4K streaming, occasional gaming | £30 to £38 a month |
| High-tier | 500 to 900 Mbps | Large household, multiple 4K streams, frequent large downloads, work-from-home with VPN | £38 to £48 a month |
| Gigabit | 1,000+ Mbps | Heavy file transfer, multi-camera live streaming, future-proofing | £48 to £65 a month |
Most households are well-served by 100 to 300 Mbps. The difference between 500 Mbps and 1 Gbps is rarely noticeable in everyday use because most consumer devices and websites cannot deliver content faster than 200 to 300 Mbps anyway, and Wi-Fi at a distance from the router is often the speed bottleneck. The exceptions: video editors uploading raw footage, professional gamers, and households with five or more simultaneous 4K streams.
Wholesale infrastructure
UK full-fibre coverage is delivered by several wholesale networks:
- Openreach: The largest. Resellers include BT, Sky, TalkTalk, Plusnet, Vodafone, Zen, EE, and dozens of smaller ISPs. Openreach FTTP covers around 50% of UK premises in 2026 and is still rolling out.
- Virgin Media O2: Operates its own DOCSIS hybrid coaxial network across roughly 60% of UK premises and is migrating to full fibre under "Project Mustang". Sold direct (Virgin Media) rather than wholesale to other ISPs at scale.
- CityFibre: Wholesale alt-net with coverage across many UK cities and towns. Resellers include Vodafone, TalkTalk, Zen, Giganet.
- Hyperoptic: Focused on apartment blocks and dense urban areas. Sold direct.
- Community Fibre: Greater London coverage, sold direct.
- Other alt-nets: Gigaclear (rural), Brsk, Trooli, Toob, Cuckoo (reseller), Glide, YouFibre, and dozens of regional builders. Coverage varies sharply by postcode.
You can often have more than one network passing your home in 2026. The cheapest alt-net package is often £5 to £15 a month below an Openreach-based reseller for the same speed.
Choosing a provider
- Check coverage: Use the Openreach FTTP checker and the alt-net coverage maps for your postcode. Don't rely on headline retail-provider checkers; they sometimes confuse FTTC with FTTP. Independent sites such as ThinkBroadband can show all networks at your address.
- Contract length: 12 months is the new norm. Some alt-nets offer 1-month rolling contracts at a premium of £5 to £10 a month. 24-month contracts usually save £3 to £8 a month but lock you in.
- Mid-contract price rises: Since January 2025, Ofcom requires inflation-linked rises to be disclosed in pounds and pence at sign-up. Read the contract for the exact figure rather than headline annual percentage.
- Router: Most providers supply a Wi-Fi 6 router as standard. Wi-Fi 7 is starting to appear on premium tiers. Mesh systems for larger homes cost £5 to £15 a month extra or can be bought separately.
- Static IP and business features: If you work from home and need static IPs, port forwarding, or business-grade support, look at Zen, Andrews & Arnold, or business packages from BT and Sky. Most consumer packages use CGNAT, which prevents inbound connections.
- Customer service ratings: Ofcom publishes quarterly complaints data by provider. Worth a check before signing a long contract.
- Bundled extras: Some providers include TV, mobile, or streaming subscriptions in the package. Useful if you would buy them anyway; pointless if you would not.
- Activation fees and self-install vs engineer: Self-install is common with dongle-style routers. Engineer install is required for first-time FTTP at most addresses.
Switching: One Touch Switch
The One Touch Switch process, in force since 12 September 2024 under Ofcom rules, means you contact the gaining provider only. They coordinate the switch with your current provider, and you can keep your phone number where applicable. The whole switch typically completes in 10 working days.
If the switch goes wrong (loss of service, double billing, missed appointment), you can claim automatic compensation under Ofcom's automatic compensation scheme: £6.10 a day for total loss of service after two working days, £29.15 for a missed engineer appointment, and £30.49 for a delayed start.
Social tariffs
If you receive Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Personal Independence Payment, Attendance Allowance, or another qualifying benefit, you may be eligible for a social tariff. These offer full-fibre broadband from around £15 a month and are not subject to mid-contract price rises. Major providers (BT, Sky, Virgin Media, Vodafone) and many alt-nets offer at least one social tariff. The application requires proof of benefit; the provider verifies through DWP data sharing where possible.
Awareness of social tariffs remains low: Ofcom reports that only around 5% of eligible households take one up. If you are on benefits and currently pay £35+ a month for broadband, a social tariff can save £200 to £300 a year.
Digital voice and the analogue switch-off
The legacy analogue telephone network (the Public Switched Telephone Network, or PSTN) is being switched off by January 2027. If you rely on a landline phone, alarm system, telecare device, lift line, or any other system that uses the old copper telephone line, check compatibility before the switch-off. Most digital voice services work fine with standard cordless phones plugged into the router; specialist alarm and telecare devices may need a digital upgrade.
BT and other providers are writing to customers in batches as their area approaches switch-off. If you receive such a letter, the action required is usually plugging your existing handset into the router's phone socket and (where applicable) registering a digital voice service for vulnerable users so that 999 calls work during power cuts (typically via a battery backup in the router).
Wi-Fi vs the line speed
The headline broadband speed is the speed of the line into your router. Inside the house, Wi-Fi is the bottleneck for most users. A Wi-Fi 6 router can comfortably deliver 500 Mbps to a device in the same room and 100 to 200 Mbps a few rooms away through walls. For larger homes, a mesh system (multiple Wi-Fi access points) is more useful than a faster line. There is little point paying £55 a month for 1 Gbps if your Wi-Fi delivers only 150 Mbps at the device.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I can get full fibre?
Check the Openreach FTTP availability checker for your address. For alt-net coverage, check the relevant provider's site directly or use an independent aggregator. Many addresses have both an Openreach and an alt-net option in 2026.
Will my landline still work on full fibre?
Yes, but the landline becomes a digital voice service over the broadband. The legacy analogue telephone network is being switched off by January 2027. If you rely on a landline alarm or telecare device, check compatibility before the upgrade.
Do I need a new router?
Most providers send a new full-fibre-compatible router. You may also be able to use your own router with the provider's configuration if you prefer, although consumer ISPs usually require their own kit.
Is gigabit broadband worth it?
For most households, no, because everyday devices and services rarely use more than 200 to 300 Mbps. It can be worth it for large households with simultaneous 4K streams, online gaming with frequent large downloads, or remote video editing.
Can I get full fibre in a flat or apartment?
Often yes, but installation requires landlord or freeholder permission for new cable runs into the building. Hyperoptic and Community Fibre specialise in apartment blocks and have negotiated bulk install agreements with many UK property managers.
What's the difference between FTTP and FTTH?
FTTP (fibre-to-the-premises) is the general industry term. FTTH (fibre-to-the-home) is a near-synonym used in some marketing. Both mean a continuous fibre run from exchange to building. There is no practical difference.
Can I cancel mid-contract?
Yes, but cancellation fees apply (typically the remaining months of contract). The exception: if your provider raises prices mid-contract by more than the inflation-linked figure disclosed at sign-up, you have a right to leave without penalty within 30 days of the notification.
Disclaimer
This page is for general information only. Speeds and pricing depend on your address, provider, and chosen package. Always check coverage and contract terms before signing.
