Fibre vs full-fibre broadband

What is standard fibre (FTTC) broadband?

Standard fibre broadband in the UK refers to fibre-to-the-cabinet (FTTC) technology. In an FTTC connection, an optical fibre cable runs from the telephone exchange to a green street cabinet near the property. From that cabinet, the existing copper telephone wire carries the signal the remaining distance to the property. This final copper section, sometimes called the local loop, limits the maximum speed the connection can achieve; the longer the copper run, the lower the attainable speed.

FTTC broadband is sold under names such as Superfast Fibre (BT), Superfast (Sky), and similar terms by various providers. It is also being deployed as SoGEA (Single Order Generic Ethernet Access), which delivers the FTTC signal without requiring a separate phone line product. Typical average download speeds for FTTC packages sit between 35 Mbps and 80 Mbps depending on the package tier and distance from the cabinet. Upload speeds on FTTC are considerably lower than download speeds, typically 9 to 20 Mbps. For background on the oldest copper-based technology that preceded FTTC, see ADSL Broadband UK.

What is full-fibre (FTTP) broadband?

Full-fibre broadband refers to fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) technology, also called ultrafast or pure fibre. In an FTTP connection, an optical fibre cable runs continuously from the exchange all the way to the individual property, with no copper section in between. Because light signals in optical fibre suffer far less signal degradation than electrical signals in copper, FTTP connections can deliver much higher speeds and are less affected by distance from the exchange.

FTTP packages in the UK are sold from as low as 75 Mbps average download speed up to 5,000 Mbps (5 Gbit/s) on the most advanced packages available from some providers. Upload speeds on FTTP are typically a much larger proportion of the download speed than on FTTC: for example, Sky's Full Fibre 500 package advertises 500 Mbps download and 60 Mbps upload, while its Superfast FTTC product offers 67 Mbps download and only 16 Mbps upload. At the gigabit tier, some FTTP products offer symmetrical or near-symmetrical speeds (same upload as download).

Ofcom's Connected Nations 2025 report (November 2025) showed that 78% of UK residential premises had access to a full-fibre network as of July 2025, up nine percentage points from July 2024. This figure includes Openreach's own FTTP network and those of independent altnet operators. For current UK broadband infrastructure statistics, see UK Broadband Statistics 2026.

Side-by-side comparison: FTTC vs FTTP

Speed: the most important practical difference

The gap between FTTC and FTTP is most visible in upload speeds and at the upper end of the download range. A typical FTTC Superfast package delivers around 67 Mbps download and 16 Mbps upload. A mid-range FTTP package such as Sky's Full Fibre 300 delivers 300 Mbps download and 40 Mbps upload. For tasks that are primarily download-focused, such as streaming video and general web browsing, FTTC at 67 Mbps is adequate for most households. For households with multiple simultaneous users, large file uploads, video calling in both directions, or cloud backup, the higher upload of FTTP is a meaningful improvement.

At the top end, FTTC cannot approach the speeds available from FTTP. The fastest standard FTTC products typically cap at around 80 Mbps; the fastest FTTP products available from mainstream UK providers are measured in gigabits per second. Virgin Media's Gig1 cable product delivers an average of 1,136 Mbps on its HFC network; Sky's Full Fibre 5 Gigafast+ offers 5,000 Mbps on FTTP. These speeds exceed the capacity of most home Wi-Fi setups and are not relevant to typical household usage, but they illustrate the scale of the technology difference.

Pricing: is full fibre actually more expensive?

At the promotional level, the cost difference between entry FTTC and entry FTTP is now very small for many providers. Sky's data from June 2026 shows Superfast (67 Mbps, FTTC) at £24 per month and Full Fibre 100 (100 Mbps, FTTP) at £25 per month on promotion. An extra £1 per month delivers a 49% increase in advertised average download speed and substantially higher upload performance. Ofcom's Pricing and Consumer Engagement 2025 report noted that in many cases, customers can switch to a faster, more reliable full-fibre service and pay the same or less than for a copper or part-fibre service.

At the standard (out-of-contract) rate, FTTC and FTTP prices can diverge more significantly depending on the provider and tier. At Sky, Superfast standard pricing is £49 per month while Full Fibre 100 standard is £44 per month, meaning full fibre is actually cheaper out of contract at that comparison point. Households comparing cost should therefore compare like-for-like speed tiers at both promotional and standard rates. For a broader cost overview, see Best Broadband Deals UK.

Availability: where each technology is accessible

FTTC superfast broadband is available to 98% of UK premises, making it by far the more widely accessible technology. Full-fibre is available to 78% of UK premises as of July 2025, up from 69% a year earlier, and the rollout is ongoing. For the approximately 22% of premises not yet covered by full-fibre infrastructure, FTTC remains the fastest fixed-line option in most cases (rural areas may only have ADSL). Ofcom's coverage checker at ofcom.org.uk/phones-and-broadband/coverage-and-speeds allows address-level checks of what technologies are available.

Virgin Media's cable (HFC) network, which delivers speeds comparable to FTTP but uses coaxial cable rather than optical fibre for the final section, adds an alternative in areas it covers. For detail on what Virgin Media's network covers, see Virgin Media Broadband Deals UK 2026. For Sky's equivalent, see Sky Broadband Deals UK 2026.

Installation: what changes when switching from FTTC to FTTP

Switching to FTTP from FTTC does not require replacing all internal wiring in most homes, but it does require a new fibre termination point (ONT, or Optical Network Termination) to be installed at the property boundary or inside the property by an engineer. This is a physical installation that typically takes one to two hours. Providers usually include this as part of the package or charge a one-off installation fee; checking the specific terms before ordering is advisable.

If a property has never had FTTP installed before, an engineer must run the fibre cable from the nearest point of the full-fibre network to the ONT. If a previous occupant already had FTTP installed, the infrastructure may already be in place and activation may be quicker. FTTC installations, by contrast, often use the existing telephone line infrastructure and can be activated remotely in many cases.

Verdict: which to choose

Standard fibre (FTTC) broadband is suited to: households where FTTP is not yet available; households where current speeds (35-80 Mbps) are adequate for their actual usage; and situations where maintaining the lowest possible monthly cost is the primary consideration. Full-fibre (FTTP) broadband is suited to: households that want speeds above 80 Mbps; households with multiple simultaneous users or high upload demand; and those who want access to gigabit-tier packages for future-proofing. At many addresses and promotional price points, the monthly cost difference is now minimal, making FTTP the preferable option on a pure speed-per-pound basis where it is available.

Editorial disclaimer: This page is for informational purposes only and reflects published data and provider pricing at the time of writing (June 2026). Broadband speeds, prices, availability, and technology designations change frequently and depend on address. Always verify current availability and pricing directly with providers and using Ofcom's coverage checker before making any purchasing decision.

What is the difference between fibre and full-fibre broadband?

Standard fibre (FTTC) broadband uses optical fibre to a street cabinet and then copper telephone wire for the final section to the property. Full-fibre (FTTP) broadband uses optical fibre all the way from the exchange to the property with no copper section. Full fibre delivers higher and more consistent speeds, and is unaffected by the length of the copper run that limits FTTC performance.

Is full-fibre broadband available at my address?

As of July 2025, 78% of UK residential premises had access to full-fibre broadband, per Ofcom's Connected Nations 2025 report. Coverage varies by address. Check availability using Ofcom's coverage checker at ofcom.org.uk/phones-and-broadband/coverage-and-speeds or the individual provider's postcode checker.

Is full-fibre broadband more expensive than standard fibre?

Not necessarily. At the promotional price level in June 2026, Sky offered its Superfast (67 Mbps, FTTC) at £24 per month and its Full Fibre 100 (100 Mbps, FTTP) at £25 per month. Ofcom's 2025 pricing report noted that customers can often switch to full fibre for the same or less than a standard fibre package. Prices vary by provider, package tier, and contract terms.

Do I need an engineer to install full-fibre broadband?

Yes, in most cases. Switching to FTTP requires installation of an Optical Network Terminal (ONT) at the property, which requires an engineer visit. If a property already has FTTP infrastructure from a previous occupant, activation may be simpler. FTTC installations often use existing phone line infrastructure and can sometimes be activated remotely.

What upload speeds can I expect from full fibre versus standard fibre?

FTTC superfast packages typically offer upload speeds of 9 to 20 Mbps, substantially lower than the download speed. FTTP packages offer proportionally much higher upload speeds: Sky's Full Fibre 300 package offers 40 Mbps upload alongside 300 Mbps download, and its Full Fibre 500 offers 60 Mbps upload. At the multi-gigabit tier, some products offer fully symmetrical upload and download speeds.