Fibre Broadband Deals

Compare Full Fibre Broadband

Full fibre is the technology that delivers the fastest possible broadband. The good news is that Ofcom says nearly seven in 10 UK households already have access and this number is growing.

You don’t have to break the bank to get fibre. If your home already has a full fibre connection, you can get a deal at the high end of superfast for less than £25 a month and ultrafast speeds for under £30.

So, what exactly is fibre broadband? And how do different providers compare? Here’s everything you need to know when choosing a deal.

Key points

• Fibre broadband sends data through fibre optic cables, which are quicker and can carry more information than copper telephone wires
• Full fibre is faster than hybrid fibre or fibre to the cabinet (FTTC)
• If you can't get fibre broadband where you live, consider mobile broadband or satellite broadband

What is fibre broadband?

Fibre broadband is delivered through threads made of plastic or flexible glass, known as optical fibres. Data is converted into light signals, which travels incredibly fast along the fibres before being converted back into data.

In theory, fibre broadband operates at the speed of light. Of course, it’s slower in the real world. This is partly because the optical fibres are always coated and put into some kind of sheath or tube to protect them from damage. But fibre broadband is still the absolute fastest internet you can get.

What types of fibre broadband are there?

There are two main types of fibre broadband:

Hybrid fibre

While the fibre network hasn’t reached every home in the UK yet it has reached the vast majority of roadside cabinets. So, a substantial number of UK homes have a local cabinet on the fibre network but connect to it using the older-style telephone wires.

It’s a bit like if you lived near a train station on a high-speed route but could only reach it on a slow bus. That’s hybrid fibre, or part fibre. For obvious reasons, it’s also known as Fibre to the Cabinet (FTTC). It’s slower than full fibre but still capable of speeds in the ‘superfast’ category.

As the fibre rollout is still in progress, some homes have a full fibre connection but still have an active older-style connection too. If that describes your house, you can choose between full fibre and hybrid fibre.

Full fibre is a lot faster than hybrid fibre and it’s often the same price or, in some cases, even cheaper than hybrid fibre. So if you have the choice, you’ll get much faster speeds with full fibre.

Full fibre

Full fibre broadband means that your home is connected directly to the exchange by fibre optic cables. There’s no need to go via the roadside cabinet. This gives the fastest, most reliable internet connection possible.

If several people share your internet connection, full fibre is your best option for letting everybody stream, Zoom and game to their heart’s content. But it’s only possible if the fibre rollout has already reached your home.

Use our bandwidth calculator to get an idea of what speed you need before choosing your broadband package.

What Mbps speeds can I expect with fibre broadband?

Fibre broadband speeds can be split into three categories:

Superfast broadband

The superfast category starts at 30Mbps, which doesn’t feel particularly fast these days. Ofcom says over 99% of UK homes and businesses have access to these speeds, although take-up is a bit lower (around 75%).

You don’t need a full fibre connection for superfast broadband but you do need a hybrid fibre (FTTC) connection.

Ultrafast broadband

Ofcom also defines ultrafast broadband as an internet connection offering speeds of 300Mbps or higher, 10 times the speeds offered by superfast broadband.

Using ultrafast broadband should let you:

• Download and upload online content quickly
• Make high-quality video calls over Wi-Fi
• Enjoy online TV and music streaming services
• Have several people use the internet connection in your home at the same time

You need a full fibre connection or cable internet for ultrafast broadband speeds.

Gigabit broadband

Gigabit broadband is capable of delivering 1Gbps (1,000Mbps). It’s the very fastest possible in 2025. At least 80% of UK homes have a gigabit-capable connection and the number is growing.

How much does fibre broadband cost?

s fibre broadband becomes the standard, the prices are falling. The average price for full fibre broadband deals with speeds between 100Mbps and 249Mbps bought through Go.Compare is £27.66. This is based on data from May to September 2025.

As you might expect, deals that offer the fastest full fibre speeds tend to cost more than this, while contracts that offer 100-249Mbps are often much better value for money.

Because of this, plans in this speed range tend to be more popular, as they deliver speeds that will support multiple devices at once, without costing a fortune.

Provider	Average cost for 100-249Mbps contract*
Sky	£24.94
BT	£27.85
4th Utility	£24.51
Vodafone	£25.46

*The median cost of fibre broadband deals with speeds of 100-249Mbps, on completed UK quotes through Go.Compare in the months May to September 2025

Which providers offer the best fibre broadband deals?

Every provider offers fibre broadband these days and the deals you can actually get depend on where you live. Put your postcode into our address checker to see what’s available.

Sky

Sky offers both hybrid fibre and full fibre broadband. The fastest package at the time of writing is the 2.5 Gigafast+ deal with an average speed of 2.5Gbps, which is the fastest deal we have at the moment.

Most households won’t need anything like these speeds but if you want the maximum you can get, you might want to take a closer look. Or if you’re looking to combine digital TV with your broadband deal, Sky has lots of options.

Compare Sky broadband deals

BT

BT offers both hybrid and full fibre broadband deals. At the time of writing, BT’s fastest plan offers speeds of 900Mbps.

Compare BT broadband deals

4th Utility

The Cheshire-based ISP sees itself as part of a new breed of alternative networks. This means focusing on its full fibre offering. The fastest speeds currently available with this provider are 2.3Gbps. Use our postcode checker to see if 4th Utility has reached your part of the UK.

Compare 4th Utility broadband deals

Vodafone

Vodafone offers a mix of hybrid and full fibre deals at a range of speeds and prices. Its full fibre 1.8Gbps offering delivers serious speed (probably more than most people need).

Compare Vodafone broadband deals

Other providers

These might include:

• Plusnet
• NOW Broadband
• Cuckoo
• Zen Internet
• Community Fibre
• KCOM
• Fibrus
• Trooli
• TalkTalk
• italk
• Zzoomm
• BeFibre
• Box Broadband

Which fibre optic providers offer the best broadband service?

It depends on what your priorities are. According to the latest Ofcom complaints data, the broadband provider with the fewest complaints was Plusnet, which is a very strong indication that its customers are happy with the service they receive.

This is backed up by a July 2025 broadband survey of Telegraph readers, which placed Plusnet as its number-one provider for best value broadband, best buy and best for customer service. Meanwhile, EE was named the most reliable provider and Sky Broadband came in first for speed.

The answer to which provider is best for you will depend on if you care most about speed, reliability, value for money or customer service. We only work with reputable providers, so you can have some peace of mind if you choose a broadband deal on our site.

And don’t forget that you’ll get a 14-day cooling-off period whenever you sign up to a new deal. So, you can cancel penalty-free in the first two weeks of your contract if you’re not completely satisfied.

Do I need fibre optic broadband?

Fibre is standard these days and most UK homes have either a full fibre or part fibre connection. If your home has already been upgraded to full fibre and the older line has been deactivated, fibre broadband will be your only option.

If you’re on hybrid fibre but full fibre is available in your area, it could be worth upgrading, although it depends on what broadband speed you need.

Hybrid fibre can deliver speeds comfortably in the superfast category. The deals range between 30Mbps and 80Mbps. This should be more than enough to watch Netflix or make a video call.

If you’re heavily into online gaming or you have a house full of people who want to stream or have virtual meetings at the same time, you might need speeds of 100Mbps or more. These need a full fibre connection - although higher speeds usually come with a bigger price tag.

Can I get fibre in my local area?

Yes, superfast fibre broadband is now available to 98% of UK households, according to Ofcom. So, it’s very likely that you can get a deal that uses fibre to deliver faster speeds than you’d get from old-fashioned phone lines.

Better still, seven out of 10 UK homes can now get full fibre to the premises, which means even faster internet. So plenty of areas, including parts of London, Cardiff, Manchester, and Southampton, will be able to enjoy the fastest type of broadband available.

Use our postcode checker to see if you can get fibre broadband where you live.

What are the main benefits of fibre broadband?

Fibre broadband:

• Is the latest broadband technology, delivering the fastest speeds available
• Can deliver the highest possible speeds
• Is more reliable than older-style internet delivered through phone lines
• Reaches most UK homes and businesses, whether that’s hybrid or full fibre
• Is the technology for the next generation of gigabit-capable broadband
• Is getting cheaper over time, so if it’s been a while since you switched broadband provider, it’s time to compare and save

How do I decide on the best fibre broadband deal for me?

There are many things to consider when comparing fibre broadband deals, including:

Speed

Fibre broadband speeds can be affected by all sorts of factors, from location to peak usage times and even the weather.

Compare fibre broadband deals based on your preferred providers' average speeds. This should give you an idea of what to expect from each tariff.

Cost

You’ll usually pay more for higher speeds, so think about what you (and the people you live with) actually need to do online. (Our guide to recommended broadband speeds should help.)

Contract type/length

It’s usually a trade-off between flexibility and cost, with 24-month contracts typically offering a lower monthly price than 12-month deals.

If you really need the option of cancelling within a year - perhaps because you’re a student or in temporary accommodation - check out our short term and no contract broadband deals.

Bundles

It might be cheaper and easier for you to bundle your fibre broadband in with your other home services, like a landline phone or premium digital TV channels.

Compare broadband bundles to see what’s on offer.

Connection

You can’t get the top full fibre speeds with a hybrid connection. You might have to pay an installation fee to get your connection upgraded, so factor this in when you’re comparing costs. Some providers might meet the cost of installation as part of their deal.

What alternatives are there to fibre internet?

Fibre is the standard for UK homes, but it’s not your only option.

Mobile broadband

While Mobile broadband can’t reach the top speeds of full fibre broadband, it’s a great option if you’re not staying in one place for long.

Instead of using wires or cables, mobile broadband works by connecting to mobile phone networks to connect your devices to the internet. It works via a USB dongle, a SIM card in your router or a mobile hotspot, such as your phone. 5G broadband is the fastest type of mobile broadband.

Satellite broadband

Satellite broadband is expensive and only worth it if you’re one of the few people who can’t get a fixed internet connection or decent mobile broadband. This could be your only option if you live in a remote rural area with no 5G coverage.

How long does it take for fibre broadband to be installed?

If you’re on hybrid fibre, upgrading to full fibre will require an engineer visit. You’ll probably need to wait a few weeks for your appointment.

The actual job (drilling a hole in the wall and putting the cables through) can take less than an hour if everything goes smoothly. But if you’re taking time off work to give the engineer access, allow half a day just in case of problems.

Will I get a new router with my new fibre optic internet?

Yes, if you’re upgrading to a new fibre deal or you’re joining a new provider, you’ll receive a new Wi-Fi router or hub that’s compatible with fibre optic cables.

If you’re already on full fibre broadband and sticking with the same provider, you might get to keep your old router. But in most cases, you should get a new router when you sign up.

Can I switch to a new provider if I'm in contract?

You have the right to cancel a broadband contract early, and your provider also has the right to impose an early leaving penalty. This is usually calculated based on how long your current contract has left to go. So the earlier you leave, the more expensive it is.

Switching providers can be a good way to save but not if the savings are wiped out by exit fees.

FAQs

What do ‘up to’ speeds mean on broadband packages?

The ‘up to’ speeds advertised on broadband deals are the highest speeds that the technology can achieve in good conditions. It’s a maximum, not a minimum. So it’s not guaranteed but it does have to be possible.

If a significant number of customers are unlikely to ever get the headline speed, the provider has to make this clear in their description of the deal and say what percentage of customers are likely to receive these speeds

Is fibre internet more reliable?

Yes. Fibre internet is more reliable than the older system of delivering the internet through telephone wires. That’s why the UK is retiring its network of phone cables. The job should be finished by 2027.

Can I get fibre without phone line rental?

Yes, you can get full fibre broadband without a landline because it uses fibre-optic cables rather than traditional copper phone lines to deliver an internet connection.

This type of connection is now available to nearly three quarters of UK homes, so there’s a good chance you can get it where you are. Meanwhile, Virgin Media has its own cable network that doesn’t require a landline. Use our postcode checker on our broadband without a landline page to see what’s available where you live.

Can I get fibre broadband for my business?

Yes, most business broadband deals offer fibre broadband. This means that you can get fast, reliable internet for your business premises.

We recommend using our online tool to compare our best broadband deals to see if you can find a fibre deal that suits your needs and your budget.

Is full fibre worth it?

The price of a full fibre connection has come down a lot in recent years as the technology becomes standard across the UK. Sometimes full fibre deals can be as cheap or even cheaper than hybrid options, so always compare rather than assuming it’s the more expensive option.

There’s still a strong connection between speed and price, though, and it’s definitely a waste of money to have a faster connection than you need. Use our bandwidth calculator to get an idea of what speeds will keep you and the people you live with happy.

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Last updated 3 December 2025

[1] As of 11th March 2026, there are active broadband providers on the panel at Go.Compare