FTTP Broadband

What Is FTTP Broadband?

With a ‘fibre to the premises’ (FTTP) broadband connection, also known as ‘fibre to the home’ (FTTH) broadband or ‘full fibre’ broadband, fibre-optic cables are run all the way to your house.

By contrast, with ‘fibre to the cabinet’ (FTTC), fibre cables run from the exchange to a cabinet on the street, but from there, older copper lines connect to your property. FTTC broadband is not as fast as FTTP as the speed drops dramatically as soon as it hits the copper cables. Full fibre FTTP broadband is increasingly replacing the outdated copper lines.

That said, while FTTC might not be as speedy or reliable as FTTP, it’s still better on both accounts than a copper-only connection. This third type of broadband is known as ADSL. It’s the slowest type which only uses copper wires, and no fibre cables at all.

Key Benefits of FTTP Broadband

1. Lightning-fast internet speeds

As FTTP cables run directly from the exchange all the way to your home, FTTP broadband delivers some of the fastest internet speeds currently available. Known as ‘ultrafast broadband,’ FTTP can offer speeds of up to 1,000 megabits per second (Mbps).

2. Increased reliability

As you get a direct fibre connection with FTTP broadband - with cables laid directly from the exchange right into your property - another benefit of FTTP is reliability. It’s less prone to faults and issues from rainy weather than copper cables. It’s also less susceptible to buffering and slowing down at busier times - giving you reliable broadband that can handle gaming, streaming, browsing and video calling on multiple devices all at once.

3. Enhanced security

FTTP broadband is not only faster and more reliable, it is also more secure than traditional broadband connections. This gives you the peace of mind of knowing you can transfer data securely.

4. Future-proof solution

With technology developing all the time, you’ll want to be sure your broadband will keep up. The good news is, FTTP broadband is built to handle your devices not only now, but also those yet to come. With ultrafast broadband, you’re future-proofing your home - making this a long-term investment.

FTTP vs FTTC - How do they compare?

As FTTP uses only fibre option cables, and no copper lines, you get an ultrafast broadband connection that you can rely on - even at busy times.

This makes FTTP broadband perform better than FTTC broadband which is slower (albeit still superfast with speeds of up to around 80 Mbps). But as FTTC involves running fibre cables to a cabinet on the street - and then copper wires the rest of the way into your home, it’s also less reliable.

If you live in a household where lots of different people are all trying to get online at the same time, or if you’re a gamer, or do a lot of streaming, FTTP broadband - via resilient modern cables - gives you the best chance of getting a strong internet connection without a hitch.

Is FTTP Available in my area?

While FTTP might be faster and more reliable, it’s also more expensive to install. As a result, for the time being at least, it’s more likely to be available in areas of high-density housing, as opposed to rural areas. However, more homes are getting access to it as it gets installed across the UK.

According to a recent study by regulator Ofcom^[1], FTTP now reaches 62% of households in the UK - a number which is expected to grow in the coming years.

Figures also suggest more than 18 million households can now get full fibre with plans from Openreach to connect FTTP to 25 million premises by the end of 2026.^[2] As a comparison, FTTC, the most widely available connection, is currently available to 97% of homes.^[1]

To find out if you can get FTTP at your address, take a look at our postcode FTTP checker to see what’s available in your area.

Compare FTTP Providers

Before choosing any broadband deal, you need to see how the providers stack up. It’s vital to find the right offer for your needs - and your budget. If you’re thinking about full fibre, you first need to find out whether you can actually get FTTP in your area, and whether you actually need it.

If you live in a busy household with multiple users trying to get online simultaneously, or if you’re trying to build a home office, you might well need a very high-speed connection.

But for other users - including those who live alone or with a partner and who use the internet mainly for browsing, streaming, checking emails and looking at social media - standard fibre broadband might suffice.

If FTTP is available at your address, and you’ve decided you do want to go ahead with getting ultrafast broadband, you need to compare deals from different FTTP providers. That way, you can get the right FTTP broadband deal for your needs at the right price. Make sure you check out offerings from both the bigger names, as well as the smaller FTTP providers.

Here are some of the key considerations you need to make:

What broadband speeds are available to you, based on your address? And is that enough to cope with your usage?
How much might it cost? Remember, a higher speed is likely to come with a higher cost. You need to make sure your choice of broadband fits your budget
Length of the contract - most providers offer 12 or 24-month contracts. Make sure you choose the right duration for your requirements
Extras - are there any additional features bundled in which make the offering more appealing? This might include extras like a landline phone or premium digital TV channels

To find out which providers operate in your area - and the speeds available to you - enter your details into our postcode checker.

How easy is it to install?

Once you’ve found an FTTP provider that suits your needs, an engineer will need to come to your home to carry out the installation for you. The good news is, you shouldn’t face any additional costs on top of the typical set-up fees and monthly payments.

When you sign up for FTTP, it’s likely you’ll get asked to choose an installation date. Be aware that there is likely to be drilling involved to install fibre cables that run directly into your home. So, if you live in a rental property, make sure you’ve got permission from the landlord for small holes to be drilled in the property.

If my home supports FTTP, do I have to choose an ultrafast package?

No. You can have FTTP at your address but still decide to sign up to a standard fibre package. The only difference is that your broadband will be delivered via fibre cables only. This should mean the service is more reliable.

Page last updated: 9 January 2025