FTTP Broadband

What Is FTTP broadband?

Fibre to the premises (FTTP) broadband is generally the fastest type of connection you can get in the UK. Also known as fibre to the home (FTTH) broadband or full fibre broadband, it uses fibre optic cables 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 Full fibre FTTP broadband is increasingly replacing the outdated copper lines.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 a lot better than a copper-only connection. This third type of broadband is known as ADSL and is rarely used now. 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 around 10 Gbps. But most providers have broadband deals with top speeds of around 2 Gbps, which is still more than enough to support several people working, streaming and gaming at once .

As you’d expect, these plans tend to be the most expensive. So don’t opt for the top speeds unless you actually need them. Use our bandwidth calculator to get an idea of the kind of deals you should look for.

2. Increased reliability

As you get a direct fibre connection with FTTP broadband, another benefit 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 and video calling on multiple devices all at once.

3. Enhanced security

FTTP broadband is not only faster and more reliable, it’s 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, so it’s essentially a long-term investment.

FTTP vs FTTC - How do they compare?

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. But more homes are getting access to it as it gets installed across the UK.

In fact, 78% of UK residential properties had access to full fibre broadband in 2025, an increase of 9% from 2024, according to Ofcom. Openreach and altnet broadband providers continue to expand, connecting more homes to full fibre networks.

Openreach, the largest broadband network in the UK, plans to expand so that up to 30 million houses will have access to full fibre broadband by the end of the decade. Although altnets tend to operate in specific regions, they are increasing their reach, too.

We can help you find the FTTP broadband deals available in your area easily.

As a comparison, Ofcom states that FTTC, the most widely available connection, is currently available to 98% of homes.

Which providers offer FTTP full fibre broadband?

The majority of the providers on our panel offer FTTP broadband, so you have lots of choice.

Broadband providers with their own full fibre networks might only operate in certain regions of the UK. If you want to find out which are available in your area, just enter your postcode and current provider at the top of the page.

Here are the full fibre broadband providers you can compare through us:

• 4th Utility
• Airband
• BeFibre
• Brsk
• BT
• Community Fibre
• Connect Fibre
• Cuckoo
• EE
• Fibrus broadband
• Gigaclear
• Hey!Broadband
• Hyperoptic
• LightSpeed
• NOW Broadband
• Ogi
• Plusnet
• Pop Telecom
• Quickline
• Rebel Internet
• Rise Fibre
• Sky
• TalkTalk
• The One
• Toob
• Trooli
• Truespeed
• V4 Consumer
• Vodafone
• WightFibre
• YouFibre
• Zen Internet
• Zzoomm

Who is the best FTTP broadband provider?

There are plenty of great providers that offer full fibre broadband speeds of up to 1 Gbps or higher, including Sky, BT, Vodafone, Virgin Media and EE. You can also find these speeds through smaller providers, like Hyperoptic, Community Fibre, Toob and Gigaclear.

Which provider is best for you will depend on what’s most important to you. Here are some important questions to ask before you choose a new broadband provider:

• What internet speed do you need? Getting the fastest broadband available in your area isn’t always the right choice. It could be much too powerful for your needs and you’ll end up overpaying on your broadband
• How long do you want to be locked into a contract for? Choose between one, 12, 18 and 24 month deals. It’s usually cheaper to opt for a longer term contract. But you’ll need to pay cancellation fees if you want to exit it early, so it might work out better value to choose a shorter contract if you’re not planning on staying at the same address for long
• Do you want a broadband bundle? Not all providers bundle in TV channels or landline plans with full fibre broadband. So if that’s important to you, your choices will be more limited
• Do you mind mid-contract price increases? They will apply to some broadband deals. Check the terms and conditions carefully
• Are you looking for a free gift? Free gifts could help sweeten the deal if there are several broadband deals offering what you need
• Have you checked customer reviews? They’re so important. Look at sites like Trustpilot before you take the plunge. Smaller altnet broadband providers tend to have better customer service scores

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 upgrading to full fibre, you first need to find out if you can actually get FTTP in your area, and if you actually need it.

If you live in a busy household with multiple users trying to get online simultaneously, or if you work from home, you might well need a very high-speed connection. Or if you run a company from your home, take a look at business broadband. It might be a better fit.

If you live alone or with a partner and you use the internet mainly for browsing, streaming, checking emails and looking at social media, superfast FTTC broadband might suffice.

If FTTP is available at your address, you need to compare deals from different 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.

What else to look out for when comparing FTTP providers

As well as looking at speed, price and customer service, here are some additional factors to consider when comparing FTTP providers:

• Does it cover any exit charges? - If you need to leave your current contract early, you’ll usually need to pay an exit fee, which can be pretty steep. Some providers will cover (or pay towards) your exit fee if you switch to them
• Is One Touch Switch available? - This makes switching broadband providers an absolute doddle. Your new FTTP provider will sort everything out for you, including cancelling your current contract
• When is an engineer available to install it? - If you need full fibre broadband urgently, perhaps you’re working from home and your connection keeps dropping, you’ll need to switch quickly. Some providers can have lengthy waits for an engineer visit
• Do any of your neighbours have recommendations? - Ask around to see if any of your neighbours have a full fibre broadband package that they’re happy with

What speeds will I get with FTTP broadband?

FTTP broadband is the fastest broadband connection on the market, more than capable of reaching speeds of 1 Gbps or more. In fact, 2 Gbps broadband is becoming more widely available and some providers are even offering speeds of up to 5 Gbps or 10 Gbps. Of course, this is probably far faster than the average household would need.

We can help you find out what broadband speed your home needs.

What are the differences between full fibre and part fibre broadband?

A full fibre connection uses fibre optic cables to connect your property to the internet exchange on your street, whereas part fibre broadband uses the existing copper phone lines to connect to the internet exchange.

Fibre optic cables are capable of transmitting data a lot faster than copper cables, which results in a much speedier connection. They’re also able to keep a more steady and reliable connection, which helps prevent your Wi-Fi signal from frequently dropping out.

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 install it for you. Watch out for installation fees and factor them into the total cost. Deals with shorter terms tend to have charges, especially no contract broadband.

When you sign up for FTTP, it’s likely you’ll get asked to choose an installation date. Be aware that there’s 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.

Can I leave my broadband contract early and switch?

Yes, it’s possible to switch broadband providers while you’re part way through your contract, but it’s not always the right choice.

You’ll likely be charged a hefty exit fee, so it could be more cost-effective to wait until the minimum term ends before switching.

Alternatively, you could find a provider that covers any exit fees when you switch to them.

If you’re looking to switch because your broadband is unreliable or consistently slower than advertised, try contacting your provider first to see if it can improve your connection. You might even be offered an upgrade if you can prove that you’re not getting what you paid for.

FAQs

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.

Do I need a landline for FTTP broadband?

No, you don’t need a landline. The beauty of FTTP broadband is that it doesn’t use the copper telephone lines to reach your home, like FTTC broadband does.

If you do still want to keep a landline with your full fibre broadband, you can purchase a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) package. You might even be able to keep your existing landline number.

Do I need a router with FTTP broadband?

Yes, if you want to access the internet through Wi-Fi at your property, so that multiple devices can be online simultaneously, you’ll need to plug a router into the modem.

Your broadband provider will send you a router to use, which is usually included in the deal with full fibre options.

You might want to upgrade your router to get the most out of your ultrafast full fibre connection, especially if yours doesn’t run on Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 7.

A top of the range router can:

• Boost the speed of your internet
• Improve the range of your Wi-Fi, helping to eliminate dark spots in your home
• Upgrade your internet security
• Integrate smart home devices more easily

Of course, it’s possible to plug a device straight into your modem (a laptop, for example) if you want to access the highest speeds available on your broadband package. Only one device will be able to get online at a time, though.

Is FTTP better than cable internet?

It depends on your broadband needs and budget, as well as where you live.

FTTP broadband offers faster internet speeds and a solid connection that’s unlikely to drop out. If you live in a home where multiple people stream in 4K, video call and game online, it should keep up with the demand on your broadband connection.

But it’s usually more expensive than cable internet and it’s currently only available in certain areas.

Comparing broadband deals will help you find the best option for you, whether it’s FTTP or cable broadband.

Does FTTP internet increase my house value?

Yes, FTTP broadband is a great incentive for home buyers and could actually increase your property’s market value.

In fact, 37% of estate agents agreed that a broadband connection with ultrafast speeds of 300 Mbps or higher would increase a home’s asking price by £5,000 or more compared to the same home without broadband, according to a report commissioned by Huawei.

Page last updated: 23 March 2026

Catherine Hiley

Managing editor for broadband, energy and mobile