What is Full Fibre Broadband, and How Do You Get It For Yourself?

If you live in the UK, you may have noticed that your internet is pretty slow. You’re not alone.

Since October 2024, internet speeds across the country average at around 69Mbps. That’s a far cry from the UAE, which boasts broadband speeds of up to 398.51Mbps—something that places the UK near the bottom of the list when it comes to internet speeds across the world. 

Surprisingly, those effects are much more pronounced in London. Here, slow internet means you wait longer just for pages to load, which is why the Daily Express finds that Londoners waste up to 42 hours annually. As a result, one in three Londoners are actively searching for a new internet service provider. With overall time wasted on slow internet across the UK coming out to roughly 35 hours a year, you may similarly be on the market for new broadband. 

In that case, why not switch to full fibre? Promising faster, more secure, and more reliable internet connections, this broadband type may be just what you need for your home or business. If that sounds promising, keep reading to learn more about what it is and how you can get it. 

What is full fibre broadband?

Full fibre or ‘fibre-to-the-premises’ (FTTP) is a type of internet connection that uses optic fibre cables to directly link an ISP to your property. This is different from what you may know as part-fibre or ‘superfast’ broadband, which is currently the most popular type of internet connection in the UK. With part-fibre, optic fibre cables link broadband exchanges to street cabinets. From here, copper wires connect these cabinets to your property. That’s why partial-fibre connections are also known as ‘fibre-to-the-cabinet’ (FTTC). As you’ll see below, it’s important to make a distinction between FTTP and FTTC. That’s because the full use of optic fibre cables—and, in turn, the phasing out of copper wires—is what makes full fibre so beneficial. 

Why is full fibre better than traditional broadband?

Full fibre is now generally considered to be among the best broadband types available today precisely because it only uses optic fibre cables. Traditional copper wires transmit data with electricity. That means their signals weaken with distance—something that can be exacerbated by street cabinets that act as internet connection ‘middlemen’—and are easily muddled. At broadband exchanges, copper wires leading to different street cabinets can interfere with each other, leading to service interruptions, and hackers can easily access what’s being transmitted. That’s on top of the fact that copper degrades easily. As a result, FTTC connections are slower, less reliable, and less secure. 

In comparison, optic fibre cables are made of durable plastic and glass, and they transmit data with light pulses. That makes FTTP significantly faster, especially since they offer direct connections, and less vulnerable to interference and downtime—and they can last for up to 40 years without their cables needing replacement. All these factors make full fibre more suited to how we use the internet today. All the things now done online—from working and studying to streaming content and shopping—can significantly eat up your bandwidth, especially if you live in a larger household or run a business. With full fibre, you can do everything you need to and more, all without worrying about internet speed, security, or reliability. 

How do you get full fibre broadband?

The first thing you need to do is choose where to get your broadband. Full fibre broadband provider Zzoomm has a useful ‘check availability’ feature on its website that helps consumers find out if fibre broadband is available in their area. This is especially important now that the UK is still in the process of transitioning from FTTC. This step is also helpful because it’ll give you an overview of the best plan you can get for your internet consumption needs, as well as the inclusions they come with. For example, those at home can get plans with bandwidths ranging from 200 to 2000Mbps per second, complete with free installation, setup, and WiFi6 Hub. 

If full fibre isn’t available where you live, such as outside urban centres—or you’re tight on funds—don’t worry. The UK government upholds the right to broadband access for all its citizens and businesses, so you can check if Project Gigabit will roll out full fibre in your area soon. Helmed by ISPs like CityFibre, FreedomFibre, and Wildanet, this public full fibre initiative has increased gigabit broadband coverage in the UK to 81% as of April 2024, and it’s still ongoing—so if it hasn’t come to your area yet, you can expect it to soon. If you’re considered eligible, you’ll be given the means to sign up for a fast and affordable FTTP connection. 

Once you’ve decided on a broadband plan, expect your ISP’s crew to drop by your property, assess your current infrastructure, and determine whether you need to modernise the equipment you have. They’ll then keep you updated throughout the installation process and keep their lines open after setup, so you can reach out to them if you have any questions or concerns during your first weeks on full fibre. 

Full fibre broadband is changing the way we connect to the internet in the UK. With all the benefits it offers as the country continues to experience slow speeds, you can follow the tips above and make the switch from FTTC to FTTP yourself. 

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