Full fibre vs fibre broadband: what's the difference?
Three ways broadband reaches your home
| Type | How it's connected | Typical top download | Typical upload |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard (ADSL) | Copper all the way from the exchange | Up to ~17Mbps (often less) | Under 1Mbps |
| Fibre to the cabinet (FTTC / "superfast") | Fibre to the street cabinet, copper to your home | Up to ~80Mbps | Up to ~20Mbps |
| Full fibre (FTTP / "gigabit") | Fibre all the way into your home | 100Mbps–2Gbps+ | 20Mbps–2Gbps |
Cable broadband (Virgin Media's older network) uses coaxial cable for the last part and can also reach gigabit speeds. Ofcom groups full fibre and cable together as "gigabit-capable".
Why the copper part matters
Copper loses signal over distance. On FTTC, a home 200 metres from the cabinet may get close to 80Mbps, while one a kilometre away might get 20Mbps. Full fibre doesn't fade like that, so the speed you're sold is much closer to the speed you get, at any time of day.
Is full fibre worth it?
- Yes if you work from home, have several people streaming or gaming, upload video or photos, or want the line to stay usable after the copper network is retired.
- Maybe not yet if you live alone, mostly browse and stream on one TV, and a cheaper FTTC deal is available. Many full fibre deals now cost the same as or less than FTTC, though, so compare before deciding.
Watch the wording in adverts
The Advertising Standards Authority still allows FTTC to be called "fibre broadband". Look for "full fibre", "FTTP" or "fibre to the premises" if you want fibre into your home.
How to check what you can get
Availability changes street by street, and even between neighbours. Enter your postcode in Cooper's checker and pick your address. We show Ofcom's predicted speeds for copper, superfast and full fibre at that property, then match you with deals that fit.
Let Cooper find your match
Answer a few quick questions and see the deals that reach your address.
Frequently asked questions
Is fibre broadband the same as full fibre?
No. "Fibre broadband" usually means fibre to the cabinet (FTTC), with copper wire for the last stretch. Full fibre (FTTP) is fibre all the way into your home and is much faster and more reliable.
How do I know if I have full fibre?
Full fibre usually has an optical network terminal (ONT): a small box where the fibre enters your home, separate from your router. If your router plugs into a phone socket, you are on copper or FTTC.
Does full fibre need a phone line?
No. Full fibre doesn't use a copper phone line. If you want a landline it is provided over the internet as digital voice, using your router.
Will full fibre installation damage my home?
Usually not. An engineer typically runs a thin cable from the nearest pole or underground duct and drills one small hole to fit a box inside. Installs often take two to four hours.