The word fibre gets stretched to cover very different connections. The short version: full fibre runs fibre optic cable all the way into your home, while ordinary fibre broadband switches to an old copper phone line for the last stretch from the green street cabinet.
If full fibre is available at your address, it is almost always the one to choose. It is faster, holds its speed better in the evening, and it often costs no more than the slower option.
The four main types of broadband
| Type | Also called | Average download speeds | How it reaches you | Landline needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full fibre | FTTP, FTTH, ultrafast | 74Mb to 2Gb or more | Fibre all the way into your home | No |
| Cable | Virgin Media | 132Mb to 2Gb | Virgin Media’s own network, mostly fibre plus coaxial cable to the home | No |
| Part fibre | FTTC, superfast | Up to 74Mb | Fibre to the street cabinet, copper phone line to your home | Uses the phone line |
| ADSL | Standard broadband | Up to 11Mb | Copper phone line from the telephone exchange | Uses the phone line |
Full fibre (FTTP)
With full fibre, light carries your data from the exchange to a small box on the inside wall of your home. There is no copper to slow it down or pick up interference, so speeds stay much closer to the package speed at busy times.
According to Ofcom’s spring 2026 update, full fibre reached 24.9 million homes, 82% of UK residential premises, as of January 2026. Openreach, the largest network, reported 22.4 million premises in April 2026 and aims to reach 25 million by the end of 2026. Smaller networks, often called altnets, cover millions more.
Part fibre (FTTC)
Part fibre is still what millions of UK homes use, especially where full fibre hasn’t arrived. Speed depends on how far your home is from the cabinet: the longer the copper line, the slower the connection. Two homes on the same package can get very different speeds.
Cable
Virgin Media’s network is a hybrid. Most of the route is fibre, and many older homes are connected with coaxial cable, while newer areas get full fibre. Download speeds are very fast; upload speeds are lower than most full fibre.
ADSL
ADSL uses the copper phone line all the way from the exchange. It is slow by today’s standards and is being phased out as the old copper network closes.
The landline switch-off
The UK’s old analogue phone network, known as the PSTN, is due to be retired by 31 January 2027. Landline calls are moving to digital services that run over broadband. Your provider must give you notice before your line changes.
If you have a telecare alarm, a burglar alarm with a phone link or another device that uses the phone line, ask the supplier whether it works with a digital line. Digital phones don’t work in a power cut unless the router has battery back-up, so tell your provider if you rely on your landline in an emergency.
Getting full fibre installed
- Check your address with our postcode checker.
- Order a full fibre package. The provider books an engineer.
- The engineer runs a fibre cable from the pole or underground duct to your home, drills a small hole and fits a box on the inside wall. This usually takes a few hours.
- Your router plugs into that box. Your old service stops once the new one is working.
If you rent, ask your landlord’s permission before booking, as the installation involves drilling.
FAQs
Is full fibre more expensive than fibre?
Often not. Many providers charge the same or less for entry-level full fibre than for their part-fibre packages.
Do I need a phone line for full fibre?
No. Full fibre doesn’t use a copper phone line. If you want a home phone, it runs over the broadband as a digital service.
Is fibre broadband the same as full fibre?
No. Fibre broadband usually means part fibre (FTTC), which uses a copper line for the last part. Full fibre (FTTP) uses fibre all the way.
Can I keep my phone number when I move to full fibre?
In most cases, yes. Ask your new provider to transfer it when you order.