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 | Avg download speed | How it reaches you |
|---|---|---|
| Full fibre (FTTP, FTTH) Landline not needed | 74Mb to 2Gb or more | Fibre all the way into your home |
| Cable (Virgin Media) Landline not needed | 132Mb to 2Gb | Virgin Media’s own network, mostly fibre plus coaxial cable to the home |
| Part fibre (FTTC) Landline needed | Up to 74Mb | Fibre to the street cabinet, copper phone line to your home |
| ADSL (copper broadband) Landline needed | Up to 11Mb | Copper phone line from the telephone exchange |
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 biggest of the networks, had brought full fibre to 23.5 million premises by the end of July 2026, close to seven in ten, and is working towards 25 million around the turn of the year. Smaller networks, often called altnets, cover millions more.
On the Openreach full fibre network, you can choose from providers such as BT, EE, Plusnet, Sky, TalkTalk, Vodafone and NOW Broadband. Packages range from entry level plans such as BT Full Fibre 150 and Vodafone Full Fibre 150 up to BT Full Fibre 900 and Vodafone Full Fibre 910. On most of these packages, the upload speed is lower than the download speed.
Altnets build their own full fibre networks, usually in particular regions or towns. Many offer packages where the upload speed is the same as the download speed, which helps with video calls, cloud backups and sending large files. They include Hyperoptic in apartment buildings, Community Fibre in London, YouFibre, Trooli, Zzoomm, Gigaclear in rural England, KCOM in Hull and Fibrus in Northern Ireland and Cumbria.
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. Ask for the estimated speed for your line when you order, as it can be well below the package name. Our guide to what broadband speed you need shows whether part fibre is enough for your home.
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. Packages run from M125 to Gig1 and Gig2. Virgin Media is gradually upgrading parts of its network to full fibre. See our Virgin Media page for the full range.
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.
Full fibre availability
Full fibre now reaches most UK homes, but coverage still varies street by street. One side of a road can have it while the other doesn’t, and an altnet may cover your street even if Openreach doesn’t yet. Our broadband checker shows every network that reaches your address.
If you live in a flat, the building’s owner or managing agent usually has to agree before a network can install full fibre in the block. If no network is available, ask your landlord or management company whether any provider has asked to connect the building.
Which type to choose
| What reaches your home | Our suggestion |
|---|---|
| Full fibre | Choose full fibre. Pick a package by the speed your home needs, not the fastest available. |
| Cable but not full fibre | Virgin Media gives the fastest download speeds, with lower upload speeds. |
| Part fibre only | Check the estimated speed for your line. It is often enough for small homes. |
| ADSL only, or a very slow line | Consider 5G home broadband if you have a strong signal. |
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. BT Digital Voice, Vodafone Home Phone and Virgin Media Home Phone show what the change looks like with each of those providers.
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 backup, 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. If you are moving from another provider, our switching guide explains how One Touch Switch handles the move.
FAQs
What is full fibre broadband?
Full fibre broadband uses fibre optic cable all the way from the exchange into your home, with no copper phone line. It is also called FTTP (fibre to the premises) and gives faster, more consistent speeds than part fibre.
What is the difference between FTTP and FTTC?
FTTP is full fibre, with fibre all the way into your home. FTTC is part fibre: fibre runs to the street cabinet, then a copper phone line carries the connection to your home, which limits the speed.
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.
Is Virgin Media full fibre?
Partly. Most of Virgin Media’s network uses fibre with coaxial cable for the final connection, while newer areas are connected with full fibre. Both deliver very fast download speeds.
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.