Full fibre (FTTP) broadband deals: compare UK full fibre at your postcode
Full fibre (FTTP) is the UK's new default broadband technology, replacing the copper-based lines that underpin older FTTC connections. This page explains what FTTP actually is, how it compares to other technologies, what the installation looks like in practice, and how to pick the right speed tier for your household.
The six things to know first
Fibre, all the way to your home
FTTP means the fibre optic cable reaches your property directly, rather than terminating at a street cabinet and switching to copper. That is what makes it full fibre.
Speeds from 50 Mbps to 1 Gbps+
FTTP comes in multiple tiers: 50, 100, 150, 300, 500 Mbps and 1 Gbps are all common. Some altnets now offer 2 Gbps at select addresses.
Symmetrical upload is available
Several UK altnets offer matching download and upload speeds on FTTP (e.g. 900 Mbps up and down). That beats every other UK consumer broadband technology on upload.
Installation needs a new cable
Most FTTP installs need an engineer to run a new fibre cable to your home and fit a small wall-mounted ONT box. Lead time is typically 2 to 6 weeks.
30+ UK providers offer FTTP
Big brands (BT, Sky, Vodafone, TalkTalk, EE) ride Openreach's full fibre network. Altnets (Community Fibre, Hyperoptic, Gigaclear, YouFibre and many more) build their own.
£20 to £45 is typical
Altnet entry tiers start lowest. Big-brand full fibre usually mid-range. Top gigabit tiers sit at the upper end. Social tariffs start below £20 for eligible households.
Compare full fibre deals at your postcode
See live FTTP deals from 30+ UK providers at your address. Filtered below to show only full fibre connections.
Enter your postcode →What FTTP actually is
FTTP stands for "fibre to the premises". It means an unbroken fibre-optic cable carries your broadband signal from the exchange or cabinet all the way to your home. Light, not electricity, carries the data. The fibre strand itself does not degrade with distance in the way copper does, which is why FTTP delivers higher, more consistent speeds than older technologies.
The older technology that FTTP replaces is FTTC: fibre to the cabinet. On an FTTC line, the fibre runs from the exchange to the green street cabinet near your property, then the last section to your house is copper, carried on the old BT phone lines. That copper section throttles top speed and introduces more variability. FTTC can deliver up to around 80 Mbps on a good line; FTTP routinely delivers ten times that.
FTTP vs FTTC vs cable vs wireless
FTTP is one of four main technologies used to deliver UK broadband. Here is how they compare at typical UK addresses. For the deep explainer, see our technology comparison guide.
| Technology | Typical download | Typical upload | Consistency | Typical monthly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FTTP (full fibre) | 50 to 1000+ Mbps | 20 Mbps to symmetrical | Very high | £20 to £45 |
| Cable (DOCSIS 3.1) | 50 to 1100 Mbps | 10 to 100 Mbps | High, some peak-time contention | £25 to £55 |
| FTTC (part fibre) | 35 to 80 Mbps | 2 to 20 Mbps | Variable with distance from cabinet | £22 to £35 |
| 4G / 5G home broadband | 20 to 300 Mbps (variable) | Variable | Depends on local mast coverage | £20 to £35 |
| ADSL (legacy copper) | Up to 24 Mbps | Up to 1 Mbps | Lower, ages with the line | £25 to £32 |
Ranges are indicative UK-wide at time of publication. Always confirm at your postcode before ordering.
FTTP speed tiers and what they suit
The thing newcomers to full fibre often miss is that FTTP is not a single speed. Most providers sell FTTP in multiple tiers, and the tier you pick makes more difference to your monthly bill than which provider you pick.
| Advertised speed | Suits | Typical monthly |
|---|---|---|
| 50 to 100 Mbps | Single person, light streaming, occasional calls | £20 to £28 |
| 150 to 300 Mbps | Couple or small family, video calls, multiple streams, gaming | £24 to £32 |
| 500 Mbps | Larger households, heavy simultaneous use, some cloud upload | £28 to £38 |
| 900 Mbps to 1 Gbps | Very busy homes, heavy upload workflows, game-day downloads | £30 to £45 |
| 2 Gbps and higher | Specialist use: production, small business from home, futureproofing | £45 upward |
Use our what speed do I need guide to match your household to the right tier. For the top of the stack, see gigabit broadband deals. For the sensible-speed alternative, see deals under 500 Mbps.
What the installation looks like
If you have never had FTTP before, the install is more involved than switching from one copper provider to another. Knowing what to expect prevents surprises on the day.
Book an engineer appointment
After ordering, the provider sets an install date. Lead time is typically 2 to 6 weeks, sometimes longer in high-demand areas or new-build properties. Most slots are 4-hour windows (morning or afternoon).
Engineer brings fibre to the property
A fibre cable is run from the nearest connection point (a pole or an underground duct) to the outside of your home. In some cases cabling is run along fences or under driveways. This part is usually done outdoors.
Wall entry point
A small hole is drilled through an external wall to bring the fibre inside. The engineer usually positions this discreetly near the router's final location. You can request the preferred entry point in advance.
ONT box fitted
A small white or grey box (the Optical Network Terminal, or ONT) is fitted to the internal wall. This converts the fibre light signal to the electrical signal your router understands. It is about the size of a hardback book.
Router connected and tested
The provider's router is plugged into the ONT via an Ethernet cable. The engineer tests the connection, confirms the speed, and walks you through setup. Typical install time is 60 to 120 minutes.
Old service remains briefly
If you are moving from FTTC or ADSL, your old line usually stays live for a short overlap to prevent a service gap. With One Touch Switch in place since 12 September 2024 (Ofcom, 2024b), the switchover is smooth.
Who offers FTTP in the UK
UK full fibre comes from three distinct kinds of provider. Coverage depends on which has built fibre to your postcode.
Big-brand FTTP (via Openreach)
BT, Sky, Vodafone, TalkTalk, EE, Plusnet, Now Broadband and Zen all sell full fibre where Openreach has built FTTP. Broad coverage, trusted brands.
National altnets
Community Fibre, Hyperoptic, Gigaclear and YouFibre have built their own fibre networks across many UK areas. Typically the lowest prices per Mbps at coverage addresses.
Regional altnets
Brsk, Toob, BeFibre, Connect Fibre, 4th Utility, Fibrus, Ogi, Quickline, Trooli, Wightfibre, Zzoomm and others. Focused footprints, often aggressive entry pricing.
For the full list, see our all UK providers directory.
How to pick the right FTTP tier
Picking the right speed is worth more than picking the right provider. Over-buying is the single most common broadband value mistake.
Start with your actual need
Count devices. Think about simultaneous streams and calls. Most UK households are comfortable on 150 to 300 Mbps. Only heavy uploaders, very large households, or regular game-download users genuinely benefit from 1 Gbps.
Check upload as well as download
Video calls, cloud backup and live streaming all depend on upload speed, not download. If upload matters for your work or hobbies, look for altnet symmetrical FTTP rather than cable gigabit.
Compare total contract cost
Total cost = monthly × term + setup fee + any stated mid-contract price rise. Under Ofcom rules since 17 January 2025 (Ofcom, 2024a), any in-contract rise must be stated in pounds and pence at sign-up.
Remember the Wi-Fi ceiling
On Wi-Fi 5 equipment, laptops and phones commonly see 200 to 500 Mbps even on a 1 Gbps line. The wire speed rarely reaches the device. Match the plan to what your Wi-Fi can actually carry.
Live FTTP deals at your postcode
Availability and pricing are postcode and address specific. Openreach FTTP rollout and altnet footprints differ street by street. Always pick your exact address in the widget where prompted.
Full fibre (FTTP) broadband: frequently asked questions
What does FTTP stand for?
FTTP stands for "fibre to the premises". It means a dedicated fibre-optic cable runs from the exchange or street connection point all the way to your home, without switching to copper at any stage. FTTP is often also called "full fibre" in UK advertising, to distinguish it from FTTC (part fibre, part copper).
How is FTTP different from FTTC?
FTTC ("fibre to the cabinet") runs fibre from the exchange to a green street cabinet, then switches to copper on the BT phone line for the last stretch to your home. That copper section limits top speed to around 80 Mbps and introduces variability depending on how far you are from the cabinet. FTTP uses fibre for the full path, which removes that bottleneck and makes speeds 10 to 50 times higher.
Is FTTP available at my address?
UK FTTP coverage is growing rapidly but is not universal. Big-brand deals ride Openreach's FTTP rollout; altnets have their own separate footprints. The widget on this page shows live FTTP deals filtered to your postcode. Enter it to see what is actually live at your address. If FTTP is not yet available, you may be able to pre-register for notification when it arrives.
What is an ONT and do I need one?
An ONT (Optical Network Terminal) is a small box the installing engineer fits to your internal wall. It converts the fibre-optic light signal to an electrical signal that your router understands. Your router then plugs into the ONT via an Ethernet cable. Every FTTP connection has an ONT; you do not order or pay for it separately; it is part of the installation.
How long does FTTP installation take?
The appointment itself is typically 60 to 120 minutes. Lead time from order to install is typically 2 to 6 weeks. High-demand areas, new-build properties, or non-standard installations (e.g. cable through a long driveway) may take longer. Your provider will email you with the confirmed appointment date.
Do I lose my phone line when I switch to FTTP?
Your traditional copper landline is separate from FTTP broadband. Many new FTTP providers offer Digital Voice (VoIP) instead, which routes calls over broadband. If you rely on a copper landline for a care alarm, security alarm, or Digital Voice is unsuitable for your setup, see our Digital Voice guide and care alarm compatibility page before switching.
Is altnet FTTP better than big-brand FTTP?
Not better or worse, different. Altnet FTTP often has the lowest entry prices and sometimes offers symmetrical upload speeds that big-brand plans do not. Big-brand FTTP comes with a more familiar customer service experience, broader bundling (TV, mobile, phone), and in some cases stronger recovery if the installation goes wrong. At coverage addresses where both are available, compare total contract cost and read the upload specs.
Can I use One Touch Switch to move to FTTP?
Yes. One Touch Switch (Ofcom, 2024b) handles the move from your old provider to the new one in a single step, without a service gap, including when you move between technologies (FTTC to FTTP, cable to FTTP, ADSL to FTTP). The exception is where the new connection requires a first-time FTTP install at your address; in that case the switching process is still One Touch Switch, but with an engineer appointment added. See our One Touch Switch guide.
References
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Ofcom
Ofcom. (2024, July 19). Ofcom bans mid-contract price rises linked to inflation. ofcom.org.uk
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Ofcom
Ofcom. (2024, September 12). Simpler and quicker broadband switching is here. ofcom.org.uk
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Ofcom
Ofcom. (n.d.). Social tariffs: cheaper broadband and phone packages. Retrieved 23 April 2026, from ofcom.org.uk
Ready to find your full fibre deal?
Also worth checking: gigabit deals if you need 900 Mbps+, best value deals for speed-per-pound, or the full technology comparison if you are still deciding.
Compare at your postcode →First published 22 March 2026 · Last updated 23 April 2026 · Last reviewed 23 April 2026