An established option where full fibre is not ready. Its copper final stretch limits speed and makes the length and quality of the line important.
The route to your router.
Fibre + copper · Openreach advertises up to 76 Mbps
A simplified illustration of the access connection. The exact equipment and installation route vary by network and property.
What to weigh up.
Where it helps
- May be orderable where a full-fibre installation is not yet available.
- Can suit ordinary browsing, streaming and smaller households.
- Commonly uses an existing telephone cable into the property.
What to check
- Longer or poorer-quality copper lines can reduce attainable speed.
- Upload speeds are usually much lower than download speeds.
- FTTC is not full fibre and does not provide gigabit access speeds.
Why the last stretch matters
The cabinet has a fibre connection back to the network, but the link from the cabinet to your property uses copper. The length and condition of that copper connection affect the service.
An advertised package average cannot tell you exactly what your line will deliver. Use the provider’s address estimate and minimum guaranteed speed when comparing offers.
When FTTC still makes sense
A household with modest simultaneous use can find a stable part-fibre connection perfectly practical. The main pressure points are several high-quality streams at once, large downloads and cloud uploads.
If full fibre is available at a similar total contract cost, compare it carefully before committing to a new FTTC contract. Ask about the expected installation process rather than assuming an upgrade is immediate.
Read the technology label
The word fibre alone can hide an important difference. Look for full fibre or FTTP when you want fibre directly to the premises. Part fibre or FTTC means the final access line still includes copper.
Your questions, answered.
Can FTTC deliver gigabit broadband?
Conventional FTTC uses a copper final line and is not a gigabit access technology. Full fibre and some cable services can provide gigabit packages.
Why do two neighbours have different FTTC speeds?
Copper line length, wiring and line conditions can differ. Compare the estimate for your exact address rather than another customer’s result.
Sources & further reading
Official information behind this guide. Links checked 29 October 2026; individual datasets retain their stated reference dates.