Full fibre, also called FTTP, uses fibre to the premises. Part fibre, usually FTTC, uses fibre to a street cabinet and copper for the final section. Cable is a separate technology and can also deliver high speeds; read the actual technology description rather than inferring it from a package name.
Start with our London fibre broadband overview to see how availability, networks and speeds fit together.
Follow the cable into the property
Ofcom distinguishes full-fibre, part-fibre, copper and cable services. FTTP removes the copper telephone-wire section from the access connection. FTTC retains that section between the street cabinet and the home. In a typical cable access network, the last connection uses coaxial cable, although operators also build full-fibre areas.
This is why two offers carrying the word fibre can be materially different. Ask for the explicit network technology before comparing the advertised numbers.
| Technology | Connection to the premises | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| FTTP / full fibre | Fibre-optic cable | Package speed, upload, ONT and installation |
| FTTC / part fibre | Copper telephone wire from the cabinet | Address-specific speed estimate |
| Cable | Usually coaxial cable on a hybrid network | Local network technology and upload tier |
| 5G home broadband | Radio connection to a mobile network | Indoor signal and busy-time performance |
Speed tier and technology answer different questions
The technology tells you how the service reaches the property. The tariff tells you what capacity you are buying on that connection. A modest FTTP package is still full fibre, while a fast cable package is not automatically FTTP.
Choose a tier for your household's simultaneous activity and large transfers. Buying the highest tier on the list is optional. A well-suited smaller package can leave room in the budget for the Wi-Fi coverage you actually need indoors.
Upload deserves its own comparison
Download covers incoming files and streams; upload covers outgoing video, backups and file sharing. Do not assume a full-fibre package has matching speeds in each direction. Symmetrical service is a feature of the package, not a promise implied by the letters FTTP.
Write the two numbers alongside each other when comparing offers. A creator sending large video files might place more value on upload than someone mostly watching television.
What changes inside the home?
A full-fibre installation commonly introduces an optical network terminal, or ONT, that links the incoming fibre to the router. The router still provides your local network. Upgrading the access connection does not automatically improve every wireless link through the home.
Before installation, decide where equipment can sit and how the study, television or upstairs rooms will connect. An awkward router location can limit the experience even when the incoming service is fast.
A better comparison checklist
Separate the decisions: first establish which technologies are orderable, then compare suitable packages, then plan the indoor network. This makes it easier to spot an offer that solves your real problem.
If the problem is unreliable Wi-Fi in one room, changing the access technology alone may not address it. If the existing copper connection cannot meet your household's demand, full fibre may provide a useful upgrade path where available.
- Use address-specific estimates rather than a borough-wide assumption.
- Compare upload as well as download.
- Check the router, support terms and installation requirements.
- Read the total contract cost and any price changes.
- Keep a record of the quoted service and minimum-speed terms.
Your questions, answered.
Does gigabit always mean full fibre?
No. Gigabit describes capacity. Some cable networks can provide gigabit-class packages too.
Will FTTP make my existing Wi-Fi faster?
It can remove an incoming broadband bottleneck, but wireless performance still depends on the router, client device, interference and building layout.
Sources & further reading
Official information behind this guide. Links checked 29 October 2026; individual datasets retain their stated reference dates.