Fibre Broadband Explained: FTTP vs FTTC (UK Guide 2026)

FTTP (Fibre to the Premises) delivers fibre optic cable directly to your home, offering speeds up to 1 Gbps or more with symmetrical uploads. FTTC (Fibre to the Cabinet) uses fibre to a street cabinet then copper wire to your home, capping speeds at around 80 Mbps. FTTP now covers 82% of UK premises, and FTTP connections overtook FTTC for the first time in Q3 2025.

FTTC vs FTTP: What Is the Difference?

FTTC (Fibre to the Cabinet) runs fibre optic cable from the exchange to a green street cabinet, then uses existing copper telephone wire for the final stretch to your home. That copper section limits download speeds to a maximum of roughly 80 Mbps and uploads to around 20 Mbps, with actual performance depending on the length of the copper line. FTTP (Fibre to the Premises) removes the copper entirely — fibre runs all the way into your property, supporting download speeds from 100 Mbps up to 1 Gbps or beyond, with symmetrical upload speeds. FTTP is also more reliable because fibre is not affected by electrical interference or water ingress the way copper is. See our broadband speeds guide for a breakdown of what speed different households actually need.

Who Builds the UK Fibre Network?

Openreach, the infrastructure arm of BT Group, is the largest builder with FTTP coverage reaching 82% of UK premises by end of 2025. It operates a wholesale network, meaning providers like BT, Sky, Plusnet and Vodafone all sell broadband over Openreach lines. CityFibre is the second-largest full fibre network, targeting 8 million premises across dozens of towns and cities. In rural areas, Gigaclear is a major builder in rural communities, backed by government voucher schemes like Project Gigabit. Dozens of smaller alt-nets — including Hyperoptic (focused on flats and new builds), Zzoomm and Lightning Fibre — operate regionally. This competition between network builders has driven consumer prices down significantly, with FTTP 300 Mbps deals now available from £21–25/month in many areas. Around 90% of UK premises can access gigabit-capable connections from at least one provider.

How to Check If Full Fibre Is Available at Your Address

The quickest way to check is to enter your postcode in our broadband postcode checker, which shows FTTP deals from all available providers at your address. You can also check directly on the Openreach website, which covers the vast majority of UK fibre. With FTTP reaching 82% of premises nationwide, there’s a good chance you’re covered. However, coverage varies significantly by area — urban centres often have multiple network options, while some rural postcodes may have none yet. Alt-nets like Hyperoptic and Community Fibre may serve buildings or streets that Openreach has not yet reached, so always check multiple providers. If FTTP is not yet available, look for upcoming build dates on Openreach’s “Coming Soon” page. The government’s Project Gigabit scheme is also funding connections in hard-to-reach areas.

Is It Worth Upgrading to Full Fibre?

For most households, yes. FTTP overtook FTTC in active connections during Q3 2025, with 11.56 million FTTP lines compared to 10.60 million FTTC. The shift reflects both growing availability and increasingly competitive pricing — a 150–300 Mbps FTTP plan now costs £21–25/month from providers like Vodafone and Community Fibre, broadly matching what FTTC superfast packages cost. Beyond raw speed, FTTP offers better reliability, lower latency (important for gaming and video calls) and symmetrical upload speeds that FTTC cannot match. If you work from home, the upload improvement alone is a strong reason to switch. The installation is free on most contracts and typically takes 1–2 hours. Compare the best broadband deals at your postcode to see how FTTP pricing compares in your area.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if I can get FTTP?

Use a postcode checker on the Openreach website or your preferred provider's website. Around 82% of UK premises now have access to FTTP, with coverage growing rapidly through build programmes from Openreach, CityFibre and regional alt-net providers.

Is FTTP worth the extra cost?

FTTP typically costs £5–15/month more than FTTC but delivers dramatically faster and more reliable speeds. With many FTTP plans starting at £22–30/month for 100–300 Mbps, the price gap has narrowed significantly, making it good value for most households.

Will FTTC be phased out?

FTTC will gradually decline as FTTP rolls out. The UK's copper PSTN network is being switched off by 2027, moving all voice calls to digital. While FTTC broadband uses copper for the last mile, it is expected to remain available for several more years, but new builds increasingly only offer FTTP.

What is the PSTN switch-off and does it affect my broadband?

The PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) is the UK's copper landline network being retired by 2027. Voice calls will move to Digital Voice (VoIP) over broadband. Your broadband connection itself will not be interrupted, but if you rely on a traditional landline, you will need to switch to a VoIP-based service.

Related Guides

Broadband Speeds Explained: What Speed Do I Need? · Best Broadband Deals in the UK · How to Switch Broadband Provider in the UK · Best Broadband for Rural Areas in the UK · Types Of Broadband Uk

Methodology & Sources

Information in this guide is sourced from Ofcom market reports, Openreach coverage data, ISPreview.co.uk, provider websites and independent broadband research from Point Topic and Thinkbroadband. Prices and availability are checked monthly. Speed data reflects advertised average speeds from provider Key Facts documents.