What is full fibre broadband?
Full fibre broadband is a connection that runs fibre-optic cable the whole way to your home, not just as far as the green cabinet down the road. You might see it sold as FTTP, which is short for fibre to the premises. With no old copper wire on the final stretch, the connection stays fast and steady, right up to your router.
That is the big difference from the part-fibre setup most of us still use, usually sold as FTTC, or fibre to the cabinet. On that older setup, copper carries the signal from the cabinet to your door, and the copper is what slows things down and drops out on a wet day. Full fibre broadband takes the weak link out of the chain.
Why full fibre broadband matters now
Here is why it is worth a look in 2026: the old copper network is being switched off. Openreach is retiring the copper phone and broadband network, with the changeover due to finish by January 2027, and Ofcom says the national rollout has now moved into its final phase.
Coverage has grown fast. Roughly eight in ten UK homes can now get full fibre broadband, up from less than a quarter five years ago, according to Ofcom, and providers reckon around 96% of homes could have access by 2027. Openreach alone has connected about 19 million homes and is aiming for 25 million by the end of 2026. You can read Ofcom’s update on the final phase of the rollout for the detail.
Even so, take-up is lagging. Ofcom figures suggest only around 38% of homes that can already get full fibre have actually moved over. If you are still on an older copper-based line, your provider will shift you onto a digital service at some point anyway, so making the change on your own terms is usually calmer than waiting to be migrated in the final rush.
Is full fibre broadband worth the upgrade?
For most homes that can get it, full fibre broadband is worth the upgrade, especially if your connection drops out or grinds to a halt when a few people are online at once. Day to day, the jump in reliability tends to matter more than the headline speed.
A full fibre line faults far less often than copper, because there is no ageing wire to corrode or get damp. Speeds are steadier too, so video calls, gaming and streaming hold up when the whole house is busy. Many of the newer networks also give you fast upload speeds to match the download, which helps if you work from home or back things up to the cloud.
If your home is quiet and you only ever browse and email, a basic package may still be plenty, and there is no need to pay for speed you will not use. It is worth understanding what actually affects your internet speed before you decide which tier to go for, and our fibre speed comparison breaks down what each tier really delivers.
How much does full fibre cost?
Full fibre broadband does not have to cost more than you pay now. Entry-level full fibre deals are often priced around the same as the older fibre packages they replace. Prices vary by area and provider, so what you see will depend on where you live and which networks have reached your street.
Where people get caught out is the price after the introductory deal ends. Many contracts rise each year while you are signed up, and the standard rate at the end can be a fair bit higher than the headline offer. So it pays to check the full cost over the whole contract, not just the first few months. Our guide to broadband mid-contract price rises walks through what to expect and how to keep the bill down.
How do you switch to full fibre broadband?
Switching to full fibre broadband starts with a quick availability check, because what you can get depends entirely on your postcode. Pop your address into a comparison tool or a provider’s checker and it will show which full fibre networks have reached you, whether that is Openreach or an alternative network like CityFibre or Community Fibre.
Once you have picked a deal, the switch itself is simpler than it used to be. Under the One Touch Switch rules that came in across the UK in September 2024, your new provider arranges everything, so you no longer have to ring your old supplier to cancel. The changeover usually lands on an agreed date within a couple of weeks, and you should not end up paying two providers at once during the handover.
One thing to plan for: full fibre uses a new socket and router, so an engineer normally needs to visit to install the line. It is quick, but worth booking for a day that suits you.
Before you switch: a quick checklist
- Check which full fibre networks reach your postcode.
- Note when your current contract ends so you avoid early-exit fees.
- Compare the total cost over the contract, not just the first month.
- Check the speed you actually need rather than the biggest number.
- Book an installation slot that works around your week.
Ready to see what is available where you live?
Frequently asked questions about full fibre
- Is full fibre broadband the same as fibre broadband?
- Not quite. Plenty of deals labelled “fibre” are actually part-fibre, with copper running from the street cabinet to your home. Full fibre broadband, or FTTP, runs fibre all the way to the property, which is faster and more reliable.
- Do I have to switch before the copper network is switched off?
- You do not have to act today, but the copper network is due to be retired by January 2027. If you wait, your provider will move you onto a digital service anyway, so switching on your own timing gives you more choice.
- Will full fibre make my broadband faster?
- For most homes, yes, especially if you are upgrading from an older copper-based line. The bigger gain for many people is steadier speeds and far fewer dropouts when the whole house is online.
- Does full fibre cost more than my current broadband?
- Not always. Entry-level full fibre deals are often priced around the same as the older packages they replace, though prices vary by area and usually rise during the contract. Always check the total cost over the full term.
- What happens to my landline with full fibre?
- Your home phone moves to a digital service that runs over your broadband instead of the old copper line. If anyone in the home relies on a telecare alarm, tell your provider so they can make sure it keeps working.
