Updated 13 August 2026
Full fibre broadband uses fibre optic cables all the way to your home or business. It is also known as Fibre to the Premises, or FTTP.
Unlike older broadband connections, full fibre does not rely on copper telephone wiring for the final part of the journey. This helps it deliver faster speeds and a more reliable connection.
FTTP stands for Fibre to the Premises. It means the fibre optic cable runs all the way to the property, rather than stopping at a cabinet in the street.
You may also see the term FTTH, which stands for Fibre to the Home. The two terms are often used to describe the same type of connection.
Full fibre is the clearest everyday name for this technology.
Full fibre broadband carries data through thin fibre optic cables using pulses of light.
That data includes everything you do online, from sending an email and joining a video call to streaming a film or playing a game.
When full fibre is installed, the fibre cable connects to a small box inside your property called an Optical Network Terminal, or ONT. Your router connects to the ONT and creates the wired and wifi network you use around your home or business.
No. Some older broadband services have been described simply as “fibre”, even though fibre optic cable only reaches the street cabinet.
This type of connection is called Fibre to the Cabinet, or FTTC. It uses fibre between the network and the street cabinet, but the final connection into the property usually travels along an existing copper telephone line.
With full fibre or FTTP, the fibre optic cable continues all the way into the property.
| Connection type | How it reaches your property | Uses copper for the final connection? |
| Full fibre or FTTP | Fibre optic cable runs all the way to the property | No |
| Part-fibre or FTTC | Fibre runs to the street cabinet, then copper runs to the property | Yes |
| ADSL | The connection mainly uses the copper telephone network | Yes |
Full fibre networks can support much faster download and upload speeds than older copper-based connections.
The speed you receive will depend on the package you choose, the provider and how you connect your device.
Fibre optic cables are less prone to faults and electrical interference than copper wiring. This makes full fibre a more reliable broadband technology.
With FTTC, broadband speeds can fall as the length of copper cable between the street cabinet and the property increases.
Full fibre does not use that final stretch of copper. The distance from your property to the street cabinet does not affect the connection in the same way.
A suitable full fibre package can support several people and devices using the internet at once. That could include streaming, gaming, working from home, making video calls and using smart devices.
The right speed will still depend on how many people are online and what they are doing.
More of daily life now depends on a good internet connection. Fibre optic networks can support increasing demand and higher speeds without needing to replace the cable running into each property every time services improve.
Full fibre can improve the broadband connection arriving at your property, but broadband and wifi are not the same thing.
Wifi is the wireless signal created by your router inside your home or business. Its performance can be affected by:
A fast full fibre connection can still feel slow on a device if the wifi signal reaching it is weak.
If you are having problems, our guide to improving wifi speed and coverage can help you work out whether the issue is the broadband connection or the wifi inside your property.
Full fibre broadband does not need a traditional copper telephone line.
If you want a home phone service, your provider may offer a digital voice service that works through the broadband connection. Check what is included and whether your existing phone equipment is compatible before ordering.
Digital phone services may not work during a power cut unless backup arrangements are in place. This is particularly important if you rely on a landline, telecare alarm or other connected equipment.
The exact installation depends on the network and the property.
An engineer will normally bring a fibre cable from the network to the outside of the property, then install an ONT inside. The router connects to this box.
The engineer may need to drill a small hole through an external wall. You should agree the entry point and the position of the equipment before work begins.
If the property already has a suitable full fibre connection, the installation may be simpler.
Full fibre is available in a growing number of communities, but coverage varies by address. Availability can sometimes differ between neighbouring streets or properties.
The most reliable way to find out is to check your postcode and address.
Ogi has built a full fibre network for communities across south Wales. Our fibre optic cables run all the way to the property, without relying on copper for the final connection.
Check whether Ogi full fibre is available at your address.
Is FTTP the same as full fibre?
Yes. FTTP stands for Fibre to the Premises and is commonly called full fibre broadband. The fibre optic cable runs all the way to the property.
What is the difference between FTTP and FTTC?
FTTP uses fibre optic cable all the way to the property. FTTC uses fibre as far as the street cabinet, followed by copper telephone wiring for the final connection.
Is full fibre the same as gigabit broadband?
Not exactly. Full fibre describes the technology used to connect the property. Gigabit broadband describes a service capable of delivering download speeds of one gigabit per second, or 1,000Mbps.
Full fibre networks can deliver gigabit speeds, but not every full fibre package offers 1,000Mbps. Other network technologies can also be gigabit capable.
Is full fibre faster than part-fibre broadband?
Full fibre can support much faster speeds than FTTC and older copper-based broadband. The actual speed you receive depends on your chosen package and other factors, including whether your device uses wifi or a wired connection.
Is full fibre more reliable than copper broadband?
Full fibre is generally more reliable because fibre optic cables are less prone to faults and electrical interference than copper wiring. No broadband service is completely fault-free.
Will full fibre improve my wifi coverage?
Not automatically. Full fibre improves the connection delivered to your property. Wifi coverage depends on your router, the layout of the building, where the equipment is placed and the devices you use.
