FTTP vs FTTC: what’s the difference?

The difference in one line

FTTC (fibre to the cabinet) runs fibre to the green street cabinet, then copper phone line for the last stretch to your home. FTTP (fibre to the premises), also called full fibre, runs fibre all the way to the property. The copper final leg is what holds FTTC back.

Speed and reliability

• FTTC: typically up to around 80 Mbps download, with modest upload. Speed drops the further you are from the cabinet.
• FTTP: commonly 100 Mbps to 1 Gbps and beyond, with much faster upload and steadier performance because there is no copper to degrade.

Full fibre is also less affected by distance and weather, so the speed you buy is closer to the speed you get.

Which can you actually get?

Full fibre coverage has expanded fast and now reaches well over half of UK premises, but it is not everywhere yet. The only way to know is to check your address, because availability varies street by street. If full fibre has arrived where you live, it is usually the better buy. Compare full fibre deals to see what is live at your postcode.

Is full fibre worth paying more for?

Often the price gap is small, and full fibre buys you faster upload, lower latency and fewer peak-time slowdowns. If you work from home, game, or have a busy household, it is usually worth it. If you are a light user on a tight budget and FTTC comfortably covers your needs, there is no shame in sticking with it.

Switching from FTTC to FTTP

Moving to full fibre usually needs a one-off engineer visit to run the fibre into your home, after which it is plug and play. Plan for a short changeover. Our switching guide walks through the process.

The bottom line

FTTP beats FTTC on speed, upload and reliability because it drops the copper. Check availability at your address first. If full fibre is there and the price gap is small, take it, especially for a busy or work-from-home household.