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Most homes across the UK have access to fibre broadband now, but whether you can get full fibre or not is a different matter.
Full fibre broadband is also sometimes referred to as ‘FTTP;. This stands for ‘Fibre To The Premises’. Standard fibre, that uses telephone lines, is known as ‘Fibre To The Cabinet’.
The picture below explains why these two services have those names:
Notice how fibre optic cable is used for the whole data journey on a full fibre (FTTP) deal. But it’s only used from the exchange to the street cabinet on a part fibre (FTTC) deal.
There’s a big push to get all homes in the UK connected to full fibre by 2027. This is because of plans to switch off the UK’s old copper telephone network.
So if you can’t get full fibre just yet, use our full fibre broadband checker regularly. It's likely you will do soon.
The difference between fibre and full fibre internet speeds
Can’t work out if you have fibre or full fibre options? Here’s how you can tell:
- Check the package name - some providers are helpful and clearly name their products as full fibre.
- Check the product speed - if you’re only seeing download speeds up to 74Mb, you likely don’t have full fibre yet
How to check if you can get full fibre at your address
By using Broadband Genie’s fibre checker, you can quickly compare the internet options you have at home. It shows:
- All providers available at your address
- The speeds you can expect to receive
- The types of broadband you can sign up
- Whether there are any special offers with free gifts to take advantage of
Check if you can get full fibre broadband at your address.
How to find out about full fibre broadband rollout updates
If you’re still waiting to get full fibre, there are a few other sites you might want to check. You can sign up for updates and get notified when there’s a broadband installation planned in your area.
Openreach fibre checker / BT full fibre checker
Enter your postcode to see whether you have an Openreach full fibre connection. You can also view the maximum download and upload speeds your connection is capable of.
You can also enter your address to get updates when full fibre (FTTP broadband) is coming to your area.
Note: This checker will only show you providers who use the Openreach network. You won’t be able to see availability for Virgin Media, or full fibre networks from alternative altnet providers.
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What is Openreach?
Openreach is the company that maintains the former British Telecom Network used for the majority of broadband and phone services. If a repair or installation is required, it’s Openreach who will send an engineer, not your provider.
As we mentioned above, more than 650 service providers using the Openreach network. That’s the majority of the UK’s broadband providers. This includes Sky, TalkTalk and BT. The exception to this is Virgin Media - it uses its own, separate cable network.
Ofcom mobile and broadband availability checker
Ofcom's broadband checker offers the same information, but it also takes Virgin Media services into account.
CityFibre broadband rollout checker
Over 30 broadband providers use CityFibre networks as an alternative to Openreach. This gives full fibre access to homes and businesses across the UK in areas that would otherwise be left behind. These include:
- Vodafone
- Sky
- 4th Utility
- toob
- TalkTalk
- Rise Fibre
If you’re keen to get full fibre as soon as possible, we recommend signing up for updates.
What’s the best full fibre broadband in my area?
Every home will have access to slightly different options. Your best full fibre package will depend on:
- How you use your internet (common tasks)
- How many people are at home
- Your budget
- Whether you want additional services, like phone calls or TV
- How long you can commit to a broadband contract
Here are a few of the most popular full fibre packages available today:
- Speed: 900Mb avg. speed
- Set-up cost: £0
- Contract: 24 months
Rewards:
£31.99 per month
£35.99 from 31st March 2027
£39.99 from 31st March 2028
- Speed: 900Mb avg. speed
- Set-up cost: £0
- Contract: 24 months
Rewards:
£25.99 per month
£29.99 from 31st March 2027
£33.99 from 31st March 2028
- Speed: 150Mb avg. speed
- Set-up cost: £0
- Contract: 24 months
Rewards:
£23.99 per month
£27.99 from 31st March 2027
£31.99 from 31st March 2028
Top 3 full fibre broadband providers for speed:
- Virgin Media
- YouFibre
- Community Fibre
- Speed: 1.1Gb avg. speed
- Set-up cost: £0
- Contract: 12 months
£35.99 per month
£39.99 from 1st April 2027
Top 3 full fibre broadband providers for availability:
- Vodafone
- Virgin Media
- BT
Top 3 full fibre broadband providers for cost:
- Speed: 264Mb avg. speed
- Set-up cost: £0
- Contract: 24 months
£17.99 per month
£21.99 from 1st April 2027
£25.99 from 1st April 2028
- Speed: 132Mb avg. speed
- Set-up cost: £0
- Contract: 24 months
£17.99 per month
£21.99 from 1st April 2027
£25.99 from 1st April 2028
Top 3 full fibre broadband providers for free gifts:
- Vodafone
- EE
- BT
- Speed: 900Mb avg. speed
- Set-up cost: £0
- Contract: 24 months
Rewards:
£25.99 per month
£29.99 from 31st March 2027
£33.99 from 31st March 2028
- Speed: 1.6Gb avg. speed
- Set-up cost: £0
- Contract: 24 months
Rewards:
£33.99 per month
£37.99 from 31st March 2027
£41.99 from 31st March 2028
Get more tips with these handy guides:
- How to find the best broadband deal
- How to switch broadband provider for better deals
- What broadband speed do I need?
- Switching Credits: How do they work, and who offers them?
What broadband can I get if I can't get full fibre in my area?
Although most people will be able to sign up to fibre broadband, it hasn’t quite reached every property in the UK yet. There are a few alternative options:
ADSL Broadband
While nowhere near as fast as fibre, it's still perfectly capable of handling downloads, video streaming, gaming, social media, and just about anything else a typical household could want from a broadband service.
These deals now have a limited shelf life, though. By January 2027, older landline networks that these services rely on will be closed down. So, expect to be able to get faster deals and more options soon as FTTP rollout picks up pace.
4G and 5G home broadband
If you can’t get fibre broadband, mobile broadband is a flexible alternative.
- There’s no landline needed
- It’s quick to set up
- It works through a mobile network
- Dedicated 4G and 5G home broadband deals allow you to connect multiple devices to a router - just like home broadband
We highly recommend Three’s 4G and 5G home broadband products. As well as a choice of contract lengths, these come with an affordable monthly price as low as £14 per month.
- Speed: 150Mb avg. speed
- Set-up cost: £0
- Contract: 24 months
Rewards:
£15 per month
£18.50 from 1st April 2027
Another option is to sign up for a mobile broadband dongle to help you get connected on the go.
Before you sign a contract, check the mobile signal strength in your area (or other locations you may connect from):
See also: 'What is 5G broadband and can you use it at home?'
Satellite broadband
Satellite broadband provides high-speed broadband where a fixed line can't reach. However, you’ll need to be able to mount a dish with a clear view of the sky.
It can be an expensive solution, and is usually more expensive than fibre or full fibre broadband.
We recommend you check the full fibre broadband roll out status in your area before signing up to an expensive satellite contract.
Read more: Guide to satellite broadband
Community fibre projects
In some rural areas, residents have clubbed together to split the cost of installing a high-speed fibre optic line. Some fibre network providers, such as Gigaclear, will consider an installation if there’s enough interest from the community.
While these DIY projects can take some time and effort, they can also get you a gigabit broadband service that’s much faster than the broadband available to most of the UK.
Find out more about community fibre projects with Openreach.
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FAQs about fibre broadband & fibre availability
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Is full fibre available in my area?
The easiest way to find out is to use Broadband Genie’s postcode checker. This will show all broadband options available at your address.
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Is Virgin Media full fibre?
Many Virgin Media broadband deals actually use a unique network that uses coaxial cables. These still offer speeds faster than part fibre networks that still make use of copper phone lines.
But some Virgin Media customers are on a full fibre network, and there are plans to roll out more FTTP packages.
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How do I get FTTP at my address?
If you haven’t got full fibre already, you likely will very soon.
The old copper phone line network is due for switch off by January 2027. That means a lot more homes will get connected to an FTTP network in the following months.
It’s worth signing up for updates on these network sites:
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Is there a BT fibre checker?
Head to our BT fibre deals pack to check availability. If you’re able to sign up to ‘Full Fibre’ deal, you’ll see it listed once you’ve entered your address or postcode.
If you aren’t seeing BT full fibre deals, we recommend you sign up for updates on the Openreach FTTP checker.
Once you get an email letting you know you can get full fibre, you can come back to Broadband Genie to find the best BT offers.
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Will my drive be dug up for full fibre?
Not necessarily. Engineers generally try to use existing ducts or overhead poles first before they consider digging. But digging might be necessary if there are no alternatives.
Only a dedicated engineer will be able to explain the best course of action. We recommend going ahead with booking an engineer, even if you’re worried. There will be no obligation on the day to carry out work you’re uncomfortable with.
But remember, by next year, you may not have a choice as the old telephone network will be switched off.
See also:
Switching to full fibre broadband
- If you’ve checked your address in our deals checker and found out you can get full fibre, switching is easy!
- Simply click the ‘see offer’ button on the package you’d like and follow the instructions in the checkout.
- If you’ve never had full fibre before, you will be asked to select a convenient date for an engineer to visit. You must be at home to allow the engineer access on this day.
- On the day of installation, the engineer will talk you through the installation process and the plan to get you connected.
Switching to full fibre is the best way of future proofing your home, so we recommend you take action sooner rather than later.
For more peace of mind, find out more about what happens after ordering full fibre.
Why switch with Broadband Genie?
- We’ve been helping the UK switch broadband for over 20 years
- Exclusive rewards are available - get lower prices and gifts you can’t find anywhere else
- We’re Ofcom-accredited
- Found the same deal lower elsewhere? We’ll price match and give you a bonus - that's the Genie Guarantee!