Full fibre only
We only sell real full fibre (FTTP) — fibre all the way to your home or business. No copper last mile. No “Frankenfibre”.
What we mean by full fibre
Full fibre, also called FTTP (fibre to the premises), runs fibre-optic cable all the way from the network to your property. The last stretch into your home or business is fibre, not copper or coax.
That is the only broadband we sell. We do not sell older copper broadband, and we do not sell “fibre” that stops at the street cabinet.
What is “Frankenfibre”?
Frankenfibre (short for Frankenstein fibre) is our own playful nickname for broadband that is part fibre and part something else: fibre for some of the journey, then copper from a street cabinet or coax on a cable network for the last stretch to your property. It isn't an industry term, and it isn't about any particular provider.
We use it because it's easy to remember: if it isn't fibre all the way to your property, it isn't what we sell. The real technology names are below.
Three common kinds of “fibre” broadband
People often hear “fibre” used for more than one setup. In plain terms:
- Full fibre (FTTP) — fibre all the way to the property.
- Part-fibre (FTTC) — fibre to the street cabinet, then usually a copper phone line for the last stretch to the property.
- Cable (HFC) — fibre further out in the network, then coaxial cable (coax) into the property.
Part-fibre and cable can still be useful services. They are simply not the product we sell. We only connect you on full fibre.
Side by side
A simple comparison. These are general technology differences, not promises about a particular address.
| Feature | Full fibre (FTTP) | Part-fibre (FTTC) | Cable (HFC) |
|---|---|---|---|
| What reaches your property | Fibre-optic cable | Usually copper from the street cabinet | Coaxial cable (coax) |
| Where the fibre stops | At your home or business | At the street cabinet | Further out in the street network |
| The last stretch | No copper or coax last stretch | Copper line length and condition can affect speed | Coax for the last stretch |
| Do we sell it? | Yes — this is all we sell | No | No |
How the path to your home differs
Text equivalent of the diagram
- Full fibre (FTTP): network — fibre — home.
- Part-fibre (FTTC): network — fibre — street cabinet — copper — home.
- Cable (HFC): network — fibre — street node — coax — home.
Why the last stretch matters, and the landline switch-off
Full fibre is built so the last stretch to your property is not copper. On copper last-mile services, performance can vary with line length and line condition. Full fibre avoids that copper last mile.
Upload and download on full fibre are not held back by a copper tail into the property. That matters for video calls, cloud backups and working from home, especially with several people online at once.
The UK is also moving landline calls off the old analogue phone network onto digital lines that run over broadband. See our digital switchover guide. A full fibre connection is a solid base for digital phone over the same line. Digital phone needs power, so it won't work in a power cut unless you have back-up. See our power cut help.
We do not list package speeds on this page. For current plans, see full fibre broadband and the price guide.
How to tell what you have today
- Ask your current provider which technology you are on — full fibre (FTTP), part-fibre (FTTC) or cable.
- Look at the socket: a small white fibre box on the wall often means full fibre to the premises. A standard phone socket usually means copper or part-fibre.
- Cable networks usually use a coax wall socket rather than a phone socket.
- When you check with us, we confirm what we can offer at your address before you order. Try the checker with AB1 2CD.
Questions about full fibre only
Do you sell part-fibre or cable broadband?
No. Every broadband plan we sell is full fibre (FTTP) — fibre all the way to the property. We do not sell part-fibre (FTTC) or cable (HFC).
What does Frankenfibre mean?
It's our playful nickname for broadband that uses fibre for part of the journey and copper or coax for the last stretch to the property. It isn't an industry term. We only sell full fibre.
Is full fibre the same as the digital switchover?
No. The digital switchover is about moving landline calls off the old analogue phone network onto digital lines over broadband. Full fibre is the broadband technology. They often go together in practice.
How do I see plans and prices?
This page is an explainer only. See full fibre plans and the price guide, then check availability for your address.
Ready for real full fibre?
Enter your postcode (try AB1 2CD) and we will look up what we can offer. A check is not a promise of service until we confirm.
Phone and broadband finally done right!.