FTTP, FTTC and ADSL broadband: What’s the difference?

We understand broadband can be complicated. With many technical terms and different types of connections and cables, it’s easy to get lost in the broadband world. But not to fear, we’ve broken down the 3 different types of broadband to make it simple for you.

What is FTTP?

FTTP or Fibre to the Premises (full fibre) is the latest and most advanced type of broadband. Through fibre optic glass cables, a FTTP connection is delivered with speeds of up to 1,000Mb/s.

The fibre optic cables which deliver full fibre broadband are robust and durable, resulting in little to no drop outs. Full fibre runs directly from the exchange to your home and can handle many devices at once, making it the perfect option for families and busy homes. Thanks to the well thought out design of fibre optic cables, a full fibre connection maintains its strength over long distances, giving you a fast and reliable connection wherever you are in the UK.

Following Ofcom’s recent announcement that copper cable broadband will soon be retired, FTTP broadband is set to become the new standard and the future of connectivity.

What is FTTC?

FTTC or Fibre To The Cabinet (fibre) is a connection created by both fibre optic and copper cables. Despite not being completely full fibre, FTTC broadband is still a reliable and powerful option, delivering average speeds of around 67Mb/s, which is ideal for streaming, browsing and video calling.

Although at a slower pace, FTTC is following in the same footsteps of ADSL and is being retired. Since this type of broadband isn’t solely reliant on copper cables, it’ll be around slightly longer, until 2030.

What is ADSL?

ADSL or Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line is a connection that’s delivered through the same copper cables as telephone lines. Because this broadband travels from the telephone exchange to your home via old, outdated cables, the strength, performance and speed of your connection depends on how far your home is from the exchange. This means you aren’t guaranteed you a high-quality, reliable connection.

ADSL is the most popular type of broadband in the UK because of the lack of installation required due to copper cable phone lines already being installed in most homes.

ADSL used to be the best broadband option, but as technology has advanced, it’s struggled to keep up with our modern online needs. The copper cables it relies on are now outdated, making ADSL the slowest option available, often causing frustrating lag and buffering. Consequently, Open Reach have announced that copper cables are being retired and will no longer be used after December 2025.

Can I upgrade from FTTC or ADSL to FTTP?

Yes, you can! You can enjoy the speediness of FTTP or full fibre broadband at the comfort of your home, fully supported by our 4.5 star ‘Excellent’ rated Trustpilot service. Use our postcode checker to see whether there’s FTTP broadband available at your address.

If there is, reach out to us on 01403 216133 or through our live chat and we’ll set you up with full fibre broadband in under 5 minutes!

Don’t panic if full fibre isn’t available at your address. Open reach are expanding the network to cover 96% of the UK by May 2027!

I want to upgrade my broadband from ADSL but FTTP isn’t available at my address – What can I do?

If FTTP isn’t currently available at your address but you’d like to upgrade your broadband, you can switch to FTTC. You’ll benefit from the power of the fibre optic cables, combined with the copper cables, whilst you wait for FTTP to be available in your area. Click here to visit our national postcode checker and check out your FTTC options!

If you have any questions on your broadband and would like to speak to one of our friendly agents, please reach out to us on 01403 216133 or through our live chat.