In today’s interconnected world, the internet is almost a necessity—whether it is for streaming, gaming, or daily work tasks. Fibre optic is becoming an increasingly popular internet option; however, for most, terms like standard fibre and full fibre might be confusing. What do these terms mean, and what are the key differences between them?
What Is Fibre Broadband?
Fibre broadband is a generic term used to describe a type of internet technology where broadband is provided using fibre optic cables instead of technologies like copper wires, coaxial cables, or mobile networks.
Fibre optic cables are made of thin strands of glass or plastic, and these usually provide a faster connection compared to older technologies such as copper wires or mobile networks.
Fibre broadband is truly the backbone of today’s high-speed internet, but it’s important to know that not all fibre connections are the same. The main differences come down to how far the fibre-optic cables reach and how they’re integrated into the overall network.
Standard Fibre vs. Full Fibre: What Is The Difference?
The difference between the two lies primarily in how far the fibre optic connection extends. Here are a few key differences to help you understand:
Connection Type
Full fibre is usually referred to as FTTP, or fibre to the premises. Standard fibre, also referred to as FTTC, only has fibre optic cables extending to the nearest cabinet; the rest of the connection is completed with copper wires from the cabinet to your premises.
Speeds
Full fibre is known for its incredibly fast speeds and can easily offer speeds of 100Mbps to 1Gbps. Standard fibre is much slower due to the partial copper wire connection and can produce download speeds of 30–80Mbps and upload speeds of 5–20Mbps.
Reliability
Fibre optic cables are much more reliable than older copper wire infrastructures. This makes full fibre excellent in comparison to the copper interference often experienced with standard fibre.
Availability
Standard fibre is widely available and remains the most commonly used type of fibre, compared to full fibre, which currently has limited availability but is gradually expanding its reach.
Cost
Standard fibre is the more affordable option, as full fibre tends to have higher installation and subscription costs.
How Does Standard Fibre Work?
Standard fibre broadband is commonly referred to as the type of broadband that many of us still use, which is more accurately called fibre-to-the-cabinet broadband. In this setup, the fibre cables extend only to your nearest street cabinet. The final stretch of the connection from that cabinet to your home relies on the old copper wires from the telephone network.
These connections are usually slower and more unreliable; your speed can be affected by how far you are from the cabinet, making it common for two houses on the same street to have different speeds.
Advantages Of Standard Fibre
There are a few advantages of standard fibre:
- This is a very common and widely used fibre option, so availability is good.
- It is a very budget-friendly internet option.
- This type of internet is great for casual use.
Disadvantages Of Standard Fibre
There are also a few drawbacks to consider:
- It offers slower speeds, especially if you are further from the cabinet.
- It is less reliable, and performance can be affected by the quality of the copper wires.
- This type of internet has low upload speeds, which might not suit remote workers or people who upload large files, such as content creators.
How Does Full Fibre Work?
Full fibre, often referred to as fibre-to-the-home or fibre-to-the-premises, skips the final stretch over copper wires. In a full fibre setup, fibre-optic cables connect directly from the provider’s exchange right to your home or business, completely bypassing the need for copper cables. This direct fibre link taps into the true potential of fibre-optic technology, offering incredibly fast speeds and exceptional reliability.
Full fibre can typically produce speeds 10 to 15 times faster than any other internet service.
Advantages Of Full Fibre
There are several advantages to using full fibre:
- This internet provides very fast speeds, which are great for heavy internet users, large households, or businesses.
- It offers symmetrical upload and download speeds.
- Full fibre is a reliable service, as it has no copper wires and is not affected by external factors like weather.
Disadvantages Of Full Fibre
There are also a few drawbacks to full fibre:
- Full fibre is not yet widely available and is still being rolled out across the UK.
- It involves higher installation and subscription costs.
Which One Is The Best For You?
Choosing the right option will depend on your or your business’s needs. Full fibre is more expensive but offers very fast speeds, making it ideal for people with high internet usage or for businesses. The more affordable option, standard fibre, offers lower speeds and is less reliable, but is perfect for casual internet users. By getting a clear picture of your internet requirements and checking what’s available in your area, you can choose the option that fits your lifestyle perfectly.
