What is fibre broadband?

To understand ‘broadband’, first, you need to know the word ‘bandwidth’ – the maximum amount of data an internet connection can handle at a given time. Broadband is a portmanteau of ‘broad bandwidth’ and is a type of internet connection that can handle a wide range of frequencies at once.

The very first type of broadband, known as ADSL broadband, relied on copper cables to transmit data. This kind of internet connection is much faster than its pre-broadband cousin, dial-up internet. Dial-up works by connecting your computer to your landline via a modem, which then uses the home phone line to dial up an internet service provider’s number and connect to the network. Dial-up internet was typically very slow and couldn’t be used at the same time as the home phone.

ADSL broadband is able to reach faster speeds than dial-up thanks to the copper cables being able to transfer much more data at once than phone lines. And broadband finally let families talk on the home phone while using the internet at the same time.

But although ADSL beat dial-up in terms of speed, it wasn’t without its own problems. For example, copper cables are more susceptible to external conditions like bad weather, leading to connection slowdowns and dropouts during rainy or stormy days.

Fibre broadband, however, incorporates the use of fibre optic cables – these are insulated cables containing lots of glass fibre strands. Instead of using electrical signals like copper cables, fibre optic cables use rapid pulses of light to transfer data. This means the transfer of data from one point to another happens practically at the speed of light. And some fibre connections can reach whopping speeds of above 1,000Mbps.

Not all fibre broadband plans are created equal, though.

What is the Full Fibre rollout?

The government aims to have gigabit-capable broadband rolled out to at least 85% of the UK by 2025, and the whole of the UK by 2030. Gigabit-capable broadband means broadband with speeds of at least 1,000Mbps (1Gbps), which is exactly what Full Fibre is capable of. The government’s ‘Project Gigabit’ programme in particular aims to cover hard-to-reach areas too, for example rural areas.

As two leading telecommunications providers, Openreach and CityFibre are leading the way in upgrading the nation’s broadband infrastructure. And more and more postcodes are being upgraded with Full Fibre capabilities every day.

Can I get fibre broadband?

It depends on the area you live in. Most providers now offer both FTTC/part-fibre and Full Fibre broadband, including UW. However, not all postcodes have been upgraded with fibre connectivity, and not all providers offer Full Fibre yet – and not all Full Fibre providers cover every area. But with the government’s Full Fibre rollout, it’ll quickly become a standard offering.

While there are still many properties using copper-only broadband, it’s gradually being phased out, with Openreach in particular aiming to close copper-wired networks by 2027.

Do I need fibre broadband?

In the days of the ‘early internet’, ADSL was enough to send emails with a small document or two attached, download small files and watch short videos in 420p quality – as long as you were willing to wait for the downloads and buffering.

Nowadays, we’re more online than ever, and even basic websites have advanced from text and images only to incorporating video media, pop-ups and animations – all elements that can slow down your surfing if your connection isn’t up to scratch.

Many people have already made the switch from ADSL to FTTC-style part-fibre broadband. With online videos in qualities of up to 8K Ultra HD, social media, remote working, video calls, and streaming services with hours upon hours of entertainment, only a superfast, stable connection can be relied on.

For many, FTTC part-fibre broadband is enough for now. But for increasingly many, Full Fibre is not only necessary right now, but also for futureproofing their homes for ever-developing technology.

You might need Full Fibre broadband if:

• You use a lot of connected devices – lots of electronics beyond laptops, tablets and phones need the internet to work properly these days. Many TVs are smart, not to mention gaming systems and virtual assistants like Alexa and Siri.

• You live in a large household – if the whole family is using their devices at the same time, you’ll need a fast and stable enough connection to keep up with the load.

• You use one device heavily – you may not use lots of devices at once, but you might use one a lot (for example, if you’re a keen online gamer or need to send or receive large files for work).

• You work from home – there’s nothing worse than a spotty connection during an important meeting, or files not uploading fast enough to meet your deadlines. A Full Fibre connection will give you stability and the peace of mind that your connection won’t drop at a crucial moment.

• You’re planning on upgrading your electronics – planning on setting up a smart home or buying new tech? Getting ahead of the game and upgrading your internet connection before you upgrade everything else will make sure you can enjoy your new tech without hiccups.

How can I check if I can get fibre broadband in my area?

Use Ofcom’s address checker here to see all the connection types available to your address.

To see what kind of broadband you can get with UW, pop your postcode into our postcode checker here and select your address. You’ll also get a detailed breakdown of speed information for each option.

What if I can’t get fibre broadband?

Although many networks ultimately aim to phase out ADSL broadband, it’s still a solid choice for those who are still waiting for their local cabinet to get upgraded with fibre capabilities. In the meantime, you can register your interest in fibre broadband with Openreach, and look into satellite and mobile broadband, although they might be pricier.

Whatever you need your broadband connection for, we’ve got you covered with our great value broadband packages. With no connection fees or sneaky mid-contract price hikes guaranteed, you can relax and enjoy your speedy connection knowing there’ll be no hidden fees.

And because our Which? Best Buy award-winning Wi-Fi Hub is included for free with all of our packages, you know you’ll be getting a super stable service with a router that can keep up with your internet needs.

What’s more, as with all our services, you’ll get access to multiservice discounts when you bundle – the more services you take, the more you’ll save. And we’ll bundle all your services onto one great value monthly bill, so you don’t have to keep track of multiple bills and accounts.

Find out more about our broadband now.