We've checked the line at your address and you should expect to receive this download speed. Though it can vary depending on factors such as the time of day or your Wi-Fi signal (if you use Wi-Fi).
What is Fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP)?
Most UK homes with 'fibre' broadband actually have fibre-to-the-cabinet (FTTC). This uses fibre optic cables from the exchange to a green street cabinet near your property, then the final stretch into your home runs over old copper phone lines (the same ones used for basic ADSL). That setup can deliver superfast speeds, but the copper bit is a bottleneck and can slow things down.
FTTP (also called full fibre) removes that weak link. The connection is fibre optic all the way from the exchange straight into your home so there's no copper involved.
Because fibre carries data far more efficiently than copper, full fibre usually means much faster speeds, better reliability and less slowdown, especially at busy times.
What types of broadband are there?
Broadband is the standard way to connect to the internet, but the key differentiator is speed, measured in megabits per second (Mb) - and the faster the speed, generally the pricier it gets.
- Standard - with average speeds of 10-11Mb. This is the basic level, sometimes called ADSL.
- Fibre broadband - average speeds of 35-36Mb (though some offer 50Mb). This is delivered through more sophisticated glass or plastic wires before connecting to your home.
- Fast fibre - with average speeds around 63Mb. Uses the same fibre wires, it's just faster.
- Superfast broadband - with average speeds usually above 100Mb. This requires more sophisticated wiring usually direct to your home, and is only available from a limited number of suppliers. It's also referred to as Full Fibre or Fibre to the premises (FTTP), see our FTTP guide for more info.
What is the difference between broadband and fibre?
Speed and cabling, in a nutshell. Fibre is a type of broadband which uses newer technology to connect your home to the internet which means it is able to offer faster speeds while standard ADSL connections are still made entirely through copper wires which were not designed for speed.
What broadband speed do I need?
While a lightning-quick package may sound tempting, it'll come at a premium, so make sure you really need the extra speed. Fast fibre is best if you're a heavy user - so if you do lots of streaming, online gaming or downloading, or have multiple users in your home - you may find it's well worth it, as doing lots at the same time slows you down. If you just use the web for basic tasks such as emails and the odd bit of browsing then standard with average speeds of around 11Mb should be fine.
What's my current internet speed?
Try a free test for an indication of both your download speed (the rate at which you get data from the web) and upload speed (the rate at which you can send data to the web).
Use a couple from the list below to get a range of results, and perform the tests at different times to get an idea of how speeds fluctuate:
- Broadband Genie*
- Fast.com (powered by Netflix)
- MoneySupermarket*
- Speedtest.net
See our improve your broadband speed guide for more tips.
Can I get fibre broadband where I live?
Most households can get fibre broadband, but to check if it's available in your area, you can start by checking our Broadband Comparison tool. Enter your postcode and we'll show you what deals you can get in your area.
Keep in mind that broadband availability can vary within certain areas, so it's advisable to check with specific providers for the most accurate and current information.