How to Switch to Full-Fibre Broadband in the UK
Full-fibre (FTTP) broadband is now available to over three-quarters of UK premises. This guide explains how to check availability at your address, what to look for when comparing packages, and how to manage the switch without losing connectivity.
Step 1: Check whether full-fibre is available at your address
National coverage figures — such as the 77.5% reported in Ofcom's Connected Nations 2025 — describe the share of premises where a network passes the property. But coverage varies greatly at the local level, and a high area average does not guarantee your specific address is connected. The most reliable way to check is to use Ofcom's free address-level broadband checker at checker.ofcom.org.uk, which queries the Ofcom database directly and shows you which technologies and speeds are available at your postcode or full address.
Individual provider websites (BT Openreach, Virgin Media, Cityfibre, Hyperoptic, and others) also offer postcode checks, but these reflect only their own network. Ofcom's checker aggregates all networks, so it is the most complete starting point.
Step 2: Understand the difference between available and connected
A premises is counted as full-fibre available in Ofcom data when a fibre network passes close enough to connect it. For most properties this means a connection can be installed within a few days. However, in some cases — particularly in blocks of flats, older buildings, or rural properties where the last stretch of cable is long — the installation may require a more complex civils job, which the provider should quote in advance.
Take-up (actual active subscriptions) lags availability. Ofcom's Connected Nations 2025 data includes take-up figures for some local authorities. Nationally, take-up among premises with full-fibre available has been growing steadily but still leaves a significant share of FTTP-capable premises on slower legacy copper products.
Step 3: Compare full-fibre packages
Full-fibre packages are sold by several categories of provider in the UK:
- Openreach wholesale: BT, Sky, TalkTalk, Vodafone, Plusnet, and hundreds of smaller ISPs all sell full-fibre over Openreach's network. Speeds commonly range from 150 Mbit/s (entry) to 1 Gbit/s or higher. Pricing and contract length vary — compare across ISPs even if the underlying network is the same.
- Virgin Media O2: Runs its own cable network (DOCSIS 3.1), which is classed as gigabit-capable but is not always fibre-to-the-premises. Check the technology type if a full-fibre FTTP product matters to you.
- Alternative network operators (altnets): Cityfibre, Hyperoptic, Zzoomm, Trooli, and others build their own FTTP networks, sometimes at higher speeds and more competitive prices than Openreach-based products. Availability is more limited geographically.
When comparing packages, look at: headline download speed, upload speed (full-fibre is symmetric or near-symmetric, which matters for video calls and uploads), contract length (typically 18–24 months), installation fees, and whether speeds are guaranteed or "up to".
Step 4: Switching without losing connectivity
Since 2023, Ofcom's One Touch Switching (OTS) rules require providers to manage the full switching process on your behalf. You sign up with the new provider; they coordinate cessation of the old service and activation of the new one. You should not need to contact your current provider to leave. Switching typically takes 2–5 working days for Openreach-based products; altnet installations may take longer if physical civils work is required.
If you are still in a minimum-term contract, check whether early termination charges apply. Providers are required by Ofcom to give you at least 30 days' notice of any price increase, and if they raise prices during your contract term you usually have the right to exit penalty-free.
Step 5: What to expect from the installation
A standard full-fibre installation involves an engineer connecting a thin optical fibre cable from the nearest junction point (usually at the street cabinet or overhead on a telegraph pole) to an Optical Network Terminal (ONT) inside your home. The ONT is a small white box, typically installed near your front door or in a cupboard. Your router then plugs into the ONT. Installation usually takes 2–4 hours and engineers are required to fix any damage to brickwork or decoration. If you are in a flat, the building manager may need to grant access, which can add time to the process.
What if full-fibre is not available at my address?
If full-fibre (FTTP) is not yet available at your address, you may still be able to access gigabit-capable speeds via a cable network (Virgin Media), or superfast speeds (≥30 Mbit/s) via fibre-to-the-cabinet (FTTC) technology available over Openreach's network. If you cannot reach even 10 Mbit/s download and 1 Mbit/s upload — the Universal Service Obligation (USO) minimum — you may be entitled to request a qualifying connection from an eligible provider. See our separate guide on the broadband USO for details.
Data source
Coverage availability figures referenced in this guide are derived from Ofcom Connected Nations 2025 (July 2025, release r01), published under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Address-level availability data should be verified using Ofcom's address checker; postcode-level coverage figures from PlainBroadband are derived from local authority aggregates in the Connected Nations dataset.