FULL FIBRE
Fibre into the home
Ofcom says 'full fibre' should only describe networks with fibre-optic cable all the way from the exchange to the home.
Check your labelWHAT OFCOM SAYS
Know what reaches
your door.
The word 'fibre' used to cover very different connections.
Check your label
82%of UK homes can get full fibre
- Read the network label
- Full fibre goes to the home
- 10 Mbit/s is the safety net
- Clear words, better choices
Since September 2024, Ofcom guidance says providers must tell you clearly whether a deal runs on full fibre, part fibre, copper or cable before you sign up. Here is what those words mean and where the UK has got to.
Updated
THE SHORT ANSWER
Fibre all the way,
or only part of it.
The label tells you how the last stretch reaches you.
Providers can no longer use 'fibre' on its own.
PART FIBRE
Fibre to the street
'Part fibre' means fibre from the exchange to the street cabinet, then usually copper wire from the cabinet to your home.
See the numbers
SLOW LINE
Under 10 Mbit/s?
Ofcom calls 10 Mbit/s down and 1 Mbit/s up 'decent broadband'. Homes that cannot get it may have a legal right to request an upgrade.
The right to requestA QUICK LABEL CHECK
What does your
deal call it?
Pick the network term on a broadband deal to see what Ofcom's guidance says it means. The bar shows how much of the route to your home is fibre.
Based on Ofcom's guidance on broadband network information (September 2024) and its universal service advice. This is general information about how networks are described.
TWO NUMBERS WORTH KNOWING
Most homes can connect,
a few still cannot.
Figures from Ofcom's Connected Nations update,
a snapshot of the UK in January 2026.
82%
UK homes that can get full fibre
That is 24.9 million of the UK's 30.5 million homes, 1.2 million more than six months earlier. Gigabit-capable broadband reached 89% of homes.
FULL FIBRE · OFCOM
39,000
Premises unable to get 10 Mbit/s from a fixed line or fixed wireless
Down from 44,000 in July 2025. Counting lower-priced satellite services, Ofcom says only 4,000 premises lack affordable decent broadband.
DECENT BROADBAND · OFCOM
Availability is not the same as use: Ofcom says 12.4 million premises had taken up full fibre by January 2026, 47% of all premises where it is available.
FOUR THINGS TO LOOK FOR
Read the small print
before you sign.
Ofcom's guidance means the key facts about a broadband deal should be in front of you before you agree to buy, whether online, in a shop or on the phone.
Find the network term
Look for 'full fibre', 'part fibre', 'copper' or 'cable' at the point of sale, in the contract information and in the contract summary.
Be wary of 'fibre' alone
Providers should no longer use the word on its own to describe the technology behind a deal.
Follow the explanation link
Providers must also give a fuller, easy-to-understand explanation of what the technology means for you.
Check what is available
Full fibre may already reach your street: availability grew by 1.2 million homes in six months to January 2026.
THE RIGHT TO REQUEST
A safety net
for slow lines.
Since 20 March 2020, the broadband universal service has given eligible homes and businesses the legal right to request an upgraded connection if they cannot get 10 Mbit/s download and 1 Mbit/s upload. A property is eligible if it has no access to decent broadband and is not due to be connected by a publicly funded scheme within 12 months.
When the scheme launched, Ofcom said BT or KCOM would pay for connection work costing £3,400 or less, and customers could choose to pay any extra above that. Ofcom also advises checking whether a faster fixed or wireless service is already available first.
Questions
Questions people ask
What is the difference between full fibre and part fibre?
Full fibre uses fibre-optic cable all the way from the exchange to the home. Part fibre runs fibre to the street cabinet and then usually copper wire from the cabinet to the home.
Can providers still advertise 'fibre broadband'?
Ofcom guidance in force since 16 September 2024 says providers should not use the term 'fibre' on its own to describe the underlying technology, and must give a clear term such as full fibre, part fibre, copper or cable.
How many homes can get full fibre?
Ofcom's Spring 2026 update says 24.9 million UK homes, 82% of 30.5 million, could get full fibre in January 2026. Northern Ireland had the highest availability of the four nations in Ofcom's 2025 report, at 95%.
What counts as decent broadband?
Ofcom uses a connection with at least 10 Mbit/s download and 1 Mbit/s upload speed. In January 2026, 39,000 premises could not get that from a fixed line or fixed wireless network.
Who do I ask about the universal service?
BT is responsible for universal service connections, except in the Hull area, where KCOM is the designated provider. Ofcom suggests starting with their websites to check eligibility.