As full fibre broadband and symmetrical speeds become more widely available, many households are exploring what they offer — especially if their current provider struggles to deliver fast speeds and reliable connectivity for HD streaming, gaming, remote work, or video calls. It might be the right time to consider switching to full fibre or symmetrical broadband.
This guide explains what these terms mean, how they compare to other types of broadband, how they work, what plans are available across the UK in 2025, which providers to consider in your area, and how to find a plan that fits your needs.
Table of Contents
What is Full Fibre Broadband?
Full fibre broadband is a type of internet connection that uses fibre optic cables all the way from the broadband exchange (where the internet comes from) to your house. Fibre optic cables are much faster and more reliable than older copper wires.
In older setups like “fibre broadband” (which many of us have had for years), the fibre runs only part of the way — usually to a box on your street — and then the rest of the connection into your house is carried through copper telephone wires. This older system is called FTTC (Fibre to the Cabinet). It’s still common in most areas but has limits when it comes to speed and stability.
Full fibre, also known as FTTP (Fibre to the Premises) or FTTH (Fibre to the Home), removes the old copper part completely. That means you get a direct line made entirely of fast fibre cables — from the provider straight into your home. The result is faster internet that doesn’t slow down during busy times and is far less likely to drop out.
What’s the Difference Between FTTC and FTTP?
Let’s break it down simply.
FTTC uses a mix of fibre and copper. It’s better than the very old broadband types, but because the copper part is still used, speeds can be limited and affected by how far you live from the cabinet.
FTTP is fibre the whole way to your house. It gives you much faster speeds, better stability, and it doesn’t matter how far you live from anything — the connection stays strong.
| Feature | FTTC (Fibre to the Cabinet) | FTTP (Fibre to the Premises) |
|---|---|---|
| Connection Type | Fibre to street cabinet, then copper wire to your home | Full fibre from exchange directly to your home |
| Download Speeds | Up to 80Mbps | 100Mbps to 1000Mbps+ (varies by provider) |
| Upload Speeds | Usually under 20Mbps | Can be 100Mbps to 1000Mbps (often symmetrical) |
| Speed Consistency | Slows down with distance from cabinet | Stable and reliable, unaffected by distance |
| Reliability | Can be affected by copper line quality | Very reliable – all fibre connection |
| Availability (UK) | Available to ~96% of homes | Now covers over 50%, expanding fast |
| Ideal For | General browsing, streaming, smaller households | Busy households, home workers, gamers, 4K streaming |
| Installation | Usually quick, uses existing phone line | Engineer visit needed to install new fibre line |
| Price | Cheaper monthly plans | Slightly higher, but better value for speed |
As of 2025:
- FTTC is still available in most places (around 96% of homes)
- FTTP is growing quickly and is now available to more than half of the UK. Openreach (which manages the lines for providers like BT, Sky, and TalkTalk) aims to reach 25 million homes by the end of 2026.
If you have the option to switch to full fibre in your area, it’s worth seriously considering.
What is Symmetrical Broadband?
Symmetrical broadband means your upload speed is the same as your download speed.
We’re all used to seeing download speeds advertised — like 100Mbps or 500Mbps — because that’s how fast you can stream, browse, or download stuff from the internet.
But upload speed is also important. That’s the speed at which you send things back out — like sending files, making video calls, uploading to social media, or backing things up to cloud storage.
Most broadband connections are asymmetrical, which means the upload speed is much slower than the download speed. For example, you might get 100Mbps download but only 10Mbps upload. That’s fine for casual browsing and streaming, but it can cause problems if you’re doing a lot of video calling, gaming, or working from home.
Symmetrical broadband gives you the same speed both ways — for example, 300Mbps download and 300Mbps upload — which makes everything smoother and more reliable, especially for remote work or large uploads.
Do You Need Symmetrical Broadband?
It depends on how you use the internet.
Symmetrical broadband is a good choice if:
- You work from home and do video meetings regularly (Zoom, Teams, etc.)
- You upload large files often (like photos, videos, or work files)
- You do live streaming on social media or YouTube
- You use cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox, iCloud)
- Your household has many devices and people online at the same time
You’ll probably be fine with regular (asymmetrical) broadband if:
- You mostly watch Netflix or YouTube, browse, and shop online
- You rarely upload large files or use video calls
- Only one or two people use the internet at a time
If you’re not sure, it’s safe to say that symmetrical broadband is more “future-proof.” Even if you don’t need it today, chances are you’ll need it in the next year or two as more of life moves online.
Cheapest Full Fibre Broadband Deals in 2025
If you’re after faster internet but don’t want to spend a fortune, there are now some proper good-value full fibre deals around. Speeds have gone up, but prices have come down — and in 2025, you can get full fibre for less than you’d think.
Plenty of providers now offer decent speeds at affordable prices, and in many cases, you won’t have to pay anything upfront either. Even better, a few of them now offer symmetrical speeds, which means you’ll get the same upload and download speed — handy if you work from home, send big files, or just want things to run smoothly.
Some of these full fibre deals also come with symmetrical speeds, which means your upload speed is just as fast as your download speed. Providers like Community Fibre, Vodafone (in CityFibre areas), and YouFibre include symmetrical speeds in many of their packages — and the best part is, you don’t always have to pay extra for it.
Here are a few best options to look at:
- Community Fibre (if you’re in London) – superfast, no nonsense, no setup fees, and short contracts
- Vodafone (on CityFibre network in some areas) – great prices, especially for symmetric 100Mbps plans
- Plusnet – often runs reward card offers and solid value packages
- YouFibre – fast symmetrical plans with no price rises mid-contract
- TalkTalk and Hyperoptic – also worth checking, depending on where you live
| Package | Speed (D/U) | Monthly Price |
|---|---|---|
| Community Fibre 150 | 150Mbps / 150Mbps | £20.00 £0 setup – 12-month contract |
| Vodafone Full Fibre 100 | 100Mbps / 100Mbps | £25.00 £0 setup – 24-month contract |
| Plusnet Full Fibre 74 | 74Mbps / ~20Mbps | £24.99 £0 setup – 24-month contract + £75 Reward Card |
| YouFibre 500 | 500Mbps / 500Mbps | £29.99 £0 setup – 18-month contract |
| TalkTalk Full Fibre 150 | 150Mbps / ~30Mbps | £27.00 £0 setup – 18-month contract |
How Fast is Full Fibre Broadband in 2025?
Broadband speeds vary depending on the provider and the package you choose, but here’s a rough idea of what’s available now with full fibre:
- Basic full fibre packages: Around 100Mbps – good for general use and small households
- Mid-range plans: 300–500Mbps – ideal for families and homes with lots of connected devices
- High-end plans: 900Mbps to 1Gbps – for those who want top performance for gaming, working, or 4K streaming
- Premium/future-ready plans: Some areas now have 2Gbps or even faster plans available, especially from new providers
Many full fibre providers also offer symmetrical speeds — so you could get 500Mbps or even 1Gbps both ways, which is great for uploads, cloud work, and content creation.
Which Providers Offer Full Fibre and Symmetrical Broadband?
There are several providers in the UK that now offer full fibre broadband, and quite a few are rolling out symmetrical options as well.
BT offers a range of full fibre packages, including the “Full Fibre 900” plan with speeds up to 910Mbps. Some areas also have access to BT’s new symmetrical plans launched in 2025.
Sky provides full fibre through the Openreach network and is expanding its reach through a partnership with CityFibre. Their plans go up to 900Mbps and include speed guarantees.
Virgin Media has its own separate cable network (not using Openreach) and offers very fast speeds (up to 1.1Gbps download). Their upload speeds are still lower than download but are improving as they upgrade their network to full fibre by 2028.
Plusnet is known for good-value broadband, with full fibre plans starting at lower prices than some rivals. They use the Openreach network too.
Hyperoptic, Community Fibre, YouFibre, and Gigaclear are examples of smaller, fast-growing providers that offer full fibre with symmetrical speeds — often at lower prices. These providers are especially active in cities, new builds, and rural areas that were previously left out.
How Much Does Full Fibre Broadband Cost in 2025?
Prices for full fibre broadband depend on the speed, the provider, and any extras like TV bundles or free routers. Here’s what you can generally expect in 2025:
- 100–150Mbps: Around £25 to £30 per month
- 300–500Mbps: Usually £30 to £45 per month
- 900Mbps to 1Gbps: £45 to £65 per month
- 2Gbps+: Around £60 to £80 per month in selected areas
Some providers offer deals like:
- First 3 months free (BT)
- No setup fees (Sky, Virgin Media)
- Free reward cards (Plusnet, Vodafone)
- No price hikes during the contract (YouFibre, Zen)
It’s worth shopping around, as prices and offers change regularly.
How Much Does Symmetrical Broadband Cost in 2025?
If you’re thinking about getting symmetrical broadband — where your upload speed is just as fast as your download speed — the good news is, it’s become a lot more affordable in 2025.
Prices will depend on the speed you go for and which providers are available in your area, but here’s a simple breakdown of what most people are paying:
- For 150 to 300Mbps (great for families, working from home, and streaming on multiple devices), you’re looking at around £25 to £35 a month.
- For 500Mbps (ideal if you’ve got lots of devices and heavy users at home), the price usually falls between £30 to £45 a month.
- If you want 1Gbps (1000Mbps) — basically the fastest most homes can get — prices tend to be between £40 and £60 a month.
- Some providers now offer 2Gbps and above in certain areas, but those are usually £60 or more and aimed at serious power users.
Providers like YouFibre, Hyperoptic, Community Fibre, and Vodafone (on CityFibre’s network) are offering some of the best deals on symmetrical speeds — and many include extras like no setup fees, fixed prices during your contract, or short-term rolling options.
It’s worth checking your postcode to see what’s available near you. Also, don’t forget to look out for deals — some providers give lower prices for the first 6 or 12 months, which can help keep costs down early on.
How to Check If Full Fibre or Symmetrical Broadband Is Available in Your Area
One of the most common questions is: “Can I get full fibre or symmetrical broadband where I live?”
The easiest way to find out is by using the postcode checker tools on the provider websites. Here are the main ones:
- BT Broadband Checker
- Sky Broadband
- Virgin Media Postcode Checker
- Plusnet Broadband
- Hyperoptic
- Community Fibre
- YouFibre
You can also check your area using the coverage map at ThinkBroadband.
The Good and Bad of Symmetrical Broadband and Full Fibre
Thinking of switching to full fibre or symmetrical broadband? Here’s a simple look at the good bits — and a few things to keep in mind — so you can decide if it’s right for your home.
What’s Good
Fast in Both Directions
Symmetrical broadband gives you the same speed for uploading and downloading. So whether you’re sending big files, uploading videos, or just on a lot of video calls — it handles everything without slowing down.
Perfect for Working from Home
If you work remotely, you’ll know how important stable video calls and quick file uploads are. Symmetrical speeds help make meetings smoother and cloud work less stressful.
No Stress When Everyone’s Online
Whether it’s your kids streaming, you working, someone else gaming — full fibre keeps up. It’s built to handle a busy household without buffering or slowdowns.
Less Dropouts, More Reliability
Full fibre doesn’t rely on old copper wires. That means fewer connection problems and less slowing down during the evening when everyone’s online.
Ready for the Long Run
More of what we do now — work, gaming, cloud storage, smart devices — needs good internet. Full fibre sets you up for now and whatever comes next.
What’s Not So Great
Not in Every Street Yet
Full fibre is growing fast across the UK, but it’s still not everywhere. Some areas, especially in the countryside, might have to wait a bit longer.
Costs a Bit More Than Standard Plans
The faster, symmetrical plans usually cost a few quid more each month than basic ones. That said, prices have started coming down as more providers roll them out.
May Need an Engineer Visit
If you’re switching to full fibre for the first time, an engineer will need to install a new line into your home. It’s usually quick, but they may need to drill or run cables.
Not Everyone Needs Super Speeds
If you just browse the news, watch Netflix, and scroll on your phone, you might not need the extra speed. Standard broadband could still do the job just fine.
Should You Switch to Full Fibre or Symmetrical Broadband?
If full fibre is available in your area, and you want faster, more reliable internet, the answer is simple: yes. Full fibre gives you better performance, fewer slowdowns, and it can handle lots of people online at once without buffering or lag.
If you upload a lot, work from home, or need strong connections for video calls, symmetrical broadband is even better. It gives you the same high speed going both ways — ideal for modern life.
Even if you don’t need top speeds today, upgrading now means your connection is ready for whatever comes next.