Fibre optic is the third iteration of internet speeds. First, early users had to struggle with dial-up. This was thankfully replaced in the early 2000s by Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Lines, or ADSL connections. In recent years, explosive demand for high-speed internet has led to fibre-optic broadband.
But how exactly does fibre optic broadband work? And how does it deliver internet to your home?
Fibre connections are achieved through a different method than their predecessors. Fibre optic cables work by transmitting bursts of light through tiny wires, bringing you quite literally light-speed internet. The cables are then connected from an exchange to a cabinet on your street.
However, how it gets to your house varies on what package you have purchased. Most people opt for an FTTC, or fibre-to-the-cabinet connection. This relies on the copper phone line for the final part of the journey into your home. FTTC is the most commonly available type of fibre connection.
Some packages do not require a copper phone line at all. These are called FTTP or fibre-to-the-premises, and are a full-fibre connection all the way from the exchange to your home. As the connection is completely fibre, it offers much faster speeds but isn’t as readily available as its hybrid counterpart.
However, the UK government has made it a priority to get all homes full-fibre ready by the end of 2030. So, if you can’t access it right now, it should be with you within seven years.
If your home hasn’t been connected to fibre internet in the past, you will also need to have an engineer come and install it. This will need to be arranged between you and your broadband provider and in some instances can come at an additional cost.
