FTTP Guide: What Is It & How Does It Work?

FTTP (Fibre To The Premises) is designed for high-speed internet. If you’re looking for a faster and more reliable business broadband connection, many turn to FTTP as a solution. 

An innovative form high-speed of high-speed internet, FTTP could rid you of your connectivity issues and provide you with internet connectivity worth bragging about.

Here’s everything you need to know about FTTP to help you decide if it’s right for your business: 

What is FTTP?

Fibre to the Premises (FTTP), also known as Fibre to the Home (FTTH), is a form of technology which uses optical fibres to deliver superfast broadband directly to your home or business premises. An alternative to traditional internet fed through copper telephone lines, FTTP cables are able to carry more data at a faster speed, especially over long distances.

Here are some of the main benefits of FTTP:

• Faster broadband – FTTP can deliver internet at speeds of up to 1 Gbps. This is significantly faster than the typical speed of FTTC, which is around 70 Mbps.

• More resistant to interference – FTTP offers a reliable internet connection as the fibre optic material is more resistant to electromagnetic interference. It is more stable as it uses light technology instead of current. Contrastingly, the copper cables used in traditional telephone line connections are more susceptible to interference.

• Transmission is secure – FTTP systems are viewed as highly secure as there is currently no way to interrupt the flow of data.

• Durability – Fibre optic lines are designed to be tough and strong. They are far less susceptible to damage; it is claimed that they can last up to 40 years! This means that FTTP users are less likely to have to deal with delays due to maintenance or repairs.

• Future Proof – FTTP is viewed by many as the future of broadband. These fibre optic lines are created to be scalable and customisable, so they can be built upon and adapted for future improvement.

What Is FTTC? 

You may have heard the term FFTC (Fibre To The Cabinet) thrown about. FTTC does not deliver fibre directly to your premises. Instead, the cables are connected to your local distribution cabinet and fibre optic is sent to your property through copper wires.

As FTTP is connected more closely to your property, it is seen as more effective and delivers a better quality of fibre optic broadband.

How Does FTTP Work?

FTTP broadband is carried between your premises directly to the telephone exchange by a fibre-optic cable. This means your business will receive much higher broadband speeds from a much more reliable broadband connection. 

These can be installed either overhead using telegraph poles or underground. If investing in an FTTP connection, the fibre-optic cables will be installed using the same route as your current telephone cables. 

Before your connection can be installed, an engineer must come out to assess your premises and identify a nearby fibre connection point. Depending on the infrastructure around your premises, installation time varies. For example, it can take a larger amount of time if roads need to be closed for underground installation. 

Some areas, particular cities may be FTTP-ready. This means it is much quicker to connect your premises to the fibre-connection point as the technology is already in place. 

How Much Does FTTP Cost?

FTTP can be expensive to install for your home/business. Installation prices have been estimated at approximately £1,500. This is due to the fact that this technology requires new infrastructure to be built in your area in order for it to work effectively.

FTTP is not available in all areas. It is claimed that only 3% of premises currently have access to this technology. To improve this, BT’s telecommunications company Openreach has set goals to deliver FTTP to 10 million premises by 2025.

What Is Fibre On Demand?

With Fibre on Demand, you could order generic ethernet access over Fibre to the Premises from your internet service provider. This combines the two technologies and allows you to benefit from the speed provided by the ethernet connection and the cost-effectiveness of FTTP.

Please note that this service is currently only available in areas where FTTC is enabled. This is because fibre is already being sent to the distribution cabinets in these locations. From there, Openreach can plan and estimate costs for the further FTTP on-demand connection. Once set up, this service is designed to work identically to the full FTTP technology.

The cost of getting Fibre on Demand for your premises will depend on the work required for the installation, there will also be a monthly cost for the on-demand service.

Is FTTP Suitable For Me?

Households

If a fair few of the devices in your home require a sound internet connection, and you frequently use them at once, you could benefit from getting FTTP installed. For example, TVs, game consoles and iPads can all run effectively with FTTP. You could benefit from faster download speeds and a more secure connection.

However, if you don’t have a particularly high demand for broadband within your home, FTTC could be a more suitable option as it still provides a fast fibre optic internet connection. Alternatively, a standard ADSL connection could suffice.

Businesses

If you run a business that relies heavily on broadband, it’s certainly worth considering getting FTTP. Faster internet speeds could increase staff productivity, not to mention the fact that you’re less likely to face delays or connection losses due to FTTP’s resistance to interference. Getting Fibre to the Premises could be a great investment for your business!

How can I get FTTP installed?

FTTP is not widely available in all areas, so it can be difficult to get this technology installed.

However, the following UK internet service providers may be able to offer you a suitable FTTP deal:

• BT
• Hyperoptic
• Sky and Talk Talk’s UFO
• Virgin Media
• Vodafone

To find out whether Fibre to the Premises is available in your area, try Openreach’s online Fibre Checker.

Looking to the Future

Communication service regulator, Ofcom has announced plans to open up the fibre network to more industry competitors, as currently, BT has a monopoly share on FTTP.

By encouraging competition between networks, FTTP can be further integrated into society and customers can benefit from an increased number of options and a better range of deals.

If you’re interested in finding a better broadband deal for your home or business, visit Love Energy Saving’s broadband comparison page.

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