When looking at business broadband options one term you’ve likely come across is FTTP. Just another acronym in the world of internet connectivity! They’re everywhere! Don’t worry, though, In this blog we will have the FTTP meaning explained, and also discuss how it differs from other types of business internet solutions. Keep reading for more information!

FTTP Meaning | Your Guide to Fibre To The Premises

FTTP meaning explained

The FTTP broadband meaning lies within what the acronym stands for –Fibre to the Premises. This type of broadband delivers ultra-fast and extremely reliable internet connection straight to your property. Also known as full fibre, it’s becoming increasingly available across the UK and is fast becoming the standard for those who need high speed connectivity. For this reason, it’s a popular choice for business internet solutions for large businesses.

Unlike traditional broadband services, which rely on slower copper wiring for part or all of the journey, FTTP uses fibre optic cables from the exchange directly into your property. This can provide speeds up to 1,000Mbps (1Gbps), making it around 30 times faster than regular fibre connections.

At present, not everywhere has access to FTTP broadband, meaning it’s available to roughly 69% of UK homes. There are plans in place to increase this figure to 96% by the end of 2027. If you don’t have access to FTTP yet, you’re likely using FTTC (Fibre to the Cabinet). This uses a combination of fibre and copper cables and typically offer speeds up to 80Mbps. If you’re still using ADSL, which is a fully copper based broadband connection with speeds around 10 Mbps, then this should be enough for very light browsing but not much else.

Take a look at our blog – What is FTTC (Fibre to the Cabinet)? – for more information on FTTC broadband.

How to get FTTP broadband

Now we’ve covered FTTP meaning, let’s discuss how you can obtain FTTP broadband in your property. The first step is to check whether FTTP is available in your area. The largest provider of full fibre in the UK is Openreach (a BT-owned company). They already connect around 20 million premises in the UK. You can check your address using Openreach’s availability checker to see if it is eligible.

If it is, then the next step is to choose an FTTP broadband provider. Here at Infinitel we are a leading provider of business communications services, ranging from business internet solutions for small businesses right through to large corporations with high demand. We pride ourselves on our excellent and dedicated service and our extensive support system.

Once you’ve chosen your provider ,they will send an engineer to complete the installation. This may involve some light construction work, like drilling or external wiring, but most installations are included within your standard setup fees.

If FTTP isn’t available to you just yet, you can check if your location is included in any future rollout plans. Openreach’s aim is to have 29 million premises connected to FTTP by December 2027, so make sure you keep checking back for updates.

How fast is FTTP broadband?

FTTP broadband meaning high speed, high capacity connectivity is no exaggeration. It’s capable of reaching download speeds of up to 1Gbps (1,000 Mbps), though many packages offer more modest averages of 100 to 300 Mbps.

The right speed depends on how you use your internet. A small retail business might only need 100Mbps for payment systems and admin tasks. But business internet solutions for medium-sized businesses may need more than this. If you’re managing a tech team, supporting dozens of devices, or backing up large volumes of data to the cloud, a gigabit connection could offer the seamless performance you need.

The best part? Fibre speeds are symmetrical on some packages, meaning your upload speed is just as fast as your download speed. This is perfect for video calls, content creation, and remote backups.

Is FTTP broadband reliable?

Reliability is one of FTTP’s greatest strengths. Fibre optic cables are less susceptible to wear and tear than copper wiring. As the signal travels directly to your property, there are fewer points of failure. That means fewer interruptions and more stable performance.

With FTTC, your connection passes through a shared street cabinet. If that cabinet is damaged, your broadband can go down. FTTP doesn’t rely on these, eliminating one common cause of outages. Since you’re not sharing bandwidth with others on your street, you’re also less likely to experience lags during busy times. While no broadband is 100% immune to outages, FTTP connections are generally more robust and resilient.

FTTP on demand meaning: what’s the difference?

You might also come across the term FTTP on Demand. This refers to a situation where full fibre isn’t yet available to your premises, but could be installed at your request. This usually comes with a higher cost.

FTTP on Demand is often used in more rural or hard to reach areas where fibre rollout hasn’t yet taken place. Installation fees for on demand services can be significantly higher than standard FTTP installs, and lead times may be longer. It’s a potential option for businesses with critical connectivity needs and the budget to support it, but it won’t be the right fit for everyone.

Benefits and drawbacks of FTTP

Before deciding to switch, weigh the pros and cons of Fibre to the Premises carefully.

Benefits

Exceptionally fast download and upload speeds
Reduced risk of outages and stronger reliability
Handles multiple users and devices with ease
No need for a landline (broadband only deals available)

Drawbacks

Higher monthly tariffs
Installation may involve setup fees
Longer lead times for setup compared to FTTC
Availability is still limited in some areas

Contact Infinitel for more information

At Infinitel, we know that no two businesses are the same – and neither are their internet requirements. That’s why we provide customised broadband solutions to help keep your business running smoothly and stay ahead of the competition. Whether you’re just starting out, scaling up as an SME, or managing a large organisation, we’re here to match you with the right connectivity option for your team.

We also offer a selection of business mobile phone services and business phone packages designed to meet your company’s communication needs.

For more information or to see how we can help your business thrive, please do not hesitate to contact us!