If you're looking for a fast and reliable broadband connection, you've probably heard about "fibre broadband" and how it can offer ultrafast broadband speeds.

But did you know that not all "fibre" broadband is actually delivered over just fibre optic cables?

In fact, many internet service providers (ISPs) use a technology called FTTC (Fibre To The Cabinet) to deliver "fibre" broadband to your home, which can be significantly slower than a full fibre connection.

So, what exactly is FTTC broadband and how does it differ from a fibre optic connection?

Essentially, FTTC is a hybrid technology that uses a combination of fibre optic cables and traditional copper wires to deliver broadband to your home.

The fibre optic cables run from the telephone exchange to a street cabinet (the "cabinet" in FTTC) located near your home, while the last leg of the connection is made using copper wires that run from the cabinet to your home.

The problem with this approach is that copper wires are much slower than fibre optic cables, especially over longer distances.

As a result, the speed and reliability of your broadband connection can be limited by the quality of the copper wires in your area, as well as the distance between your home and the street cabinet.

“Fibre” Broadband

This means that even if you sign up for a "fibre" broadband package, you may not be getting the full benefits of a true fibre connection.

To make matters worse, many incumbent broadband networks have misled the public by falsely advertising their FTTC broadband services as "fibre" broadband.

This has led to confusion and frustration among consumers who expect to receive the full benefits of a fibre optic connection, only to find that their connection is actually delivered over a copper wire.

How To Know If You’re On FTTC

One way is to check your internet service provider's (ISP) website or contact their customer support. They should be able to tell you whether you're on a copper connection or a fibre optic connection.

Another way to check is to look at the modem or router that your ISP provided.

If it has a DSL port, then you're likely on a copper connection.

If it has an Ethernet port, then you may be on a fibre optic connection.

Finally, you can also check your internet speeds.

If you're experiencing internet speeds that are consistently slower than 100 Mbps, then you're likely on a copper connection.

If your speeds are consistently higher, then you may be on a fibre optic connection.

Get FTTP Broadband If You Can

At Netomnia, we are rolling out the third national fibre network across the UK. This fibre network is made up entirely of fibre optic cables with no copper in sight. It's known as FTTP or Fibre to the Premise.

Check your availability today to see if you can access full fibre broadband.