In the day and age of modern technology, it’s no surprise that there are new technologies and advancements happening around us all the time – this is the same with broadband types. Businesses that are heavily dependant on the use of internet for their business to run smoothly usually opt for faster connections such as FTTP and FTTC broadband, the problem is that a lot of business owners are ignorant of what these both mean and how they will affect their business.
This guide will outline the difference between both of them and help you come to a decision as to which you should choose based on your business requirements.
Don’t know what FTTP is?
FTTP (fibre to the premises) basically refers to fibre broadband which is wired directly into the home instead of into a cabinet that services the area. Unlike FTTC, FTTP is entirely fibre optic cables, this enables it to be much faster (up to 1000Mbps or 1GBps) however there aren’t many providers that can offer speeds that high currently in the UK. FTTP is the preferred option for people who are serious about their broadband usage.
And what about FTTC?
FTTC (fibre to the cabinet) simply refers to broadband that draws its connection from a cabinet in your specific location (those grey or green coloured boxes you see when you’re walking along streets). FTTC broadband doesn’t need home installation, this is due to when you switch providers, they are able to connect you up through these cabinets. The vast majority of UK broadband providers piggyback from BT’s Openreach network, which is what said cabinets include.
So what companies currently offer FTTP in the UK?
The problem currently persists that there are very few UK providers that can offer FTTP packages, most of them operate on FTTC connections – you will find mainstream providers such as Sky, TalkTalk and BT all running on FTTC with the services they provide coming directly from the cabinets in the are.
Virgin Media offer FTTP services and are by far the highest profile of the lot, whilst this service is not available in all locations a large amount of consumers are able to access fibre from Virgin Media who can offer speeds considerably faster than their counterparts. Other companies, such as Syscomm Ltd can offer fibre to the cabinet services to business in the UK too.
Is FTTP broadband fast?
In comparison to FTTC packages, FTTP has a much higher capacity for speeds, though it is very rarely fully used. Most people who are interested in FTTP packages are most likely drawn to the likes of Virgin Media, who have a top potential speed of up to 362Mbps however this is completely dependant on your area. However, rival companies such as the forementioned Syscomm Ltd can boast up to 330Mbps speeds through their FTTP services.
The UK government has outlined a plan which is to roll out FTTP in up to 3 million homes by the end of 2020, but this is very unlikely to be fully established. One day in the near future packages such as this will become the absolute ‘norm’, but until then many businesses will have to make do with FTTC.
Okay, so what are the main pros of FTTP?
The biggest pro of FTTP broadband is the fact that it has a higher speed capacity than any standard fibre broadband package available. FTTP packages are more often than not 3 times faster than FTTC, making them an obvious choice for any household that is heavily reliant on internet connectivity.
If you’re someone who downloads and streams things a lot, or uploads content to the likes of YouTube or Twitch, then it’s likely that you’ll be wanting to seek out the fastest broadband speed you possibly can.
FTTP vs FTTC – Which is best?
At the end of the day, the type of broadband that you will opt for will heavily depend on your personal or business needs, if you live on your own or have a family that doesn’t go online much there is not really much need to empty your wallet for 300Mbps+ speeds. Light users who just watch a few Netflix documentaries or YouTube videos while browsing social media will be best suited for FTTC. FTTP itself is ideal for those who want the fastest they can get and can afford the dramatically increased costs – whether it’s for running multiple processes through your business, or you’re a streamer on popular sites such as Twitch, you will also want to opt for the best you can get.
Let’s ignore the fact that FTTP is a much faster alternative to FTTC and consider that most FTTC packages are more than fast enough for even the most established of users. The likes of BT, Sky and TalkTalk can all offer packages between 63-67Mbps, which is still superfast in comparison to standard ADSL connections.