FTTP: All You Need to Know About it For Your Business in March 2024
FTTP (Fibre to the Premises) delivers ultra-fast internet via fibre optic cables directly to homes or businesses, offering superior speeds and reliability compared to traditional broadband technologies.
For further information and pricing on leased lines, click here .
What is FTTP
Speed : FTTP (Fibre to the Premises) offers breakneck broadband speeds, reaching up to 1 Gbps (Gigabit per second) or even higher.
Streaming : Users can enjoy streaming HD or 4K video content, downloading large files, and playing online games with minimal latency and buffering thanks to this ultra-fast connectivity.
Fibre-Optic Cables: FTTP uses fibre optic cables to transmit data using light signals, thin strands of glass or plastic that can carry data over long distances at the speed of light.
Installation : With FTTP, fibre optic cables are installed directly to the premises, bypassing the need for copper telephone lines or coaxial cables, ensuring optimal performance without signal degradation or interference.
Upload/download Speeds: FTTP typically offers symmetrical upload and download speeds, which is beneficial for applications requiring fast upload speeds like video conferencing, cloud storage, and file sharing.
Weather resistant: This technology is highly resistant to electromagnetic interference, signal degradation, and adverse weather conditions, ensuring reliable and stable connections, even during peak usage.
Future-proof: FTTP is considered a future-proof investment, capable of supporting even higher speeds and greater bandwidth capacities as technology advances.
Location : However, FTTP availability varies depending on geographic location and infrastructure investments by internet service providers (ISPs) or network operators.
Considerations : While FTTP coverage is expanding in urban and suburban areas, rural communities and remote regions may need more access to fibre optic broadband services due to deployment costs and complexity.
FTTC vs FTTP
FTTC (Fibre-to-the-Cabinet) and FTTP (Fibre-to-the-Premises) are two different broadband technologies that utilixe fibre optic cables to deliver internet connectivity, but they differ in terms of their infrastructure and the extent to which fibre optic cables are used in the connection.
FTTC (Fibre-to-the-Cabinet) :
In FTTC deployments, fibre optic cables are used to connect the telephone exchange or central office to street cabinets located in neighborhoods or communities.
From the street cabinets, traditional copper telephone lines (also known as twisted-pair copper cables) are used to connect to individual premises or homes.
The fiber optic connection extends only up to the street cabinet, with the last portion of the connection relying on existing copper infrastructure.
While FTTC can offer faster speeds than traditional ADSL broadband, the performance may be limited by the distance between the street cabinet and the premises, as copper lines are susceptible to signal degradation over longer distances.
FTTP (Fibre-to-the-Premises) :
In FTTP deployments, fibre optic cables are used to connect directly from the telephone exchange or central office to individual premises or homes.
This means that fibre optic cables extend all the way to the premises, bypassing the need for copper telephone lines altogether.
FTTP offers symmetrical upload and download speeds and is capable of delivering much higher speeds and more consistent performance compared to FTTC.
With FTTP, users benefit from ultra-fast and reliable internet connectivity with minimal signal degradation or interference.
Providers of Fibre to the Premises
There are various FTTP providers within the UK. The biggest and best known provider of Fibre to the premise, as with most telecoms services in the UK, is BT.
All of them will vary in terms of price and features of their services. The best way to get a good price on your FTTP is to compare with experts – we can help you get the cheapest options in your area & save you up to 40% compared with going direct. Simply click here to get your quote .
FTTP vs Leased Lines
Many people confuse Fibre to the premises with Leased Lines , which is a simple mistake. The assumption is that they are the same because they both use total fibre, but this isn’t true. FTTC has to go through the local roadside cabinet, whereas Leased Lines bypass this and go directly from the exchange point to your premises.
Here’s a comparison between FTTP and leased lines:
Technology :
FTTP uses fibre optic cables to deliver high-speed internet access directly to individual premises or homes. It offers symmetrical upload and download speeds and is capable of delivering speeds up to 1 Gbps or higher.
A leased line, also known as a dedicated line or private circuit, provides a dedicated and symmetric connection between two points, such as two office locations or a business premises and the service provider’s network. Leased lines can use fibre optic or copper cables, depending on the infrastructure and requirements.
Speed and Capacity :
FTTP offers high-speed broadband connectivity suitable for residential and small to medium-sized business applications. It provides fast and reliable internet access for browsing, streaming, downloading, and basic business operations.
Leased lines offer higher bandwidth capacity and guaranteed symmetrical speeds, making them suitable for businesses with demanding data transfer requirements, such as large enterprises, financial institutions, and data centres. Leased lines can support speeds ranging from 10 Mbps to 10 Gbps or more.
Reliability and SLAs :
FTTP services typically come with standard service level agreements (SLAs) that may guarantee uptime and response times for support and maintenance. While FTTP is generally reliable, the level of service and support may vary depending on the provider.
Leased lines come with robust SLAs that guarantee uptime, performance, and response times for service restoration and support. Businesses that require mission-critical connectivity rely on leased lines for their reliability, low latency, and high availability.
Cost :
FTTP is generally more cost-effective than leased lines, making it suitable for residential users, small businesses, and startups with limited budgets.
Leased lines are more expensive than FTTP due to the dedicated nature of the connection and the guaranteed service levels.
Downstream Speeds
ADSL2+
24 Mb/s
1.3 Mb/s
Annex M
25 Mb/s
2.5 Mb/s
FTTC 80:20
80 Mb/s
20 Mb/s
FTTC 40:10
40 Mb/s
10 Mb/s
FTTC G.Fast
330 Mb/s
50 Mb/s
FTTP
1 GB/s
220 Mb/s
A Handy Youtube Guide About FTTP
VIDEO
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FTTP FAQS
Is BT the best provider of fibre to the premise?
BT are one of the biggest telecom brands out there, and for a good reason. Many people will go to them because they are well known and considered one of the best. But from our experience, BT often charges more to customers compared to other ISP’s that resell BT’s infrastructure.
What is FTTP on Demand?
FTTP on Demand (Fibre-to-the-Premises on Demand) is a broadband service offered by some internet service providers (ISPs) that allows businesses and individuals to upgrade their existing broadband connection to a full-fibre, fibre-optic broadband service. Unlike traditional FTTP installations where the infrastructure is deployed based on demand and feasibility assessments by the ISP, FTTP on Demand enables customers to request fibre-optic connectivity to their premises on an individual basis. FTTP on Demand offers customers the opportunity to upgrade to fibre-optic broadband connectivity, providing faster speeds, improved reliability, and enhanced performance compared to traditional broadband technologies.
To get FTTPoD, you will have to be nearby a GEA-FTTC-enabled cabinet. Regarding price, FTTPoD is available at speeds of up to 330Mbps for the small price of around £60 per month (providers will vary). One problem you could have, though is installation costs. Again, this will vary from provider to provider, but you could face extra charges of up to £20,000 to build the fibre required. But in some cases, there might not be any extra charges, it depends on your area and what provider you go with.
Other useful links about leased lines:
Ethernet First Mile Costs
EFM Business Broadband
Leased Lines – The Best Networks
James Ward is CEO and founder of CompareYourBusinessCosts.co.uk, a website that won the Prestigious ‘Website of the Year’ only in its second year of operations in 2015. The website has grown organically since then offering comparisons on over 20 different products including insurance, energy, telecoms, card machines, coffee machines and much more. James has a range of interests including horse racing, skiing, rugby and boxing. He splits his time between home family life, friends, exercise and socialising.