Full-fibre broadband is making its way across Scotland and we know lots of you can’t wait for it to arrive in your community. To understand exactly why full-fibre is so exciting, let’s take a look at what’s involved, how it’s different from the broadband many people currently have, and how it compares to other ways of getting connected.

What is full-fibre broadband?

Your broadband connection is a link between the local telephone exchange and your home, and the cables that make that connection drive the performance and speeds you receive.

Traditionally, copper cables were used to link the exchange to a cabinet on your street, and then on further to your home. This is known as ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) broadband.

As technology has moved on, fibre optic cables are now used as they allow for much faster speeds. Over the years, many connections between exchanges and cabinets were upgraded to fibre optic cables, but copper is still used to connect the cabinet to the home. This is known as FTTC (Fibre-to-the-Cabinet) broadband.

This part-fibre connection has the capability to be much faster, but the copper connection to the home is the reason speeds drastically drop.

The fastest, most reliable connection comes from FTTP broadband: Fibre-to-the-Premises. This is where fibre optic cable is used for the whole connection, delivering gigabit-capable internet directly into your home. This is typically up to 20 times faster than part-fibre and up to 40 times faster than old-fashioned copper.

What do you need gigabit-capable internet for?

In the past, if you were only doing some light browsing of the internet, slower speeds were often enough to keep you connected. However, our homes are becoming smarter, and everything from your heating system to your home security needs a continuous internet connection to work at its full potential.

Add to that your TV and entertainment streaming services, where we’re regularly streaming HD and 4K content and using more data than ever before, and quickly lower broadband speeds can struggle to handle everyday use.

There’s a lot of work that goes into planning and building a full-fibre network, particularly in rural areas, but we think it’s worth it to help bridge the digital divide. You deserve ultrafast and reliable broadband, even if you live in a rural part of the country.

How does full-fibre compare to other broadband options?

For many rural communities, broadband has traditionally been delivered through technologies like fixed wireless or satellite connections. These services can play an important role in keeping people connected, but there are some key differences when compared to full-fibre.

Full-fibre broadband

Full-fibre broadband uses fibre optic cables to deliver broadband directly into your home.

Pros:

• Extremely high speeds, with packages available up to 10Gbps and beyond.
• Symmetrical upload and download speeds.
• Low latency, making it ideal for video calls, gaming and real-time applications.
• Unaffected by weather conditions.
• Consistent performance regardless of distance from a cabinet or tower.
• Future-proof technology capable of supporting increasing data demands.

Cons:

• Building a full-fibre network is a lengthy, complex and expensive process, especially in rural areas.

Full-fibre vs fixed wireless broadband

What is fixed wireless broadband?

Fixed wireless broadband uses radio signals to connect your property to the internet. This generally involves an antenna or dish installed at the property, which connects to a wireless tower nearby. The signal is transmitted wirelessly, with no physical cable running directly into the home.

Pros:

• A practical solution for remote areas that are difficult to connect via a fibre network.
• Faster to deploy than building new fibre infrastructure.
• Speeds can range from a few Mbps up to 100Mbps or more, depending on the technology being used.

Cons:

• Speeds can vary depending on the distance from the tower.
• Performance can be affected by weather conditions.
• Physical obstructions such as trees or buildings can impact signal quality.
• Bandwidth is shared between users connected to the same tower.

In short: Fixed wireless broadband is a valuable solution where fibre isn’t currently available, but full-fibre delivers superior speed, consistency and long-term reliability.

Full-fibre vs satellite broadband

What is satellite broadband?

Satellite broadband uses satellites orbiting the Earth to send and receive internet data. To receive the service, you’ll typically need a satellite dish and modem installed at your property.

Pros:

• Available in extremely remote locations where other broadband technologies can’t reach.
• Modern services can deliver speeds significantly faster than traditional satellite connections.

Cons:

• Speeds are generally lower than full-fibre connections.
• Higher latency can affect gaming, video calls and other real-time applications.
• Performance can be affected by heavy rain, snow and other weather conditions.
• Obstructions such as buildings or trees can interfere with signal quality.

If you have the option, full-fibre broadband is the clear winner for speed, reliability and low latency. However, if you live in an extremely remote location where fibre hasn’t yet arrived, satellite broadband can still provide a vital connection.

The bottom line

Whether you’re comparing full-fibre with older copper connections, fixed wireless broadband or satellite services, the result is the same: full-fibre is the gold standard for broadband connectivity.

It delivers ultrafast speeds, exceptional reliability, low latency and the capacity to support the way we live and work today, as well as whatever technology brings in the future.

While fixed wireless and satellite broadband can be excellent alternatives for hard-to-reach locations, our goal is always to deliver full-fibre wherever possible so that rural communities can enjoy the same digital opportunities as anywhere else.

Ready to see if full-fibre is available in your area? Check your address using our availability checker and register your interest today.