What is BT fibre optic broadband?

BT fibre optic broadband is a broadband service that uses fibre optic cables to deliver significantly quicker speeds than ADSL broadband, which uses the copper telephone network.

What broadband speed can I get with BT fibre optic?

BT fibre optic broadband deals are available in two speeds: up to 52Mb and up to 76Mb.

The actual speed you’ll receive varies depending on your location and the condition of your lines, but when you join BT fibre optic you’ll be given an accurate speed estimate so you’ll know what to expect.

Is BT fibre optic unlimited?

All BT fibre optic broadband deals have unlimited data. There is also no traffic management so your connection won’t be slowed down for any reason.

Can I get BT fibre optic with TV?

Yes. BT offers a variety of TV bundles alongside fibre optic broadband, including a basic starter pack that won’t stretch your budget. Take a look at our BT TV page for more information on the BT TV box and channels.

What’s the difference between BT fibre optic and other fibre broadband deals?

Most other broadband providers are using the same Openreach (BT) fibre optic network and offer broadly comparable services to BT fibre optic so the major difference is the pricing and features of each deal, as well as other important considerations such as each provider’s technical and customer support. To find out more about these aspects our annual home broadband survey is a good starting point.

There are a couple of particularly notable features offered by BT fibre optic that you won’t find with other ISPs:

52Mb entry level speed

All other fibre optic services using the Openreach network offer a maximum speed of 38Mb on their cheapest deals. But with BT you get a faster speed of 52Mb on the entry level packages.

Free BT Sport

Every BT broadband customer gets some access to BT Sport for no extra charge.

BT Cloud storage

BT fibre deals include up to 100GB of free online storage for sharing and backing up files.

What’s the difference between BT fibre optic and Virgin Media?

Virgin Media operates its own network separately from BT fibre optic. Virgin Media broadband is not sold by any other ISP, and is only available if you’re in a Virgin Media network area.

Is BT fibre optic available in my area?

BT fibre optic is now available to more than 80% of premises. In order to receive this service you must be within several miles of a fibre-enabled telephone exchange.

You can find out if BT fibre is in your area by entering a postcode in the postcode check on our comparison table. This will filter by location to display packages available in your area.

How do I know if I need BT fibre optic broadband?

Not everybody needs the speed of a fibre optic service. Many will find that ADSL broadband with a speed up to 17Mb is perfectly sufficient for their requirements, and it will be cheaper than a fibre optic deal.

Our broadband speed guide and broadband beginner’s guide can help you choose the most appropriate package for your needs.

What should I look for when comparing BT fibre optic deals?

Availability: Before doing anything else enter your postcode to check that BT fibre optic is available in your area.

Monthly price: This is the fixed price you’ll pay for the length of the contract. It includes broadband and the phone line (and TV, if selected) but extra charges such as phone calls will be added to your bill each month. Prices can go up after the initial contract, so you may want to switch regularly to take advantage of the latest deals.

Speed: The maximum speed of the connection. Your actual speed will vary, but an accurate speed estimate will be provided before you sign the contract.

Setup: The setup cost varies depending on the type of package you select, and whether you need a new phone line.

Extras: Click ‘Offer details and pricing’ to see further information about the package such as inclusive calls, and special offers like shopping vouchers and other free gifts. We also provide an effective monthly cost that includes all costs and discounts.