All about BT Fibre
BT fibre optic broadband is a broadband service that uses fibre optic cables to deliver significantly quicker speeds than ADSL broadband.
It was previously known as BT Infinity but is now called BT Fibre.
If your current broadband is just too slow, then BT Fibre broadband deals may be exactly what you need. You’ll find BT Fibre deals to suit most needs, from cheap entry-level fibre to high-speed ultrafast packages.
Can I get BT Fibre? Use our free availability checker
There are only two requirements for getting BT Fibre: you must be within several miles of a fibre-enabled telephone exchange, and you must have - or be able to install - a BT line.
BT fibre optic is now available to more than 95% of premises, so almost everyone can get these services.
Find out if BT Fibre is available in your area right now by using our free postcode checker:
I can’t get BT Fibre, when will it be available in my area?
Although most homes can now get fibre broadband, some people do not yet have access. If you’d like to find out whether the network in your area is due to be upgraded, visit the Openreach Fibre page. Here, you can check current availability and find out if work is planned in the near future.
What packages are available and what speeds can I get?
BT Fibre offers a range of packages to fit most budgets and requirements. Note that availability will differ depending on your location; some areas may have a limited choice of speeds, especially for newer ultrafast services.
BT Fibre Essential
The cheapest BT Fibre deal offers an average download speed of 36Mb. This speed would suit an individual or a small shared home.
Prices start from under £30 per month. There may be a small setup fee, too, although you’ll frequently find special offers with free setup.
BT Fibre 1
BT Fibre 1 delivers an average download speed of 50Mb. If you’re concerned that Fibre Essential is not quite fast enough, this will offer a bit more flexibility and suit homes that place a heavier demand on the broadband with lots of video streaming and downloading.
This service is unique to BT and is excellent value for money as it costs just a few pounds more than Fibre Essential.
BT Fibre 2
At an average speed of 67Mb, BT Fibre 2 is the fastest package available to many homes.
Prices start at around £30 per month. Special offers with reward cards and other free gifts are frequently available on this package.
BT Ultrafast Broadband
BT also offers ultrafast broadband services which deliver significantly quicker speeds, starting at an average 145Mb for BT Ultrafast 1.
BT Ultrafast packages use either G.fast technology (an upgrade for existing telephone lines) or BT Fibre To The Premises (FTTP, or FTTH - Fibre To The Home). With FTTP, fibre optic lines run all the way into homes.
Unfortunately, relatively few homes can currently get BT Ultrafast. But tens of millions more should be added to the network in the next few years.
What is the best BT Fibre package for me?
When choosing a broadband service, there are a few key aspects to consider to ensure you get the best deal.
Availability: Before doing anything else, enter your postcode to check that BT fibre optic is available in your area.
Speed: The maximum speed of the connection. Your actual speed will vary, but an accurate speed estimate will be provided before signing the contract. This is an important part of a fibre package, and it helps if you’re willing to adjust your budget to get the right speed. As a rough guide, allow 10Mb per person sharing the connection, plus an additional 10Mb per person for everyone who might use it for demanding activities such as video streaming and gaming.
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; it's worth nothing BT does not provide packages without a phone line. Prices can go up after the initial contract, so you may want to switch deals regularly to take advantage of the best internet deals.
Setup: The setup cost varies depending on the type of package you select, and whether you need a new phone line: Occasionally, you may find a BT fibre broadband deal with no upfront costs.
Extras: Click ‘Offer details and pricing’ to see further information about the package such as inclusive calls, and special offers such as BT Reward Cards and other free gifts. Gifts can add up to a significant saving; we provide an effective monthly price calculation that includes all costs and discounts to help you compare offers.
How does BT Fibre compare to other providers?
How does BT Fibre look next to some other leading fibre optic broadband providers? Use the table below to compare key features and prices.
Provider | Average speeds | Cheapest price | Fastest package price | Notable extras |
BT | 36Mb / 50Mb / 67Mb | £24.99 (36Mb) | £29.99 (67Mb) | Free Wi-Fi. |
EE | 36Mb / 67Mb | £23 (36Mb) | £27 (67Mb) | Mobile data boost. |
Sky | 59Mb | £25 (59Mb) | £25 (59Mb) | Free Wi-Fi. |
TalkTalk | 38Mb / 67Mb | £22 (38Mb) | £24 (67Mb) | Fixed price guarantee. |
Virgin Media | 54Mb / 108Mb / 213Mb / 362Mb / 516 Mb | £28 (54Mb) | £52 (516Mb) | Free Wi-Fi. |
Plusnet | 36Mb / 66 Mb | £22.50 (36Mb) | £24.99 (66Mb) | Cashback offers. |
Vodafone | 35Mb / 63Mb | £23 (35Mb) | £2 3 (63 Mb) | Lower prices for mobile customers. |
Prices correct as of 01/21.
BT Fibre is one of the more expensive providers but includes some useful extras. Also available (though not shown in the table above) is the 50Mb BT Fibre 1 package that provides a nice speed boost over the cheapest deal for only a small additional cost.
Pros and cons of BT Fibre
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Frequently Asked Questions about BT Fibre
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Does BT Sport come free with BT Broadband?
BT Sport used to be free with broadband, but payment is now required to view it. You can get a monthly subscription and view BT Sport via the mobile app or compatible smart TV players, or sign up to a contract and get a TV box.
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How do I switch?
The first step to switching to BT Fibre is checking availability using our postcode checker.
Once you’ve confirmed that BT Fibre is available in your area, you can compare deals and then click ‘Go’ on your chosen package. Follow the registration process on the BT site - it’s at this point you’ll need to pay any upfront fees.
If you currently have broadband with another Openreach network provider - such as TalkTalk, Vodafone, Plusnet, or EE - then BT will notify them that you’re leaving. If your provider is on a different network, you will need to cancel the old service.
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What will I need to switch to BT?
So long as you’re within the network coverage area, the only thing you’ll need to switch is a BT line (or be able to install one if it’s not already there).
Everything else you need for BT broadband is included in the package.