How does fibre broadband work?

Fibre broadband is a type of internet connection that uses thin strands of glass or plastic, called fibre optic cables, to transmit data as pulses of light. Fibre broadband is faster, more reliable, and more secure than traditional copper-based broadband, such as ADSL or cable.

But how does fibre broadband work exactly, and what are the different types of fibre available? In this article, we will explore the basics of fibre technology, and the benefits of choosing fibre broadband from Zen Internet.

What is fibre broadband?

Fibre broadband is a term that covers several types of internet connections that use fibre optic cables. Fibre optic cables are made of hundreds or thousands of tiny fibres that can carry data over long distances without losing much signal strength. Unlike copper wires, which use electrical signals that can be affected by interference, fibre optic cables use light signals that are immune to noise and weather conditions.

Fibre optic cables can carry more data than copper wires, which means they can offer faster and more consistent internet speeds. Depending on the type of fibre connection, you could get download speeds of up to 1 Gbps (gigabit per second) or more, which is ideal for streaming, gaming, working from home, and other online activities.

How fibre broadband can enhance your online experience

Whether you are a gamer, a streamer, a remote worker, or just a casual internet user, fibre broadband can make a big difference to your online experience. Here are some of the ways that fibre broadband can benefit different types of users:

Gamers: If you love playing online games, you know how important it is to have a fast and stable internet connection. With fibre broadband, you can enjoy smoother gameplay, lower latency, and less lag. You can also download and update your games faster and stream your gameplay to platforms like Twitch or YouTube without buffering or interruptions.

Streamers: If you love watching or creating online videos, you need a high-speed internet connection to handle the large amount of data involved. With fibre broadband, you can stream HD or 4K videos on platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, or Disney+ without any buffering or pixelation. You can also upload your own videos faster and reach a wider audience with better quality and reliability.

Remote workers: If you work from home, you need a reliable internet connection to stay in touch with your colleagues and clients, and to access your work files and applications. With fibre broadband, you can have faster and more secure access to your cloud-based services, such as email, video conferencing, or collaboration tools. You can also work more efficiently and productively, without any delays or disruptions.

Casual users: If you use the internet for everyday tasks, such as browsing, shopping, banking, or social media, you want a fast and convenient internet connection that can handle your needs. With fibre broadband, you can browse the web faster, shop online more securely, manage your finances more easily, and stay connected with your friends and family more smoothly.

As you can see, fibre broadband can improve your online experience in many ways, no matter what type of user you are. If you want to enjoy the benefits of fibre broadband, you should check your fibre availability and choose a fibre broadband deal from Zen Internet today.

Fibre to the premises (FTTP)

Fibre to the premises, or FTTP, is the most advanced type of fibre broadband, as it uses fibre optic cables all the way from the exchange to your home or business. This means you get the fastest and most reliable internet connection possible, with no copper wires involved.

FTTP is also known as full fibre broadband, as it delivers 100% fibre optic speeds to your premises. With FTTP from Zen, you can enjoy download speeds of up to 900 Mbps and upload speeds of up to 115 Mbps (or even faster), depending on the package you choose. Because of the speed of full fibre, it is also sometimes referred to as ultrafast broadband.

FTTP is the future of broadband, as it can support the growing demand for high-speed internet and enable new technologies and services. But that future is here today for an increasing number of users, as the full fibre rollout continues across the UK.

Zen is one of the leading providers of FTTP broadband in the UK, having partnered with Openreach and CityFibre to expand our coverage to as many homes and offices as possible. We offer a range of FTTP packages to suit your needs and budget, starting from £35 per month. You can check if FTTP is available in your area by using our fibre broadband availability checker.

Fibre to the cabinet (FTTC)

Fibre to the cabinet, or FTTC, is the most common type of fibre broadband. It uses fibre optic cables from the exchange to the nearest street cabinet, and then copper wires from the cabinet to your home or business. This means you get faster speeds than copper-based broadband, but not as fast as FTTP.

FTTC is also known as part-fibre, as it delivers fibre optic speeds to the cabinet. With FTTC, you can get average download speeds of up to 76 Mbps, depending on the distance between your premises and the cabinet, and the quality of the copper wires.

Since the stop sell of services that use the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network), however, FTTC is no longer available for sale. Instead, for areas not yet covered by full fibre, a new type of broadband connection has been made available.

SOGEA broadband

SOGEA broadband is a new type of fibre broadband. Like FTTC it uses fibre optic cables from the exchange to the cabinet, and then copper wires from the cabinet to your home or business, but without the need for a landline phone service. This means you get the same speeds as FTTC, but without paying for a phone line you might not need.

SOGEA stands for Single Order Generic Ethernet Access, and it is a product developed by Openreach to enable broadband-only connections. With SOGEA, you can get average download speeds of up to 76 Mbps and average upload speeds of up to 20 Mbps, depending on the distance between your premises and the cabinet, and the quality of the copper wires.

At Zen, we offer SOGEA broadband as part of our Unlimited Fibre packages. You can check if SOGEA is available in your area by using our broadband availability checker.

If you are a full fibre broadband or SOGEA broadband user, you can still have a telephone service. Instead of a service based on the old copper telephone network however, modern Digital Voice and CloudComms services use your internet connection to make and receive calls.

Fibre broadband speed

Fibre broadband speed is the rate at which data is transferred over your internet connection, measured in Mbps (megabits per second). The higher the speed, the faster you can download and upload files, stream videos, play games, and do other online activities.

Fibre broadband speed depends on several factors, such as the type of fibre connection, the distance between your premises and the exchange or cabinet, the quality of the fibre or copper wires, the number of devices connected to your network, and the traffic on the network.

To get the best fibre broadband speed, you should choose the type of fibre connection that suits your needs and budget, and that is available in your area. You should also use a good quality router and modem, and connect your devices to your network using Ethernet cables or WiFi extenders if possible.

You can check the fastest fibre broadband speed available to you by entering your postcode in our availability checker here.

Fibre broadband availability

Fibre broadband availability is the extent to which fibre broadband services are accessible in your area. The availability of fibre broadband depends on the coverage of the fibre network, which is determined by the providers and the infrastructure they use.

Fibre broadband availability varies across the UK, as some areas have more fibre infrastructure than others. Generally, urban areas have more fibre availability than rural areas, as they have more demand and more potential customers. However, there are also some rural areas that have good fibre availability, thanks to initiatives such as the Rural Gigabit Connectivity Programme and the Universal Service Obligation.

To check your fibre broadband availability, you can use our fibre broadband availability checker, which will show you the types of fibre broadband that are available in your area, and the speeds and prices you can expect. You can also enter your postcode and phone number, and we will check the availability of fibre broadband for your specific premises.

Fibre broadband deals

Fibre broadband deals are the offers and discounts that providers give to customers who sign up for their fibre broadband services. Fibre broadband deals can include incentives such as free installation, free router, free gifts, cashback, vouchers, and reduced prices.

Fibre broadband deals can help you save money and get more value for your fibre broadband service. However, you should also consider other factors, such as the speed, reliability, customer service, and reputation of the provider, before choosing a fibre broadband deal.

Zen offers some of the best fibre broadband deals in the UK, as we combine competitive prices with award-winning service and quality. We offer a range of fibre broadband packages to suit your needs and budget, with a free router, unlimited usage, and award-winning customer support. You can browse our fibre broadband deals and find the best one for you by using our fibre broadband availability checker.