How to Check if Full Fibre is Available in Your Area

Oct 17, 2024

With the growing need for faster and more reliable internet, full fibre broadband—also known as FTTP (Fibre to the Premises)—has become the gold standard for high-speed connectivity. If you're considering an upgrade and wondering if full fibre is available in your area, here’s how you can find out.

  1. Start with the Major Comparison Sites

One of the easiest ways to check for full fibre in your area is to visit popular broadband comparison websites like Uswitch, Broadband Genie, or Compare the Market. These sites can quickly give you an overview of what large national providers, like BT and Virgin Media, are offering in your region.

However, these sites tend to focus on the bigger players and might not show smaller, independent providers that are active in your area. While they’re a good place to start, you might need to do a bit more digging to uncover all your options.

  1. Explore Independent Fibre Providers

Smaller providers are expanding their full fibre networks quickly, often bringing faster broadband to areas that the big companies haven’t yet reached. Companies like Netomnia, Hyperoptic, Community Fibre, and CityFibre are rolling out high-speed fibre in many parts of the UK.

These independent providers are worth checking directly on their websites or via smaller, niche comparison sites. You might discover that one of these companies is already offering full fibre in your area—or are planning to soon.

  1. Don’t Overlook Local Networks

In some regions, particularly rural or underserved areas, local or community-based broadband networks have been set up to provide full fibre where larger providers haven’t yet invested. These networks might be supported by local councils or cooperatives, and they can offer a great alternative if the big providers haven’t reached you yet.

A quick online search with your town or village name along with "full fibre broadband" can help you find if any local initiatives are available.

  1. Use the Government’s Broadband Checker

The UK government’s broadband availability checker is a useful tool for finding out what broadband services are available in your area. By entering your postcode, you can get a breakdown of different types of connections, including full fibre, available to you.

This tool can sometimes show providers that aren’t listed on big comparison websites, so it’s worth checking to make sure you’re not missing out on any options.

  1. Check Fibre Coverage Maps

Many fibre providers, including both large and smaller companies, offer detailed coverage maps on their websites. These maps show where full fibre is currently available and where they are planning to expand next.

Checking these maps can give you a better idea of whether you’re in an area that’s already covered or one that’s about to be.

For instance, we have a dedicated page detailing our rollout and others frequently update their coverage maps as they expand their fibre networks. It’s worth keeping an eye on these maps if you’re waiting for full fibre to arrive in your area.

  1. Ask Around Locally

Sometimes, simply asking your neighbours or checking in with your local community can provide valuable information. If someone on your road has recently had full fibre installed or you’ve noticed vans from fibre companies around, it’s a good indication that full fibre is available nearby or will be soon.

Broaden Your Search

When checking for full fibre availability, don’t just rely on the well-known comparison sites. While they’re helpful, you’ll get a more complete picture by also looking into independent providers, using government tools, and checking coverage maps. There’s a good chance that full fibre is closer than you think, and you might have more options than initially appear!