This month has seen the celebration of British Science Week, a 10-day recognition of the worlds of science, technology, maths and engineering, and the vital part they play in our increasingly digital world.
This year’s theme is connections, marking the perfect time to explore the science of full fibre broadband, what it is, how it works and bust any myths or misconceptions that may confuse people learning about the technology for the first time.
What is full fibre?
We all know the internet and broadband allows us to indulge in the worlds of streaming, gaming and browsing, but what’s going on behind the scenes?
As the name suggests, full fibre technology utilises fibre-optic cables which pulse light down glass cables no wider than a hair.
These pulses of light carry your data faster than you can even think it and provide you with a robust connection for whatever task you may require.
How does full fibre work?
As a consumer, how does this all come together in getting broadband from A-B, and what are these acronyms you keep seeing everyone using?
The main terminology to be concerned about is FTTC and FTTP, or Fibre-To-The-Cabinet and Fibre-To-The-Premise. ‘Superfast’ broadband utilises the former, FTTC. Through this method, the provider uses fibre cables to connect to the ‘green cabinets’ you see on your streets. The connection from there to your home or business relies on copper cables which is where all your speed disappears as copper cables were not designed for broadband delivery.
These networks can only deliver limited speeds and can’t keep up with modern data demands. The use of ‘fibre’ in FTTC when the network relies on copper cables is confusing, but the regulator Ofcom has announced plans to provide greater clarity in how the technology is promoted.
FTTP, however, takes fibre cables straight to your property, as the name suggests. That’s why it’s also referred to as full fibre. Being free from copper means you can enjoy almost limitless speeds and bullet-proof reliability.
Myth busting…
Despite being a household necessity for many in the UK, there are still a number of myths wrapped around the word full fibre. To help clear up some queried minds, we’ve busted some of the most common full fibre myths below:
Myth 1: “Switching to full-fibre is such a hassle.”
Truth: It’s actually easier than you think. New regulations have been put in place to make the process of switching far more straight forward. County Broadband is a local provider based in Essex so our team is on hand to support every step of the way. We may also be able to offer you 12 months’ free service to see out your existing contracts (T&Cs apply).
Myth 2: “The difference in speed isn’t really worth it.”
Truth: Full fibre boasts speeds which are a whopping 11x faster than Superfast, copper-based networks, and can achieve speeds up to 1,000 Mbps. But what does that speed actually mean for everyday use? It means full-HD movies can be downloaded in just four-minutes and you can enjoy ultra-HD video on up to six devices at the same time! These speeds are bolstered by full fibre’s superior reliability too, with high speeds untouched by worries of buffering, lag or complete broadband blackouts.
Myth 3: “I don’t need those speeds right now.”
Truth: In the modern age of remote working, increasing numbers of connected devices in a household and 4k streaming becoming the norm, your home or business is becoming more data-hungry as each month rolls by. As technology continues to advance at impressive rates, your Superfast connections will quickly become out of date. Investing in full fibre and future-proofing your property now is the best way to ensure you’re keeping pace with the rest of the digital world.
Myth 4: “Full fibre is only available to a small amount of people.”
Truth: Think again! UK telecoms regulator, Ofcom, recently announced that the UK would be achieving 50% coverage of full fibre broadband in March 2023. We’re proud to be contributing to this figure as we connect more and more homes and businesses in rural, hard-to-reach areas to our own full-fibre network every day.
Myth 5: “If I switch to full fibre, I might lose my phone line.”
Truth: You can easily hold on to your phone number and continue to have a phone service through our Voice Over IP packages. This also runs via fibre cables resulting in crystal-clear conversation with friends, family and business colleagues. At County Broadband, we also offer a variety of different calling plans so, no matter how many times you’re picking up the phone, we’ll find a plan that’s right for you.
What does it matter?
Understanding what goes on behind the scenes of our Wi-Fi connections is more crucial than many may think. Being informed on the ‘how’ and the ‘why’ allows us to make better decisions when we choose our broadband and ensure we’re getting the most for our money.
Whether you’re a gamer simply trying to topple the leaderboards uninterrupted by high ping and latency strife, or a digital nomad building a home office to fulfil your business needs; knowing the broadband that suits you is a necessity.
That’s why we’re proud to be rolling out our full fibre networks in hard-to-reach, rural areas across the East of England following a combined £146m private investment. Our progress is well underway and have already made headway in achieving our pledge to connect 500,000 premises by 2027.
Find out if our network is already available in your area or register your interest in us connecting your village here.
