The benefits of fibre broadband
Broadband is a connection to the internet that is always on. The better the quality of broadband the better the internet experience is. For streaming TV services, working from home, running a business or playing online games, high quality internet becomes essential.
Fibre-based broadband is the new generation of broadband - much faster and more reliable as it uses a different technology. Whilst traditional broadband was delivered via copper telephone lines, fibre-based broadband incorporates fibre optic cable in the link between the customer's premises and the exchange (the set of equipment that connects telephone lines during a call).
Fibre optic cable has less interference, maintains the signal strength over much greater distances and operates at a higher frequency rate. Higher frequency means greater bandwidth and greater bandwidth means faster connection speeds.
The term 'superfast' relates specifically to the speed of the broadband received into the property. Superfast broadband is defined by Ofcom as offering speeds faster than 30 megabits per second (Mbps). Superfast usually describes a connection which is part fibre and part copper wire. Typically, a fibre optic connection runs from the exchange to a distribution cabinet in the street. Copper telephone wires make the connection from the cabinet to the premises. This type of service may be referred to as 'fibre to the cabinet' or FTTC.
The latest generation of fibre broadband, termed 'ultrafast', is defined by Ofcom as offering speeds faster than 300Mbps. Here, the connection from the exchange to the customer's premises is fully fibre optic, with no copper wires involved. This permits much higher bandwidth and faster data transfer speeds to be achieved. This type of service may be referred to as 'full fibre', 'fibre to the premises' or FTTP.
How fibre broadband can help you
View case studies from the superfast Better Broadband for Nottinghamshire project to find out more about how fibre broadband can help:
