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You might be paying for slower broadband when a much faster connection is already available at your address.
Openreach, the UK's leading digital network company, has revealed that while over 20 million UK homes and businesses can now access Full Fibre broadband, millions have yet to make the switch. Full Fibre technology delivers gigabit-capable speeds, meaning you can stream films, play online games, make video calls and run a business without frustrating buffering or dropouts.
The company is responsible for building and maintaining the underground broadband cables to 99% of all UK homes. This infrastructure is used by more than 650 broadband brands, including Sky, BT, Vodafone, TalkTalk, EE, Plusnet, and more. It plans to connect 25 million homes and businesses to its cutting-edge full-fibre internet before the end of next year.
According to Openreach, several locations across the UK that are already eligible haven't taken advantage of the upgrade. For instance, only 3% of eligible properties have made the switch in Belgrave, Leicester.
Other prominent locations available for you to upgrade include North Shore in Blackpool, Acomb in North Yorkshire, Rawmarsh in South Yorkshire, and Norton in County Durham.
Get Sky Fibre 500 broadband — its "most popular" deal
Sky Broadband has slashed its Full Fibre 500 Mbps speeds to only £31 per month, which is its "most popular" deal on the site. You'll enjoy an average download speed of 500Mbps and an upload speed of 60Mbps, suitable for busy households with multiple devices, streaming in 4K, and online gaming.
Plus, you can claim a credit of up to £200 when you switch from another provider.
Sky 500 Broadband
$46
$32
Plusnet will pay you £145 to switch to its Fibre 500 broadband
Plusnet is offering you up to £145 Reward Card to anyone who signs up for its latest raft of full-fibre broadband deals. If you're able to connect to fibre broadband with BT, Sky, or TalkTalk, then you'll be able to enjoy the same speeds with Plusnet. Its Full Fibre 500 plan is a particularly good deal at £28.99 a month, with average download speeds of 500Mbps — and a guaranteed minimum of 275Mbps. Plusnet has slashed the £20 one-off activation fee, so you'll pay nothing for postage and activation of your new internet package
Plusnet reward card
$145
EE will pay £300 to cover your costs when you switch
If you're currently in a contract, EE will pay £300 to cover any early termination fees and switching costs. If you plump for the flagship 1.6Gbps full-fibre plan from EE, you'll be treated to its Wi-Fi 7 router at no cost. If you already have an EE phone plan, you'll be upgraded to unlimited 5G data when you add broadband to your account
EE 500 Broadband
$34.99
However, not all locations are eligible for a full fibre upgrade just yet, which is due to a few factors. Laying fibre cables can require digging up roads, pavements or private land, which could delay the process. In some instances, older buildings may also need extra internal work to run new cables.
If you're unsure if you're able to upgrade to full fibre technology, you can check directly on Openreach's website.
Upgrading to full fibre broadband has several advantages.
For starters, it brings faster, more reliable internet straight into your home. Unlike older copper-based connections, full fibre uses light through glass cables, meaning speeds stay strong even at busy times.
That’s good news for streaming, video calls and online gaming, which all run more smoothly with fewer dropouts. Upload speeds are also much quicker, making it easier to share files or work from home.
Full fibre is designed to be more future-proof too, able to handle new digital services as demand for connections across several gadgets continues to grow.
Laying fibre cables can require digging up roads, pavements or private land, which could delay the process for full fibre broadband technology
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Openreach is investing £15 billion to expand its Full Fibre network, with plans to reach 25 million premises by the close of 2026
|OPENREACH PRESS OFFICE
Katie Milligan, Depute CEO at Openreach, said: “Fast and reliable full fibre broadband gives households and businesses a significant boost. As the UK’s leading provider of fibre infrastructure, Openreach is at the forefront of the digital transformation, connecting communities all over the UK and future-proofing the network for decades to come."
Ms Milligan also says that you must actively proactively upgrade in order to take advantage of the faster speeds.
“It’s important to remember that upgrades don’t happen automatically. People need to order it to take advantage of the technology."
Openreach is investing £15 billion to expand its Full Fibre network, with plans to reach 25 million premises by the close of 2026. You could potentially see coverage extend to as many as 30 million properties by 2030.
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