What is Fibre to the Premises (FTTP)?
Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) provides an end-to-end fibre optic connection to the Internet. As the full distance from the exchange to your site is connected via fibre cable there is no copper lag resulting in much higher speeds. FTTP will also provide a symmetrical connection to the Internet meaning upload and download speeds are the same.
What Speeds can I expect?
When choosing a FTTP service you must first choose the bearer size, which will dictate the maximum capacity of the line installed. You will then be able to choose a speed “cap” within that bearer, usually in 10Mbps or 100Mbps chunks. E.g. a 100Mbps bearer will provide a maximum upload and download speed of 100Mbps, usually advertised as a 100/100 line. If you have a 100Mbps bearer installed but only require 50Mbps upload and download then the line will be capped and the price will be lower. This would be advertised as a 50/100 line.
As the initial installation costs can be high and lead times ranging up to 90 working days, if you are considering a FTTP service it is important to have a 3-5 year technology plan in your mind so that you can ensure the bearer size is correct. You wouldn’t want to replace your 100Mbps fibre line in a year or two because you needed a 200Mbps connection. It would be much more cost effective to purchase a 1000Mbps bearer and cap it at 100Mbps for the first year or so.
Who is this service type ideal for?
FTTP is an absolute must have for a lot of secondary schools, colleges and universities, particularly as the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) culture grows. Some primary schools who are in an “on net” location in the UK could also benefit from a FTTP connection at a very appealing price.