Checking fibre broadband availability

Fibre to the Cabinet Broadband for Business

Faster than copper and reliable enough for the demands of a modern business, Fibre to the Cabinet from Openreach is a solid broadband choice for businesses that need a dependable connection for video calls, cloud apps, and day-to-day operations.

What is Fibre to the Cabinet broadband for business?

Fibre to the Cabinet (FTTC) broadband - also known as Superfast broadband or VDSL - uses a fibre optic cable to connect the Openreach exchange to your local street cabinet, with the final stretch to your business premises delivered over copper wire.

With download speeds of up to 76Mbps and upload speeds of up to 15Mbps, FTTC represents a significant upgrade over standard copper broadband and is well suited to businesses that rely on video conferencing, cloud-based applications, and multi-device connectivity. It's one of the UK's most widely available broadband technologies. Actual speeds may vary depending on how far your premises are from your local cabinet.

Business professional working on a laptop using a Fibre to the Cabinet broadband connection in an office

How does it work?

Fibre to the Cabinet broadband connects your business to the internet using a combination of two cable types. From the Openreach exchange, a fibre optic cable carries your signal at high speed to the green street cabinet serving your area. From the cabinet, the connection continues to your premises over the existing copper phone line.

Your router receives this incoming signal and distributes your connection across the business. Because the copper section of the connection varies in length from one premises to the next, speeds can differ - businesses located closer to their local cabinet typically benefit from faster, more consistent connections.

Horizontal diagram showing how Full Fibre, Fibre to the Cabinet and Copper broadband connect from exchange through street cabinet to home

What to expect on the day of installation

Our engineer will arrive at your premises at an agreed time to connect your business to the fibre cabinet and get everything up and running. Make sure someone is available on site to let them in.

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Benefits of Fibre to the Cabinet broadband for business

FTTC strikes a strong balance between speed, availability, and reliability - making it a popular choice for businesses of all sizes. Here's what it brings to the table.

Gigabit-capable speeds for everyday business tasks

Say goodbye to glitchy video calls and sluggish apps. With downloads of up to 76Mbps and uploads of up to 15Mbps, your team can work efficiently across all tasks without interruption

Reliable data storage and backup

FTTC has the capacity to handle remote backups and cloud storage alongside your everyday business activity, so you can manage your data needs with confidence, without impacting performance.

Widely available and easy to get started

FTTC is available to most UK businesses, whether you're in a city-centre office, a high street shop, or a rural workspace, there's a strong chance it's already at your address.

How does it compare?

FTTC sits between Copper broadband and Full Fibre in the Openreach business range - and represents a meaningful step up from basic copper, with speeds of up to 76Mbps compared to copper's 21Mbps ceiling. It's widely available, easy to order, and well-suited to the day-to-day needs of most small and medium-sized businesses. For businesses with higher demands - large teams, heavy cloud usage, frequent large file transfers, or a need for guaranteed uptime - Full Fibre or Ethernet are worth considering. Where FTTC has the edge over copper is in both speed and resilience, making it a practical upgrade for businesses that need a more capable everyday connection.

Comparison of business broadband options showing Ethernet, Full Fibre, Fibre to the Cabinet and Copper speeds and use cases

What are the impacts of Fibre to the Cabinet broadband for my business?

Upgrading to FTTC makes a noticeable difference to the everyday running of your business. Multiple team members can be online simultaneously without the connection struggling under the load, and for businesses currently on Copper broadband, the improvement in speed and reliability is immediately felt.

However, it's worth bearing in mind that FTTC still relies on the copper network for its final connection. If your business is planning for the medium term, exploring whether Full Fibre is available at your address now is a sensible step.

More stable than copper

Supports cloud tools and video calls

PSTN switch-off: January 2027

Upgrade to Full Fibre when you're ready

What does it mean for my phone line?

FTTC uses copper for its final connection, so it's affected by the PSTN switch-off in January 2027. Your provider will be in touch about moving you to a digital phone line ahead of the deadline.

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Frequently asked questions

  • What is the difference between FTTC and Full Fibre for business?

    FTTC uses fibre from the exchange to your street cabinet, then copper the rest of the way to your premises. Full Fibre runs fibre all the way to your door, delivering faster speeds, greater reliability, and no dependency on copper infrastructure. For businesses planning ahead, Full Fibre is the more future-proof choice.

  • Will FTTC broadband be affected by the copper switch-off in 2027?

    The PSTN switch-off in January 2027 affects copper-based phone lines, but the copper connection between your street cabinet and premises will remain in service until Full Fibre reaches your area. Your provider will keep you updated on what changes affect you and when.

  • Is FTTC fast enough for a small business?

    For most small and medium-sized businesses — video calls, cloud applications, email, and multi-device use — FTTC's speeds of up to 76Mbps are more than capable. If your business has a large team, handles heavy data transfers, or needs guaranteed uptime, Full Fibre or Ethernet may be a better fit.

  • How do I know if FTTC is available at my business address?

    FTTC is available to the vast majority of UK businesses, but the easiest way to confirm is to use our fibre checker. It'll show you what's available at your address, including whether Full Fibre has already reached you.

  • Can I upgrade from FTTC to Full Fibre for my business?

    Yes. When Full Fibre becomes available at your address, upgrading is straightforward through your provider. Openreach is continuing to extend its Full Fibre network to businesses across the UK — you can check availability or register your interest today.

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