FTTP vs FTTC for Business: What’s the Real Difference?

For years, FTTC was the default answer to “decent business broadband”.

Then FTTP arrived — and suddenly “fibre broadband” doesn’t all mean the same thing anymore.

Both sound similar.
Both use fibre.
Both are sold as “fast”.

But under the surface, FTTC and FTTP are completely different technologies — and choosing the wrong one can leave your business stuck on old copper for longer than it needs to be.

This guide breaks down FTTP vs FTTC in plain English so you can see what you’re really getting.

What Is FTTC?

FTTC stands for Fibre to the Cabinet.

In simple terms:

• Fibre runs from the exchange to a street cabinet

• The final stretch from the cabinet into your building is copper

That copper “last leg” is where most of the headaches come from.

Copper lines are:

• Slower over distance

• Sensitive to electrical interference

• Prone to noise and crackling

• More likely to suffer random slowdowns

FTTC was a huge upgrade from ADSL in its day — but it was never designed for cloud-first, video-heavy, always-on working.

What Is FTTP?

FTTP stands for Fibre to the Premises.

Instead of stopping at the cabinet, the fibre runs all the way into your building.

No copper. No phone line. No shared last-mile wiring.

That means:

• Higher speeds

• Stronger uploads

• Lower latency

• Fewer faults

• Better long-term scalability

FTTP is the full-fibre service the UK is moving towards as copper is retired.

FTTP vs FTTC: The Real Core Difference

Some providers make this sound complicated, but it isn’t.

FTTC still uses copper for the last stretch – FTTP is full fibre all the way to your premises.

That’s the story in one line.

Everything else — speed, reliability, performance — flows from that single difference.

Speed & Performance: How Big Is the Gap?

FTTC speeds

Typical FTTC business speeds:

• Up to 80Mb download

• Up to 20Mb upload

And that’s “up to” — the further you are from the cabinet, the more those numbers drop.

FTTP speeds

Typical FTTP business speeds include options like:

• 100Mb

• 300Mb

• 500Mb

• 900Mb+

In real-world terms:

• FTTC = “good enough if you don’t push it too hard”

• FTTP = “more than enough for most small and mid-sized sites”

FTTP vs FTTC: Side-by-Side Comparison

Here’s the clear, side-by-side view:

Uploads, Cloud & Remote Working

This is where the gap really shows.

FTTC uploads

FTTC uploads are limited and more sensitive to line quality.

The symptoms:

• File uploads dragging on

• Cloud backups taking all night

• Video calls stuttering when someone sends a large file

• Remote desktop sessions feeling laggy

FTTP uploads

FTTP gives you much stronger and more consistent upload performance, which means:

• Faster syncing to cloud storage

• Smoother VoIP and video calls

• Better performance for remote workers

• Less “who’s doing what on the line?” policing

If your business leans heavily on Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, cloud CRM or remote/hybrid working, FTTP is a clear upgrade.

Reliability: Which One Is More Stable?

FTTC reliability

Because FTTC relies on copper for the final run, you still see:

• Noise and crackling on the line

• Weather-related issues

• Performance that varies by distance

• Faults that can be harder to trace

It can be stable — but it’s always at the mercy of the copper.

FTTP reliability

With FTTP, the access path is fibre only.

In practice, businesses tend to see:

• More consistent speeds throughout the day

• Fewer unexplained slowdowns

• Less random “reset the router and hope”

It’s not unbreakable, but it’s noticeably more predictable for most sites.

Installation & Availability

FTTC

• Widely available across the UK

• Uses existing copper infrastructure

• Quick to activate in most cases

The main advantage of FTTC today is simple: you can usually get it almost anywhere FTTC cabinets exist.

FTTP

• Coverage is expanding quickly, but still not universal

• May require an engineer visit and new fibre routed into the building

• Sometimes involves extra work if fibre isn’t already present

If FTTP is available at your premises, it’s usually the smarter long-term choice.
If it isn’t, FTTC (or SoGEA) becomes the fallback.

Pricing: FTTP vs FTTC for Business

FTTC often looks a little cheaper at first glance.

However:

• FTTP gives you far more performance for the extra cost

• The price gap has narrowed as full fibre has rolled out

• FTTP is where the market is heading, while copper is being retired

In many areas, a mid-range FTTP package costs only slightly more than a high-end FTTC service — while delivering much more headroom.

When FTTC May Still Be “Good Enough”

FTTC can still be acceptable if:

• Your usage is fairly light (email, browsing, basic cloud use)

• You only have a handful of staff on site

• FTTP simply isn’t available yet

• You need a temporary solution while waiting for FTTP or a leased line

If you fit that profile, FTTC can be a short-term answer — but it’s not where you want to stay forever.

When FTTP Is Clearly the Better Choice

You should be looking at FTTP instead of FTTC if:

• You rely heavily on cloud apps day-to-day

• You use VoIP or Teams/Zoom regularly

• You’ve got multiple users online at once

• You’re planning to grow headcount on site

• You want something that won’t feel outdated in 12–24 months

FTTP is the natural upgrade path from FTTC for most modern businesses.

For a broader view of how FTTP performs in business environments, see our “Is FTTP good for business?” guide.

Where Leased Lines Fit Into All This

Neither FTTC nor FTTP are dedicated, guaranteed services.

If you need:

• Contractual uptime SLAs

• Guaranteed fix times

• Symmetrical speeds with no contention

• Connectivity that really cannot go down

…then you’re no longer in the FTTP vs FTTC debate — you’re in leased line territory.

If guaranteed performance matters, your decision usually becomes:

• Everyday business use → FTTP

• Mission-critical connectivity → leased line

Final Verdict: FTTP vs FTTC for Business

Here’s the honest summary:

• FTTC is legacy fibre-to-the-cabinet broadband that still works for some low-demand sites, but it’s limited by copper.

• FTTP is full-fibre broadband designed for modern, cloud-based businesses.

If FTTP is available at your address, it’s almost always the better long-term choice over FTTC.

FTTC might work for today.
FTTP is built for tomorrow.

Check Real FTTP Pricing for Your Address

Enter your postcode and see live FTTP pricing instantly:

https://www.leasedlineandmpls.co.uk/fttp/

You’ll see:

• Exact prices

• Available speeds

• Whether FTTP is live at your address

• Installation costs

• Any better alternatives

Fast, accurate and personalised to your location.