While looking for the best broadband deals, you may have noticed there are a number of different broadband types to choose from.
Fibre is now the most popular choice for UK households, but there are still some who might prefer - or only be able to get - ADSL. However, both can include different options and packages that can make it confusing on what might be the best choice for your property.
So if you are in the market for a new ADSL or fibre tariff, be sure to have a look through this guide as we've looked at both these broadband types in isolation and have covered the core differences.
What is ADSL broadband?
ADSL - or 'Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line - broadband was once the main choice for most households and businesses, but this is now no longer the case.
ADSL has the slowest download speeds and it's not as widely available as it used to be, because most providers have switched to offering fibre.
It's now only really for remote locations and areas where fibre hasn't been rolled out yet. However, if you can get it, then it can be one of the cheapest broadband choices.
How does ADSL broadband work?
ADSL broadband uses copper telephone wires - the ones you might see connected to your house from a nearby telegraph pole - to supply your broadband.
These wires run from the nearest telephone exchange, to the pole, across to a property and inside it into a 'microfilter' device that splits the phone and broadband services, allowing you to use both at the same time.
It's because of this setup that ADSL is the slowest, and by today's standards, the least reliable broadband type. The copper wires can only transmit a limited amount of data and they're not particularly hardwearing, so can have issues with connectivity and how effectively they can send signals. Although, as we've mentioned above, this can mean ADSL broadband packages are cheaper than faster ones.
With an ADSL line that's in decent working order, you can get average download speeds of about 10Mbps and average upload speeds of about 1Mbps. But if it's a really old line and your property is quite far from the cabinet, the speeds can drop. By contrast, some properties can have upgraded versions of these lines called 'ADSL2+', where speeds can reach around 24Mbps.
If you want to learn more about this, check out our comprehensive 'what is ADSL broadband?' guide.
What is fibre broadband?
When we say 'fibre broadband', we're referring to 'fibre-to-the-cabinet' broadband or 'FTTC', which in part uses fibre-optic cables to provide your broadband. You may also hear it being referred to as 'superfast' broadband and with it you can typically get average download speeds of between 35 and 80Mbps - a clear step up from ADSL.
It's now the most common broadband type in the country, as network providers like Openreach - which most internet service providers (ISPs) use to facilitate their broadband to consumers - have largely upgraded from the older ADSL connections.
Something to note here though is that if you see the term 'Full Fibre' being used to describe a broadband package, this is in reference to newer 'fibre-to-the-premises' connections, which are much faster and usually more expensive.
These connections are also the next stage of upgrades we're getting to our fibre broadband services in the UK. Again, this is because network providers like Openreach are aiming to get these ultrafast connections available to the majority of nationwide properties.
We've explained more about this in our 'what is Full Fibre broadband?' guide.
How does fibre broadband work?
With FTTC connections, your broadband is supplied partly by fibre optic cables which run from a provider's broadband exchange to your nearest telephone cabinet, with the final section of the connection to your property being via the original copper wires.
Fibre optic cables are able to transmit larger amounts of data at the speed of light, which is why they can give you faster average download and upload speeds. They're also more durable than copper wires so aren't as likely to suffer from any damage or performance issues.
However, as the last part of the connection does use the copper telephone wires, it also limits the speeds, and again, if the line is really old and far from the cabinet, the speeds can also drop a bit.
We've also gone into more detail about fibre broadband connections in this useful guide.
What are the main differences between the two?
From our descriptions above, it's quite clear to see there are a few big differences between ADSL and fibre broadband, but below we've summarised these into a few handy bullet points.
Key differences
- ADSL has slower download and upload speeds
- Fibre provides a faster, more secure connection
- ADSL is an older technology and is no longer widely used
- Fibre is typically more expensive of the two
- ADSL will eventually be completely phased out
- Fibre allows you to do more online
- ADSL can be better-suited to basic broadband requirements
What can you do online with fibre broadband?
What the above list shows us is that fibre is largely a better choice than ADSL for your broadband, especially in regards to speed and reliability. However, it's also a smarter choice for today's internet users too, because such connections can allow us to do much more online, without interruption and on multiple devices.
Here are a few examples:
- Download larger files
- Stream video content in UHD/4K
- Make video calls
- Enjoy online gaming
- Casually browse websites
- Be able to access broadband and TV bundles
As you might expect here, the faster the fibre connection, the greater the number of devices that can use it at the same time. So this is something to bear in mind if you do live in a larger household where you'll have lots of users.
Which providers offer ADSL broadband?
One of the advantages of this broadband is that pretty much all ISPs offer an ADSL package, but as we've mentioned earlier, these are only really for areas that don't have fibre yet. You’re also unlikely to be offered ADSL if fibre is in your area.
That said, here are a few examples of leading providers that still have ADSL options:
- Sky - its 11Mbps 'Essential Plus Broadband'
- BT - its 10Mbps 'Unlimited Broadband'
- NOW Broadband - its 11Mbps 'Brilliant Broadband'
- Shell Energy - its 11Mbps 'Fast Broadband'
- Plusnet - its 10Mbps 'Unlimited Broadband'
- TalkTalk - its 11Mbps 'Fast Broadband'
Which providers offer fibre broadband?
The majority of providers offer fibre broadband packages - mainly because the majority use the same network from Openreach. However, unlike ADSL, there's a larger choice of tariffs as these can range in the average download speeds they give, and ultimately, in price.
It's also worth mentioning that independent broadband providers like Virgin Media and Hyperoptic - who have their own networks - can technically still offer 'fibre' packages that have similar speeds to those that use the Openreach network.
If you head over to our 'best broadband deals' page you'll see a breakdown of the latest fibre and ‘Full Fibre’ offers from some of the most popular ISPs.
What does the future hold for ADSL and fibre broadband?
As we've alluded to earlier in this guide, both ADSL and fibre will one day be a thing of the past for most parts of the UK.
Openreach is in the process of retiring all its copper lines and getting ultrafast 'Full Fibre' connections 'to 25 million homes and businesses by December 2026'. This will cover the majority of the country's premises, with only a small number requiring connections that use the old phone lines.
What other broadband options do we have in the UK?
Whether you opt for a fibre or an ADSL broadband package is of course up to you, your budget and your personal preferences. That said, if you want something faster, or you want to future-proof your internet before these two types are phased out, you'll be pleased to know there are other broadband options out there in the UK.
We've already mentioned 'Full Fibre', but as our guide to all the different broadband types shows, you might be able to get one of the following:
What broadband do I have right now?
If you’re unsure what type of broadband connection you have now - especially if you are looking to change tariffs - you have a few options for finding out. You can:
- Run a speed test and match the download speeds you’re getting to the information we’ve given above.
- Contact your provider directly to see exactly what package you have with them.
When will fibre be available in my location?
If it turns out that you can’t access fibre broadband right now, the bad news is that you’re in a small minority of just 2%. This is because Openreach’s fibre network currently extends to 98% of the country, it’s only more remote and rural areas that can’t get it right now.
As mentioned above, Openreach also has a target to get its faster ‘Full Fibre’ network to ‘25 million’ homes and businesses ‘by the end of December 2026’.
The best thing you can do here - if you want a faster fibre package - is keep an eye out for the latest rollout updates in your area. You can also register for specific updates through Openreach’s ‘Fibre Checker’ tool.
How can I speed up my broadband?
It might be the case that you’re happy to stick with your ADSL connection, but you want to try and improve the speeds you’re getting. If this sounds like a familiar situation, you can try the following:
- Move your router/hub closer to where you’ll be using most of your devices. This will help avoid your WiFi signal from being disrupted.
- Limit the number of devices that are using the internet at the same time - especially those that are doing lots of streaming.
- Reboot and restart your broadband tech and devices to refresh your connection.
- Speak to your provider about upgrading your router - especially if you’ve had it a number of years.
- Try a wired connection for key devices, rather than using the WiFi.
Another thing to note here is that these approaches can also boost the quality of your fibre connection, so by all means give them a try if you want to get a bit more out of your fibre broadband.
Additional ADSL and fibre broadband FAQs
To help cover all bases with these two broadband types, we’ve also thrown in a few extras FAQs to answer some of the other more common queries customers can have when looking to pick one of these options.
Is fibre broadband more eco-friendly?
Fibre is more eco-friendly than ADSL. It’s not just the fact that fibre is faster and more efficient in terms of its use of power with data transfer, it also uses less copper, which is better for the environment in terms of consumed resources.
How is fibre broadband installed?
When you upgrade to fibre from ADSL, you may need to have some installation work done on your property. For the most part this may involve an engineer fitting some new connections inside and outside your home or business and can be completed quickly and with minimal disruption.
Further down your street you may see more invasive work being done - such as the road dug up in places - with the fibre cables being laid, installed and connected to the broadband exchange on your street.
However, any installation work you see today will most likely be for Full Fibre, as this is Openreach’s main focus right now.
Should I just wait for Full Fibre?
This all depends on what is available in your area in terms of broadband network connectivity. You can check this directly with Openreach and if it is the case that they will be installing broadband in your area - as we’ve mentioned above - this will then be the main option that becomes available to your property.
Can I get symmetrical speeds with fibre broadband?
Symmetrical broadband speeds are not available with fibre, as the mix of fibre and copper lines used for the connections aren’t able to upload and download symmetrical amounts of data. You can learn more about this in our guide to symmetrical broadband speeds, but currently only some Full Fibre providers offer this option.
How to find the best broadband deals
Whatever you decide to pursue for your next broadband package, our breakdown of the latest and best broadband deals is a great place to start. Alongside this, you might want to speak to your current provider to see what new tariffs or upgrade options might be available to you.
Alternatively, if you want to know what broadband deals are currently on offer in your specific location, our widget below can help. All you need to do is enter your postcode into it and then we'll list out what broadband packages and deals you can get in your area.
