Full fibre data delivery beyond the hub

[tonysussex]

Hello,
BT is offering to upgrade me to Full Fibre. I understand how this will deliver data faster to my Smart Hub 2, but how about from the hub to my computer? Given that it will still be using the same wi-fi connection from my hub, how will my PC, TV, etc receive data any quicker and benefit from the upgrade? I'd be grateful for any clarification.
Regards
Tony

[Keith_Beddoe]

The limiting factor is going to be the wireless and any wireless connected devices.

If you are happy with the speed you are getting, then there is no point in upgrading. Also bear in mind you will be "advised" to move to EE, as the sales people get commission payments.,

[Paul608085 · Accepted solution]

@tonysussex 

"Given that it will still be using the same wi-fi connection from my hub, how will my PC, TV, etc receive data any quicker and benefit from the upgrade? I'd be grateful for any clarification."

Depending upon the speed you are getting currently, you may find that upgrading means that all of your devices can benefit from running at their maximum speeds - at the same time - rather than say the TV buffering because someone else is downloading a game on the PC.

.

[licquorice]

@tonysussex I suspect the slowest link in the chain currently is your broadband. Ethernet from your pc to hub will be 1Gbps and WiFi anything up to about 800Mbps.

Once upgraded to full fibre, your devices will be able to utilise the faster speeds that they are denied currently.

You need to understand how broadband is delivered.

It is a series of discrete links and layers, each with it's own speed. The end to end overall speed is governed by the slowest link and layer in the chain.

[tonysussex]

Thank you; that's helpful. I'm elderly and find it a bit confusing. I will resist moving to EE as I understand I would completely lose my so-called landline, which BT has already duped me into having converted to VOIP.

[Crimliar]

If you are on an ADSL or VDSL plan provided over the phone line, upgrading to Fibre To The Property (FTTP) is going to pump greater quantities of data (more bits per second) at higher quality (more quickly and with fewer slowdowns) than you currently enjoy.  Your router has always been capable of moving more data than your internet connection has been able to supply, but it may still be limited by how your devices connect to it (the router).  Many wired devices may be able to use as much data as the router can supply, though it's not uncommon for TVs to still have only a 100Mbps Ethernet connection - as they rarely need anything more.  WiFi, is a touch more complex, with 2.4GHz devices commonly maxing out at 72Mbps or 144Mbps sync speeds (throughput speeds are maybe 90% of that on a good day) and 5GHz devices syncing at 433Mbps or 866Mbps.  Those WiFi speeds depend on the hardware in your devices though, with the supplied router actually being capable of much higher speeds to a single capable device or that same speed to more than one device at the same time - again dependent on demand, capabilities, and compatibility.

Personally, I'd always go for Full-Fibre over a phone-line delivered service.  But most people don't need the fastest service that's available to meet "normal" needs.

*More eclectic WiFi devices are available, I don't use the BT router, and have multiple devices that link at 1200Mbps and 2400Mbps, oh and 2.5Gbps Ethernet too.

[tonysussex]

Thank you, sir

[tonysussex]

Thank you, for your helpful response.

[tonysussex]

Thank you, Crimliar, that's helpful and I get what you are saying.

[iniltous]

The two example  devices you give ( PC and TV ) generally can be connected with Ethernet cables to the router , so WiFi doesn’t necessarily have to be used so your view on WiFi is somewhat redundant ….if you upgraded to FTTP and ( probably incorrectly ) think WiFi will not utilise the now increased bandwidth enough , use wired connections instead, especially with a TV and PC .

FWIW , FTTP isn’t just about headline speed , there isn’t many applications  you ‘need’ massive speeds for , but the increased bandwidth means multiple devices can be in use simultaneously without ‘suffering’ slow downs ….plus you don’t have to take a speed faster than the one you already have , but there will be no distance related reduction in speed ( with FTTP you get the headline speed you pay for  ) plus FTTP is inherently more reliable…lastly EE ( should you be steered towards them ) can and do provide a phone service on the same basis as  you have with BT ( your phone connected to the router )
Personally when I recently renewed my BT broadband I wasn’t pushed towards EE , it was offered but I declined, there wasn’t any problem doing so …although BT would prefer you to move to EE