What are the different types of broadband?

Broadband is the high-speed internet that keeps your home connected, but there’s more than one way to get online. Different types of broadband use different technologies to deliver internet, which affects speed, reliability, and where you can access them.

1. ADSL broadband

ADSL broadband uses traditional phone lines to deliver internet over existing copper connections. Speeds can vary depending on how far you are from your provider’s central office: download speeds typically range from 1 to 24 Mbps, so ADSL can still work for light browsing, emails, and occasional streaming.

As the UK gradually moves away from older copper phone networks as part of the landline switch-off, faster fibre and cable connections are becoming the standard, leading to many households to upgrade.

2. Fibre broadband (FTTC and FTTP)

Fibre broadband uses fibre-optic cables to transmit data using light signals, making it one of the fastest and most reliable options.

With part-fibre (FTTC), fibre runs to your local street cabinet, while copper completes the final stretch into your home. Speeds typically range from 30 to 80 Mbps, making it a solid step up from ADSL.

Full fibre (FTTP), on the other hand, brings fibre directly into your home. With speeds from 100 Mbps up to 1 Gbps and beyond, it’s designed for streaming, gaming and busy households with multiple devices online at once.

It’s ideal for streaming, gaming, video calls and households with lots of connected devices. As rollout continues, full fibre is increasingly seen as the most future-proof broadband option. 

3. Cable broadband

Cable broadband takes a slightly different approach. Rather than using phone lines, it delivers internet through the same coaxial cables used for TV services. That means fast, stable speeds that work well for streaming, gaming and working from home.

Because bandwidth is shared locally, speeds can occasionally dip at peak times, but cable remains one of the fastest, widely available options across the UK.

4. Mobile broadband

Mobile broadband, also called 4G or 5G broadband, uses a SIM card and the mobile network (4G or 5G) to connect your devices to the internet.  

It’s portable, so it’s perfect for working on the move or as a backup when your home broadband goes down.

5. Satellite broadband

Satellite broadband delivers internet from space to a dish at your home. It’s often used in rural areas where cables or fibre aren’t available. While it can provide access almost anywhere, speeds and latency aren’t as fast as fibre or cable, which may affect gaming or video calls. It’s also typically one of the more expensive broadband options, so it’s usually chosen where other connections aren’t practical. 

At Virgin Media, our fibre broadband packages range from 125 Mbps with our M125 package to over 1,100 Mbps with Gigabit, so there’s a speed to suit everything from everyday browsing to busy smart homes packed with devices.

Here's what each speed is best for:

The broadband speed you can get depends on where you live and the network available at your address. If you’re in an area covered by our fibre network, you could enjoy ultrafast speeds of up to 1,130 Mbps with Gigabit broadband, perfect for streaming, gaming and busy households with multiple devices online at once.

Availability varies by postcode, so the quickest way to find out what you can get is to use our broadband postcode checker and see the fibre speeds available at your home.

If you live in a rural area, fibre coverage may be more limited. Check here for the best broadband for rural areas to explore your options further.

Ready for faster, reliable broadband? Switch to Virgin Media and enjoy ultrafast cable and full-fibre connections built around your home’s needs. Whether you’re streaming in 4K, gaming online, or working from home, there’s a package built to keep everything running smoothly. 

Not sure what you can get? Just pop your postcode into our broadband checker to see what speeds are available in your area