Are you looking for faster and more reliable broadband service? Do you want to enjoy the benefits of ultrafast internet without digging up your street or paying a fortune? If so, you might be interested in gfast broadband.
Gfast broadband is a new technology that boosts the speed of your existing copper phone line. It uses a special device called a pod that is attached to a nearby street cabinet. The pod sends and receives high-frequency signals over the copper wire, allowing you to get speeds of up to 330 Mbps.
But what is gfast broadband and how exactly does it work? How can you find out if you can get it, and which providers offer it? And is it worth switching to gfast broadband from your current service? In this article, we will answer all these questions and more. We will also give you some tips on how to make the most of your gfast broadband connection.
What is gfast broadband?
Gfast broadband is a type of fibre-to-the-cabinet (FTTC) broadband. This means that the fibre optic cable runs from the exchange to the street cabinet, and then the copper wire runs from the cabinet to your property. This is different from fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) broadband, where the fibre optic cable goes all the way to your home.
The difference between gfast broadband and standard FTTC broadband is that gfast broadband uses higher frequencies on the copper wire. This allows more data to be transmitted over a shorter distance, resulting in faster speeds. However, this also means that the signal quality deteriorates over longer distances, so gfast broadband is only available to homes that are within 300 metres of the street cabinet.
Gfast broadband is capable of delivering download speeds of up to 330 Mbps and upload speeds of up to 50 Mbps.
This is much faster than standard FTTC broadband, which typically offers speeds of up to 80 Mbps and 20 Mbps respectively. Gfast broadband is also faster than most FTTP broadband services, which usually offer speeds of up to 300 Mbps.
Gfast broadband is ideal for households that use a lot of internet services at the same time, such as streaming video, gaming, downloading, uploading, video calling, and working from home. It can also support multiple devices connected at once, such as laptops, tablets, smartphones, smart TVs, and smart speakers.
With gfast broadband, you can enjoy smooth and seamless online experiences without buffering, lagging, or interruptions.
How does gfast broadband work?
Gfast broadband works by using a device called a pod that is attached to the street cabinet. The pod splits the frequency spectrum on the copper wire into two parts: one for standard FTTC broadband and one for gfast broadband. The pod then sends and receives high-frequency signals over the gfast part of the spectrum, while leaving the lower-frequency part for standard FTTC broadband.
The high-frequency signals travel over the copper wire from the pod to your home. They then enter your home through a microfilter that plugs into your phone socket. The microfilter separates the voice and data signals and sends them to your phone and router respectively. Your router then converts the data signals into Wi-Fi signals that you can use on your devices.
The advantage of gfast broadband is that it does not require any new wiring or installation in your home. You can use your existing phone line and socket, and you only need a compatible router and microfilter. The installation process is quick and easy, and you can usually do it yourself by following the instructions from your provider.
The disadvantage of gfast broadband is that it has a limited coverage area. Because the high-frequency signals lose strength over longer distances, gfast broadband is only available to homes that are close enough to the street cabinet. The maximum distance is usually around 300 metres, but it can vary depending on factors such as interference, noise, and quality of the copper wire.
Can I get gfast broadband?
Gfast broadband is not widely available yet in the UK. It is still in the trial phase, and only a few providers offer it in selected areas. The main provider of gfast broadband is BT Openreach, which owns and operates most of the UK’s phone network. BT Openreach has been testing gfast broadband since 2015, and has rolled it out to over 100 locations across the country.
Other providers that use BT Openreach’s network can also offer gfast broadband if they choose to do so. Some of these providers include BT, TalkTalk, Sky, Plusnet, Vodafone, Shell Energy Broadband and Onestream. However, not all of them have launched gfast broadband yet, and some may only offer it in certain areas or as part of specific packages.
There are also some alternative providers that offer their own versions of gfast broadband using different technologies or networks. Some of these providers include Virgin Media, Hyperoptic Broadband and Community Fibre Broadband. These providers may have different speeds, prices, and availability than BT Openreach’s gfast broadband.
The best way to find out if you can get gfast broadband is to use the BT Openreach gfast broadband checker or visit the Internet Service providers website and enter your postcode to check.