What Is Fibre Broadband?
Fibre broadband is an internet technology that uses fibre-optic cables to transmit data. Unlike traditional copper wires (such as DSL or telephone lines), fibre optics use thin strands of glass or plastic to send data as pulses of light. This makes it the fastest, most reliable, and most advanced home internet technology available today.
In Hong Kong, fibre broadband is extremely widespread. According to the Office of the Communications Authority (OFCA), fibre coverage exceeds 95% across the territory, meaning almost every residential building has access to fibre internet. Major providers include HKT (Hong Kong Telecom), HKBN (Hong Kong Broadband Network), SmarTone, i-Cable, and China Mobile Hong Kong.
How Does Fibre Broadband Work?
At the core of fibre broadband is a strand of glass fibre thinner than a human hair. Data travels through this fibre as pulses of light, at speeds approaching the speed of light itself. Because light signals are immune to electromagnetic interference and experience very little signal loss over distance, fibre delivers far superior speed and stability compared to copper cables.
A single fibre-optic cable can handle enormous amounts of data simultaneously, supporting speeds of 10Gbps or even higher. Compare this to traditional copper lines, which max out at around 100Mbps, and the advantage of fibre becomes clear.
Fibre vs Copper Comparison
| Feature | Fibre Optic | Copper (DSL) |
|---|---|---|
| Max Speed | 10Gbps+ | 100Mbps |
| Latency | Very low (1-5ms) | Higher (10-30ms) |
| Signal Loss | Minimal | Increases with distance |
| Interference | Immune to EMI | Susceptible |
| Reliability | Very stable | Affected by weather and distance |
Types of Fibre Deployment: FTTH, FTTB & FTTC
Although all marketed as "fibre broadband," the actual experience you get depends on how far the fibre-optic cable extends toward your home. There are three main deployment types, and understanding the differences is crucial when choosing your broadband plan.
FTTH — Fibre to the Home
FTTH is the gold standard of fibre broadband. The fibre-optic cable runs all the way from the provider's exchange directly into your flat, connecting to an Optical Network Terminal (ONT) inside your home. There is no copper involved at any point.
- Speed: Up to 1Gbps - 10Gbps, symmetrical upload and download
- Reliability: Highest — not affected by other users in your building
- Best for: Newer residential buildings, users who need fast and stable connections
- Monthly cost: Around HK$128 - $398, depending on speed and contract length
FTTB — Fibre to the Building
FTTB is the most common fibre deployment type in Hong Kong. The fibre-optic cable runs to the building's communications room or ground-floor distribution box. From there, existing copper wiring (typically telephone lines or Ethernet cables) carries the signal to individual flats.
- Speed: Typically 100Mbps - 1Gbps
- Reliability: Good, but the "last mile" of copper can be a bottleneck
- Best for: Most Hong Kong residential buildings
- Monthly cost: Around HK$78 - $248
FTTC — Fibre to the Cabinet/Curb
FTTC is an older deployment method. Fibre only reaches a street-level cabinet, and the entire "last mile" to your home uses copper wiring. In Hong Kong, this type is becoming increasingly rare and is mainly found in remote areas or some older village houses.
- Speed: Typically 25Mbps - 100Mbps
- Reliability: More affected by distance and copper wire quality
- Best for: Areas where FTTH/FTTB installation isn't feasible
- Monthly cost: Around HK$78 - $168
Deployment Type Comparison
| Type | Fibre Reaches | Last Segment | Typical Speed | Common In |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FTTH | Your flat | All fibre | 1-10Gbps | Newer buildings |
| FTTB | Building basement | Copper/Ethernet | 100M-1Gbps | Most buildings |
| FTTC | Street cabinet | Copper | 25-100Mbps | Remote areas |
Why FTTH Is the Best Choice
If your building supports FTTH, it is strongly recommended to choose this option. Here is why:
- Fastest speeds: With fibre running the entire distance, there is no copper bottleneck to slow things down.
- Lowest latency: Critical for online gaming, video conferencing, and live streaming.
- Highest reliability: Not affected by old internal building wiring, and no disconnections during rainy weather.
- Future-proof: As 8K streaming, cloud gaming, and other bandwidth-hungry applications become mainstream, FTTH can easily handle future demands.
- Symmetrical speeds: Upload speeds match download speeds — ideal for working from home, uploading videos, and cloud backups.
How to Check Your Building's Coverage
Want to find out which fibre broadband providers cover your building and what deployment type is available? Here are your options:
Option 1: Use FibreHK Address Search
Enter your address on the FibreHK website to instantly see all available providers, speeds, and current pricing for your building. This is the fastest way to compare without visiting multiple websites.
Option 2: Check Individual Providers
You can visit the websites of HKT, HKBN, SmarTone, and other providers individually and enter your address to check coverage. However, this is time-consuming and makes price comparison difficult.
Option 3: Ask Your Building Management
Contact your building's management office to find out which broadband providers are connected to your building and whether FTTH infrastructure has been installed.
Practical Tips for Choosing Fibre Broadband
- Casual browsing and social media: 100-500Mbps is sufficient, costing around HK$78-$148/month
- Video streaming (Netflix, YouTube 4K): 500Mbps or higher recommended
- Working from home (video calls, cloud tools): 500Mbps-1Gbps recommended, prioritise upload speed
- Online gaming: Low latency matters more than raw speed — FTTH is ideal
- Large households (4+ simultaneous users): 1Gbps or higher recommended
Remember that real-world speeds are also affected by your router quality, Wi-Fi coverage, and device capabilities. After choosing the right speed plan, make sure your home networking equipment can keep up.