EFM vs FTTP: Which Suits a Business Site?
Many sites that chose EFM did so because fibre was not available. Where FTTP now reaches the address, the question at renewal is whether it does the job EFM was bought for. The answer depends on what the site needed from EFM in the first place.
Two different kinds of service
EFM delivers Ethernet over several bonded copper pairs between the exchange and the premises. It is symmetrical, with the same speed in each direction, and is usually sold as an uncontended business circuit with business repair terms. Its speed is limited by the number of pairs and by the length of the copper run.
FTTP brings fibre all the way to the premises. It offers far more capacity than any copper service, but most FTTP products are asymmetric, with upload a fraction of download, and the fibre in the street is shared between premises. Business FTTP products add better repair terms and business features, but the product, not the word “business”, sets what is included.
EFM and FTTP side by side
| EFM | Business FTTP | |
|---|---|---|
| Medium | Bonded copper pairs from the exchange | Fibre to the premises |
| Speed | Tens of megabits, falling with distance from the exchange | Hundreds of megabits to multi-gigabit |
| Upload | Equal to download | Usually a fraction of download |
| Contention | Usually uncontended to the exchange | Shared fibre in the access network |
| Repair terms | Business terms as standard | Set by the product and care level chosen |
| Lifespan | Depends on copper, which is being retired | The UK's long-term access network |
When FTTP is the right replacement
If EFM was simply the best connection the site could get, business FTTP will usually be faster in both directions, even where its upload is lower than its download. A four-pair EFM circuit running at tens of megabits is outpaced on upload by most FTTP products, and at a lower monthly cost.
FTTP suits branches, shops and small offices whose traffic is mostly web and cloud applications, provided the repair terms fit how long the site can tolerate a fault. Netavo provides business FTTP at up to 2300M, carried on our own core network, with mobile failover available on any line.
When Ethernet fibre is the better successor
Some sites chose EFM for its character rather than its speed: symmetrical, uncontended capacity with business repair terms. A site that relies on that, for example one hosting systems that others connect to or carrying a steady flow of calls, will find the closest match in a fibre Ethernet circuit, not in FTTP.
Netavo provides Ethernet access from 100M to 10G, including dedicated internet access. Our guide to choosing between a leased line and business FTTP sets out how to compare the two on the measures that matter.
Check FTTP availability at an EFM site
Enter the site's postcode to check FTTP and SOGEA availability. SOGEA still uses copper to the premises; it is not full fibre. Ethernet is quoted separately.
You can also use the business full fibre checker. For an Ethernet quote, work with us.
Common questions
Is FTTP faster than EFM?
Almost always. EFM runs at tens of megabits over copper, while FTTP runs at hundreds of megabits or more; Netavo provides business FTTP at up to 2300M.
Is EFM upload better than FTTP upload?
EFM upload equals its download, while most FTTP upload is a fraction of download. In practice FTTP upload still usually exceeds what an EFM circuit delivers, which Netavo can confirm for a given site.
Should an EFM circuit be replaced with FTTP or a leased line?
FTTP suits sites that used EFM as the best connection available; an Ethernet leased line suits sites that rely on symmetrical, uncontended capacity. Netavo provides both, with Ethernet access from 100M to 10G.
Related services and sectors
Business Broadband and Full Fibre
Business FTTP up to 2300M, SOGEA where full fibre has not reached, and mobile failover, for businesses and resellers.
Explore business broadband →Dedicated Internet Access (DIA) Leased Lines
Uncontended, symmetrical Ethernet leased lines to the internet from 100M to 10G, on our own core, direct or through partners.
Explore dedicated internet access →Connectivity & WAN
Fibre and Ethernet access, private WAN and resilient connectivity, from a single site to a national estate.
Explore connectivity →Retail & Multi-site Estates
Fibre, Ethernet and private networking for branches and head offices, with mobile failover and estate telephony.
Explore retail and multi-site →Moving sites off EFM
Send us the sites on EFM today. We will confirm the FTTP and Ethernet access available at each address, with pricing, and plan the change before the copper is withdrawn.
Work with us →