ADSL runs entirely over old copper telephone lines. It’s the oldest and slowest option, typically maxing out around 10-24 Mbps, and speeds drop the further you live from the exchange.

Cable broadband (historically Virgin Media’s network) uses coaxial cable, which is faster and more stable than ADSL, but can still slow down at peak times when neighbours on the same line are also online.

Fibre broadband comes in two types:

• FTTC (part-fibre): Fibre to the cabinet, copper for the final stretch. Faster than ADSL but still limited by that last copper run.
• FTTP (full fibre): Fibre all the way into your home. Fastest, most reliable, with symmetrical upload speeds.

Quick comparison:

Type	Typical Speed	Reliability	Future-Proof
ADSL	Up to 24 Mbps	Distance-dependent	No
Cable	Up to 500+ Mbps	Peak-time congestion	Limited
FTTC	Up to 80 Mbps	Distance-dependent	Limited
FTTP (Full Fibre)	Up to 900+ Mbps	Consistent	Yes

Bottom line: If full fibre is available at your address, it’s almost always the better long-term choice — faster, steadier, and built for how much data modern homes actually use.