Full fibre is the future of internet connectivity in the UK. Traditional copper wire connections, which are prone to data loss and interference, downtime, and degradation, are slowly being phased out in favour of more advanced optic fibre cables. This addresses all the aforementioned issues by leveraging durable, long-lasting glass or plastic materials that transmit data with light rather than electricity. As a result, full fibre technology can increase internet speeds from 67Mbps (the average for copper wire connections) to up to 1,000Mbps—though it’s capable of going even faster.
With all that we use the internet for today, the UK government is personally taking steps to ensure comprehensive full fibre coverage across the country before the end of the decade. Thus far, it’s infused more than £800 million in public funds into Project Gigabit and enlisted internet service operators like Openreach to get the job done—to much success. Today, Ofcom estimates that 29 million UK properties will be able to access full fibre by 2027.
However, the road to complete full fibre coverage isn’t without its hurdles. In particular, more internet service providers (ISPs), property owners, and residents are finding that older structures have to be renovated or upgraded just to accommodate the necessary infrastructure. As a result, the UK government recently ruled that all newly constructed structures should have built-in full-fibre infrastructure. Here’s why that concerns architects—and the design considerations they’ll have to make as a result:
Why designing for full fibre broadband matters
If full fibre is already available in a particular area, all an ISP needs to do is run a cable from the street to a property, then connect it to a junction box, modem, and router. However, things can get more complicated for larger properties, such as rental buildings and office spaces, because they require more coverage. For more extensive full fibre business broadband plans, which are suitable for these kinds of properties, the ISP Zzoomm goes further to provide the necessary bandwidth. It’s done via a dedicated optic fibre line for individual properties, as well as a Wi-Fi 6 hub for extended range. Buildings not designed to accommodate additional infrastructure can make these properties ineligible for full fibre installation.
In fact, that’s exactly what happened to residents of a four-story building in Scotland in 2022. Due to the layout and construction of the block of flats in question, CityFibre told its occupants that it could not install full fibre connections at the time because the building was ‘too tall.’ This decision was heavily criticised, as the building was smaller than the local structures that CityFibre had serviced prior.
However, the truth is that—aside from layout and construction—even the materials and interior design that architects choose to use when designing a building can impact how easily full fibre can be installed, as well as how effective it’ll be once it’s in place. As such, you may want to take the following considerations into account when drafting your next blueprints.
Architectural considerations for full fibre-ready structures
Material selection
Full fibre broadband relies on radio over fibre technology to transmit data because it exhibits better dynamic range (it can cover both high and low radio frequencies), noise reduction, and security. Certain construction materials can interfere with optic fibre signals, worsening reception in a building. Metal, for example, can absorb radio over fibre frequencies and is considered the biggest culprit for slower full fibre connections. Meanwhile, it can be hard for signals to travel through thick concrete. That makes it vital to carefully select the materials you want to support the structure you’re designing, especially if you’re working on a larger project. The best way to do so is to consult with radio frequency engineers during the drafting process. Though wood, brick, and drywall are generally considered to cause the most signal loss, consulting with these professionals can help you go over the materials you have in mind and suggest substitutes if necessary—especially if you or your client have a more specific vision for the building you’re conceptualising.
Zone utilisation
For a building to be considered full fibre-ready, it must have the space to accommodate the necessary connection between street cables and property wires. In particular, there should be enough room for cabling zones. Zone cabling architecture limits where cables run when installed. They usually radiate outward from power outlets towards the top of a wall, into wall corners, or in between floors and ceilings. That protects the necessary wiring from damage when occupants need to cut or drill into walls. In older buildings, however, cables extend beyond these zones, making it more difficult to install optic fibre. Other structures may not have cabling zones large enough to connect disparate areas in a property, which can become a problem in flats and office buildings that need consistent coverage. In designing new full fibre-ready structures, it’s thus crucial to pay close attention to the space you allocate for cabling zones and how they connect throughout the building. Utilising them to ensure optic fibre cable pathways seamlessly run vertically and horizontally across rooms and floors can significantly streamline full fibre installation later on. In particular, grid-based cable zoning strategies may lend your final design more flexibility.
Design collaboration
If you’re working with a detail-oriented client who knows exactly what they want, implementing the above design considerations can be easier said than done—especially if doing so significantly impacts the appearance of the resulting building’s interiors. That’s where you’ll benefit from the intersection between architecture and interior design. Goddard Littlefair director John Bamford-Beattie notes that in working closely with interior designers, you can achieve a final product that boasts a more cohesive design language and better attention to detail. Doing the same when designing for full fibre infrastructure can be equally beneficial. If a client decides to build with metal and concrete, for example, interior designers can help you make up for the potential signal loss by drawing up open floor concepts, which can help minimise the amount of material full fibre signals travel through.
