Fibre 65 is one of two superfast fibre broadband plans offered by TalkTalk, and costs just £1 more per month than their entry-level Fibre 35 plan.
The package offers average download speeds of 67Mbps, a home phone line with pay as you go calls, and the option to add a 4K TV service for just £5 per month.
With availability at around 97% of UK homes, most people will be able to get Fibre 65 from TalkTalk. Overall, it's a solid choice for both small and larger households where multiple devices need a fast connection.
At a glance
Price | £29 |
---|---|
Setup cost | £4.95 |
Minimum term | 24 months |
Out of contract price | £29 after 24 months |
Annual price increase | CPI + 3.7% in April |
Download speed | 67Mbps |
Upload speed | 17Mbps |
Usage allowance | Unlimited |
Router | TalkTalk Wi-Fi Hub |
WiFi guarantee | Not available |
Parental controls | TalkTalk HomeSafe |
Home phone | Included |
Anytime calls | From £12/mth (inc. UK mobiles) |
TV | £5 per month |
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Broadband speeds adequate for most households | Cheaper options available from rival providers |
Low-cost full fibre option for people living in FTTP enabled areas | No WiFi guarantee available with router |
Optional 4K TV service with discounts on NOW Memberships and NOW Boost free | Full Fibre 65 doesn't have a phone line option |
Package | Broadband | Monthly price | Upfront price | Contract term | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fibre 65 | 67Mb average | £28 | Free | 18 months | |
Offer: Free setup and P&P | |||||
Fibre 65 Entertainment | 67Mb average | £42.98 | Free | 18 months | |
Offer: Save £5 per month + NOW Boost at no extra cost + Free setup and P&P |
Who is TalkTalk Fibre 65 best for?
TalkTalk Fibre 65 offers a broadband connection that will be suitable for most households. It costs just £1 more per month than Fibre 35, which makes it an obvious upgrade for anyone considering TalkTalk's superfast fibre broadband.
The 67Mbps download speeds will support multiple devices connected at the same time, and customers will have no problem using Fibre 65 for streaming, video calls, online gaming, and working from home.
Fibre 65 offers the fastest download speeds available on a fibre to the cabinet connection, and its major selling point is that it's available to most homes, covering 97% of the UK where full fibre isn't yet available.
TalkTalk Fibre 65 is best for:
- Most households whether small or large
- Supporting multiple devices connected at the same time
- People who have to work from home
- High quality streaming, video calls, and online gaming
Additionally, TalkTalk Fibre 65 is also well suited to people who use online streaming services for their home entertainment, as the broadband deal can be bundled with TalkTalk TV, which includes NOW Boost and discounts on NOW Membership plans.
Customers living within an Openreach FTTP or CityFibre enabled area, will be able to opt for TalkTalk's Full Fibre 65 plan instead.
Full Fibre 65 actually costs a little less than Fibre 65, but offers faster download and upload speeds, and a more reliable connection. The only downside to Full Fibre 65 compared to Fibre 65 is that the full fibre version is a data-only line, with no option to add a home phone plan.
Those living in full fibre enabled areas may also want to look at TalkTalk's Fibre 150 plan, which offers average download speeds of 152Mbps, a better router, and only costs £5 extra per month.
Check availability for TalkTalk broadband in your area.
What does TalkTalk Fibre 65 offer?
Fibre 65 is TalkTalk's fastest superfast broadband plan, offering average download speeds of 67Mbps at peak times, and 17Mbps upload speeds.
Customers living in a full fibre enabled area will get slightly faster speeds, with average downloads of 77Mbps, and uploads of 20Mbps.
Package | Broadband | Monthly price | Upfront price | Contract term | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fibre 65 | 67Mb average | £28 | Free | 18 months | |
Offer: Free setup and P&P | |||||
Full Fibre 65 | 77Mb average | £28 | Free | 18 months | |
Offer: Free setup and P&P |
Whether customers can get Fibre 65 or Full Fibre 65, the plans cost a similar amount each month and have the same setup fee, although offers do vary, with Full Fibre 65 currently cheaper per month.
There are some other minor differences too. While Fibre 65 offers a landline with pay as you go calls and the option to add a call plan, Full Fibre 65 is a data-only line and there's no option to add a home phone.
Customers on either connection can add TalkTalk TV, with both packages now coming with the newer Android-powered TV Hub.
Both Fibre 65 and Full Fibre 65 are subject to annual price rises, with TalkTalk's current policy increasing prices by Consumer Price Index (CPI) + 3.7% in April of each year.
Ultimately however, TalkTalk's approach to full fibre means customers can't choose between these two deals. If Openreach or CityFibre full fibre is available in your area, you'll only be able to sign up to a full fibre deal. This is increasingly common among broadband providers.
Use the postcode search on our TalkTalk deals page to find out which packages are available to you.
Fibre 65 + TalkTalk TV
TalkTalk allow their broadband customers the option to add a low-cost TV service which bundles Freeview with access to subscription-based on-demand apps like Netflix, NOW, and Amazon Prime Video.
Here's how much TalkTalk TV costs with Fibre 65:
Package | TV | Broadband | Monthly price | Upfront price | Contract term | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fibre 65 Entertainment | 93 | 67Mb average | £42.98 | Free | 18 months | |
Offer: Save £5 per month + NOW Boost at no extra cost + Free setup and P&P | ||||||
TV Hub + Full Fibre 65 | 70 | 77Mb average | £33 | Free | 18 months | |
Offer: NOW Entertainment just £4.99 for 12 months (was £9.99) + NOW Boost free + Free setup and P&P |
TalkTalk TV costs £5 per month on top of the broadband subscription, this includes provision of the set-top box and customers also get NOW Boost included for free.
At the time of writing, there are also various discounts available on NOW TV Memberships including NOW Entertainment for just £4.99 per month for 12 months, reduced from the usual price of £9.99 per month.
TalkTalk Fibre 65 and Full Fibre 65 customers now receive the new Android-powered TV hub. This box offers support for Google Assistant and Chromecast, and has access to the Google Play Store with over 10,000 apps to download.
That means, while live TV channels are limited to Freeview, the TalkTalk TV hub has unparalleled support for on-demand apps, with all the main names covered, including Netflix, NOW, Prime Video, Discovery+, Paramount+, Disney+, and Apple TV+, among others.
So, customers can customise their viewing by adding subscriptions to a range of on-demand content providers, but bear in mind, there will usually be additional fees for this.
Overall, as we look at in our full TalkTalk TV review, the service does well to rival pay TV giants Sky and Virgin Media, at a more competitive price, although the best comparisons are against Sky Stream and Virgin Stream, rather than their full pay TV services.
TalkTalk Fibre 65 vs Fibre 150
The next package up from TalkTalk's Fibre 65 is Fibre 150, although it's only available to those living in a full fibre enabled area.
At the time of writing, Full Fibre 65 costs £4 less per month than Full Fibre 150, although setup fees are the same across both packages.
Package | Broadband | Monthly price | Upfront price | Contract term | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Full Fibre 65 | 77Mb average | £28 | Free | 18 months | |
Offer: Free setup and P&P | |||||
Full Fibre 150 | 152Mb average | £28 | Free | 18 months | |
Offer: Free setup and P&P |
TalkTalk Fibre 150 also comes with an upgraded router, as the Amazon eero 6 supports the latest WiFi 6 protocol, while the Full Fibre 65 package only comes with the TalkTalk WiFi Hub, which supports devices up to WiFi 5.
Full Fibre 150 offers average download speeds of 152Mbps, nearly twice the speed of Full Fibre 65, which offers 77Mbps average download speeds at peak times, so it could be a good choice for slightly larger households who'll think they could benefit from the increased download speeds and better router.
Check availability of TalkTalk's packages in your area.
How does Fibre 65 compare?
TalkTalk is no longer the budget provider they used to be, with a new focus on offering more premium features like a newer router and a pay TV option.
As a result, while they're rarely the most expensive, there are often cheaper options available with rival providers. So, the value for money with TalkTalk usually comes from bundling the TV service.
TalkTalk Fibre 65 is cheaper than equivalent speed packages from BT, Direct Save Telecom, iTalk Telecom and Zen Internet. Yet, it's more expensive than similar plans from providers including Vodafone, Plusnet, NOW Broadband, and Sky.
Here's how Fibre 65 looks side-by-side with options from Plusnet, Sky, and BT.
Package | Broadband | Monthly price | Upfront price | Contract term | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fibre 65 | 67Mb average | £28 | Free | 18 months | |
Offer: Free setup and P&P | |||||
Fibre | 66Mb average | £25.99 | Free | 24 months | |
Offer: Black Friday: £50 Reward Card + Save over £4/mth + No setup fee + Exclusive offers and discounts for Plusnet customers (Ends 11/12/2024) | |||||
Superfast Broadband | 61Mb average | £25 | £5 | 24 months | |
Offer: WiFi Max just £4/mth + (£5 refundable setup fee for new customers if applicable) | |||||
Fibre 2 | 67Mb average | £29.99 | Free | 24 months | |
Offer: £50 BT Reward Card + Free setup (was £31.99) (Ends 12/12/2024) |
TalkTalk offer 24-month minimum terms on their plans, which is the same as Plusnet and BT. However, Sky has an 18-month minimum term.
Which contract length is best depends on individual customer requirements. It's worth remembering a longer contract can mean lower introductory prices for longer, while a shorter contract provides more flexibility to move to a better deal sooner.
Fibre 65 + TalkTalk TV
In terms of Fibre 65 and TalkTalk TV it can be a little harder to compare on a like-for-like basis, but it's cheaper than similar packages from Sky and BT, and costs around the same as Virgin Media./P>
Package | TV | Broadband | Monthly price | Upfront price | Contract term | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fibre 65 Entertainment | 93 | 67Mb average | £42.98 | Free | 18 months | |
Offer: Save £5 per month + NOW Boost at no extra cost + Free setup and P&P | ||||||
M125 Fibre Broadband + Weekend chatter + Stream | 150 | 132Mb average | £34 | £35 | 18 months | |
Offer: No setup fee on broadband (save £35) + Get 10% Stream credit back on every subscription you add to Stream | ||||||
Sky Ultimate TV + Full Fibre 75 | 142 | 75Mb average | £43 | Free | 24 months | |
Offer: Save £6/mth on Sky Ultimate TV + Sky broadband just £21/mth + Free setup (Ends 06/01/2025) | ||||||
Entertainment + Fibre 2 | 96 | 67Mb average | £43.99 | Free | 24 months | |
Offer: £50 BT Reward Card + Save £144 on EE Entertainment TV + Free setup on BT Broadband and EE TV (was £61.99) (Ends 12/12/2024) |
Both Sky and Virgin Media offer streaming versions of their pay TV services, and on a like-for-like basis both costs around the same as TalkTalk TV with fibre broadband.
The prices in the table above for TalkTalk and Virgin Media don't include much TV, yet Sky includes Sky Entertainment and Netflix as standard.
Virgin Stream for example only comes with 50 channels as standard, and customers need to upgrade to the Essential Entertainment add-on for £12 extra a month to gain access to more channels.
The biggest apps Netflix, NOW, Prime Video, and TNT Sports (BT Sport), are all available on TalkTalk TV, so customers don't miss out on any of the premium content like Sky Atlantic and Sky Cinema available with the bigger pay TV giants.
Overall, TalkTalk TV is a value for money add-on for Fibre 65 that's worth considering.
How fast is Fibre 65
TalkTalk Fibre 65 offers average download speeds of 67Mbps, this means at least 50% of their customers are receiving 67Mbps or faster speeds during the busiest times of 8pm to 10pm in the evening. Fibre 65 also offers average upload speeds of 18Mbps.
Both of these speeds are in line with equivalent packages from BT, Sky, Plusnet, and Vodafone, yet we can also look at independent research into real world speeds by Ofcom.
Advertised average download speed | Average over 24 hours | Average peak time (8-10pm weekdays) | |
---|---|---|---|
TalkTalk | 67Mb | 62.64Mb | 62.56Mb |
BT | 67Mb | 67.15Mb | 65.96Mb |
Sky | 61Mb | 64.65Mb | 63.57Mb |
Plusnet | 66Mb | 64.16Mb | 63.13Mb |
Vodafone | 67Mb | 59.96Mb | 58.53Mb |
This research found customers on TalkTalk's Fibre 65 package were receiving 62.56Mbps download speeds at peak times, and 62.64Mbps over 24 hours. This was actually slower than similar packages from Plusnet, Sky and BT, with BT performing the best and delivering 67.15Mbps download speeds for their customers at peak times.
Customers living in full fibre enabled areas will get faster speeds even by choosing the same Fibre 65 package. BT's equivalent full fibre 74Mb plan delivers peak time average speeds of 74.60Mbps according to Ofcom.
Upload speeds
Upload speeds won't affect the majority of broadband customers, however activities such as high definition video calling, online gaming, and sometimes working from home on shared cloud projects, may be affected to some degree by upload speeds.
TalkTalk's Fibre 65 package offers average upload speeds of 17Mbps. Real world research by Ofcom confirms that customers experience 17.70Mbps upload speeds on average over 24 hours.
Average upload speeds over 24 hours | Average upload speeds at peak times | |
---|---|---|
TalkTalk 67Mb | 17.70Mb | 17.66Mb |
BT 67Mb | 18.46Mb | 18.43Mb |
Sky 61Mb | 18.17Mb | 18.14Mb |
Vodafone 67Mb | 17.62Mb | 17.73Mb |
Plusnet 66Mb | 17.54Mb | 17.66Mb |
In comparison to equivalent packages from BT, Plusnet, Vodafone, and Sky, TalkTalk Fibre 65 is among average for upload speeds, with BT delivering a slightly faster 18.46Mbps on average over 24 hours.
TalkTalk's Full Fibre 65 package is listed as offering 20Mbps upload speeds, so customers who can get full fibre will also get slightly faster upload speeds.
Minimum speed guarantee
As signatories of Ofcom's Voluntary Code on Broadband Speeds, TalkTalk provide all new customers with a minimum guaranteed speed when they sign up to Fibre 65 or any other package.
The voluntary code means if a customer receives below the minimum guaranteed speed when they signed up they can leave their contract early without penalty. Although the customer must give TalkTalk 30 working days in order to try and resolve any issues, and there is an initial 14-day stabilisation period for new customers to allow the line to settle.
Because Fibre 65 is a fibre to the cabinet connection, the last cabling to connect a customer's home uses the existing copper phone line network. This means as distances will vary between the street cabinet and a customer's home, as well as from the street cabinet to the local exchange, broadband speeds will vary more widely than with a full fibre connection, where the fibre cable goes directly inside a customer's property.
Estimated speed range | Minimum guaranteed speed | |
---|---|---|
TalkTalk Fibre 65 | 57.7 - 73.6Mbps | 59.6Mbps |
TalkTalk Full Fibre 65 | 77Mbps | 55Mbps |
We tested the minimum speed guarantee on Fibre 65 with two separate postcodes. Postcode A was given a minimum download speed of 59.6Mbps, while postcode B had a minimum speed of 51.6Mbps.
That goes to show how broadband speeds can vary between customers due to location and distances from infrastructure. It's also interesting one location with fibre to the cabinet was actually faster than our test location for the full fibre plan.
Ultimately however, customers can be confident they'll receive the speed quoted when they sign up, and if they don't, they'll be able to leave penalty free to find a faster service elsewhere.
See which TalkTalk packages are available in your area with our free postcode tool on our TalkTalk deals page.
Call plans
Fibre 65 comes with a home phone line included in the monthly price, and pay as you go calls.
Customers can choose to upgrade to an inclusive call plan, including:
Includes | Monthly price | |
---|---|---|
Unlimited UK | Anytime UK landline and mobile calls | £12 (was £16) |
Out of allowance call costs are 24 pence per minute to UK landlines and mobiles.
Full Fibre 65 is a data-only broadband line and there is no option for customers to add a home phone line or any call plans.
Router
Fibre 65 from TalkTalk comes with a free wireless router. The WiFi Hub Black is a TalkTalk branded device, and supports the WiFi 5 protocol with dual-band coverage.
The WiFi Hub Black is an upgraded version of the previous WiFi Hub, and is now offered to customers on superfast Fibre 65 plans.
This router has seven internal antennae, which means wireless coverage should be stronger in comparison to the previous WiFi Hub.
While TalkTalk say some customers, including those on Full Fibre 65 will actually receive the WiFi Hub Premium, the main specifications between this router and the WiFi Hub Black seem the same.
TalkTalk's WiFi Hub Black/Premium specifications:
WiFi Hub Black/Premium | |
---|---|
WiFi Protocol | 5 |
WiFi Band | Dual band |
2.4GHz channel | 3x3 MIMO (802.11 b/g/n) |
5GHz channel | 4x4 MU-MIMO (802.11 a/n/ac) |
Ethernet LAN | 4 x 1Gb |
Security | WPA2 |
Overall, TalkTalk's WiFi Hub Black stands up well against some of the more basic routers provided with similar broadband packages from providers like NOW Broadband and Vodafone.
Extras
TalkTalk Fibre 65 customers can choose to add the Supersafe Security extra when they sign up. It costs £5 per month, and includes security software along with a password manager.
The security software protects up to 10 devices, including mobiles, tablets and computers, and protects against viruses, malware, and adds an extra layer of security when carrying out higher risk activities like online banking and shopping.
Whether customers need this software or not will depend on whether they already have anti-virus software on their computer. However, it's useful in that it protects multiple devices including smartphones.
Fixed Price Plus
TalkTalk used to offer an add-on called 'Fixed Price Plus', however this no longer seems to be available.
Fixed Price Plus promised to freeze prices for customers for the duration of their contract, and that any out of contract price rises wouldn't be above the rate of inflation.
Typically, TalkTalk customers should expect to see their prices rise by CPI + 3.7% each year in April. However, this add-on allowed customers to pay extra now to prevent large increases further down the line.
However, it could vary whether or not the add-on provided any savings, which could be one of the reasons it's been withdrawn.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does TalkTalk Fibre 65 include?
TalkTalk Fibre 65 includes the broadband connection and home phone line rental. In addition, TalkTalk provide customers with a free wireless router, the WiFi Hub Black or WiFi Hub Premium, which are dual-band WiFi 5 routers.
Customers get pay as you go calls included with the home phone, but they can upgrade this to either a UK anytime plan, or an International calls plan if they wish.
TalkTalk Fibre 65 includes parental control software called HomeSafe. Customers can also choose from a range of add-ons, including Supersafe anti-virus and malware software, and TalkTalk's pay TV service.
Is TalkTalk Full Fibre 65 better than Fibre 65?
TalkTalk Full Fibre 65 connects a customer's home by installing a full fibre cable directly into their property. In comparison, Fibre 65 only runs a fibre line to the nearest street cabinet - from here the customer's home is connected using the existing copper telephone network.
As a result, Full Fibre 65 will provide a faster and more reliable broadband connection than Fibre 65. In fact, it offers a 77Mbps average download speed at peak times, compared to the 67Mbps offered by Fibre 65.
The downside? Full Fibre 65 is a data-only line, which means there is no home phone line and no option to add one. In contrast, Fibre 65 comes with a home phone line included with pay as you go calls and the option to upgrade to anytime calls.
Should I take TalkTalk Fibre 65 over Fibre 35?
TalkTalk Fibre 65 offers faster download speeds than Fibre 35, in fact it's almost 30Mb faster. Currently, Fibre 65 is only £1 more per month than Fibre 35, so it's easy upgrade for households who're unsure if they need a slightly faster broadband plan.
What is the guaranteed speed of TalkTalk Fibre 65?
TalkTalk are signed up to Ofcom's code of conduct on broadband speeds which means they provide customers with a minimum guaranteed speed at the time they sign up. If a customer's broadband speed falls below this guaranteed minimum, they can leave their contract early without penalty.
TalkTalk will therefore tell any prospective customers what their exact guaranteed speed will be when they sign up, as this can vary between locations. As a rough guide however, it's likely to be around 50Mbps to 70Mbps for Fibre 65.
What happens if I change my mind?
TalkTalk offer a 30-day Great Connection Guarantee, which means if you're unhappy with your connection, you can cancel penalty free within the first 30 days after activation.
Customers will have to pay for the time they've used the service however, and they will also likely have to return any equipment and router TalkTalk have provided.
Customers cancelling outside of this period but within their minimum term will be subject to early termination charges. For Fibre 65, this is £10.20 per month left remaining on their contract. There may also be charges for cancelling any boosts or upgrades early.
Verdict: Is TalkTalk Fibre 65 any good?
TalkTalk Fibre 65 is a low-cost broadband plan that offers some of the fastest speeds to customers on the Openreach fibre to the cabinet network.
Due to its wide availability, around 97% of the UK, most people will be able to get Fibre 65, however people living in a full fibre enabled area will get the Full Fibre 65 package instead.
Overall though, either Fibre 65 or Full Fibre 65 will be adequate for most households, allowing simultaneous usage of fast broadband activities like streaming, gaming, video calls, and working from home.
What we like most about Fibre 65:
- Fastest superfast broadband plan that's adequate for most households
- Costs just £1 more than Fibre 35, which is good value for money for the speed boost
- Comes with the latest WiFi Hub Premium from TalkTalk
- Add TalkTalk TV for just £5 per month extra and gain access to Netflix, NOW, Prime Video, TNT Sports, and other streaming services
Ultimately there are cheaper broadband packages available from providers including Vodafone, Shell Energy Broadband, and Plusnet. However, we like that TalkTalk offers a TV service add-on to their customers and they have an improved customer service record in comparison to Vodafone and Shell Energy Broadband.
To find out more about TalkTalk broadband in general, we've reviewed their service in full here. We also have more information on TalkTalk TV.
Compare TalkTalk's latest prices here.
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