NOW Fab Fibre Broadband: Speeds, pricing and features

Claire Nottage | March 16th, 2023

Although it may have started as a contract-free streaming service for Sky TV, NOW rapidly emerged as a broadband provider in its own right, specialising in straightforward, budget-friendly deals that also come in a contract-free version.

Fab Fibre is NOW’s mid-level broadband package, with a fibre speed averaging 36Mbps, ideal for most small households looking for more speed than that offered by a standard broadband connection.

Key features

Here’s a quick summary of what you can expect to find with NOW Fab Fibre.

Who is NOW Fab Fibre for?

The broadband speed that you need in your home is largely dictated by two things: the number of devices you have, and what you use your broadband connection for. If you have just four or five devices, such as a couple of phones, a laptop and a TV, then a standard broadband connection (such as Sky’s Brilliant Broadband), is likely to be sufficient. However, if you have ten devices, most of which are in use at the same time, and you like to stream Netflix in HD, for example, then an entry-level fibre package like Fab Fibre is preferable for meeting the needs of most moderate-usage households.

Fab Fibre isn’t the fastest of the speeds offered by NOW (that honour goes to Super Fibre, which offers an average of 63Mbps), but its 36Mbps average speed will keep most households online without issue.

Here’s who we think NOW Fab Fibre is best suited to, and what benefits you can expect:

• Households with 2-4 occupants – For small to medium-sized households, Fab Fibre will be enough for most online activities.
• Multiple devices – Whether you are looking to connect your games console or an Alexa, Fab Fibre will support a number of devices at a time.
• Stream in high definition – A 36Mbps connection will enable you to enjoy watching Netflix or any other streaming service in high definition, even on more than one devices at once, but if you want to watch in UHD, 36Mbps will struggle to cope with much else at the same time.
• Video calling – Whether it’s for working from home or keeping in touch with family abroad, 36Mbps is plenty for enjoying a smooth connection on Zoom, Teams, Facetime or Skype.
• Gamers – With online gaming requiring only a 5Mbps ownload speed and a 2Mbps upload speed, Fab Fibre is plenty for any gaming fans in your home. However, if you want to download new games as fast as possible, you may want to consider choosing a faster download speed, such as that offered by NOW broadband Super Fibre.

How does NOW Fab Fibre broadband compare?

What's included with NOW Fab Fibre?

Fab Fibre is a truly unlimited broadband service, with no usage limits or speed throttling at any time of day. The average download speed you can expect is 36Mbps, but you will be given a minimum guaranteed speed when you sign up, which is the slowest speed you can expect to receive. In all likelihood your speed will be considerably better than this, however. With Fab Fibre you can also expect an upload speed of around 10Mbps, which is plenty for sending emails, uploading photos and using video calling software such as Skype or Zoom.

When it comes to a router, NOW provides all its broadband customers with the NOW Broadband Hub 2 at no extra cost. The Hub 2 will comfortably support all your devices, and with its five antennae and smart channel capability, it will ensure you can get a good signal around your home at all times. It also has two ethernet ports so you can set up two wired connections should you wish.

NOW broadband operates over the Openreach network (also used by BT, Sky, EE, TalkTalk and most other broadband providers, except Virgin Media, which operates on its own network). Activation and installation of your NOW broadband service is free, unless you have chosen the one-month, no-contract option, which comes with a £60 upfront charge. There is, however, a £5 router delivery fee to pay.

A landline is also included at no extra cost, but any calls you make on it will be charged on a pay-as-you-go basis, unless you choose to bolt on a calls package – a good idea if you like to use your landline frequently.

NOW Broadband Hub 2 router specification

• Reliable wifi – The NOW Broadband Hub 2 operates on the 802.11ac standard, which is common to almost all other routers, and will provide a stable connection for all your devices.
• Two gigabit ethernet ports – Useful for connecting devices via a cable rather than wirelessly for which you need optimum speed and stability, the NOW Broadband Hub 2 has two ethernet ports
• Two bands – Dual band routers are now the norm, and use two frequencies to carry the wifi signal around the home: 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz. This helps to minimise interference between devices.
• Intelligent channel selection – The router will intelligently link your devices to the fastest frequency and channel, ensuring the best speeds all round
• Five antennae – The NOW Broadband Hub uses five antennae to carry a strong signal around your home.

Extras

NOW Broadband offers affordable, uncomplicated broadband plans, with the option to choose a rolling monthly contract or a 12-month plan. In essence, it is a budget broadband service and so as a result does not come loaded with extras such as reward cards, free gadgets or free mobile data; the likes of which you can get with some of the big providers such as Sky, BT and EE.

NOW does offer the Broadband Buddy app for free to all its customers, however, which, once activated, provides free protection on all your devices from malware and viruses. The Broadband Buddy app also comes with parental control software, enabling parents to control what their youngsters can see online and also limit their time on devices such as phones, tablets and games consoles.

All NOW Broadband packages come with a pay-as-you-go phone line as standard, but anyone wanting to use their landline on a regular basis can choose to bolt on a calls package. Customers can choose from Evenings and Weekends or Anytime calls.

Compare NOW Broadband

What we think

NOW Broadband Fab Fibre is an entry-level fibre speed that is suitable for any household that wants a decent broadband speed but doesn’t consume huge amounts online. Fab Fibre will comfortably support ten or more devices, depending on how you use your connection. For browsing and streaming TV or music, and keeping any smart home devices connected, it is ideal.

Fab Fibre operates on the Openreach network, making it widely available. Customers can choose between a 12-month or one-month contract (the latter being subject to a one-off, upfront charge of £60), making it one of the most flexible and straightforward deals on the market. Call packages are available to bolt on for an extra fee if required, and there is always the option to bundle NOW broadband with NOW TV memberships. Plus, with online security thrown in for good measure with the NOW Broadband Buddy, Fab Fibre represents an all-round good bet.

Customers looking to stream in UHD or needing additional bandwidth to support more devices should consider NOW Super Fibre, which has an average download speed of 63Mbps.