Community Fibre

Community Fibre Broadband is a London focused full fibre broadband provider that builds and operates its own FTTP network. Available across numerous London boroughs, Community Fibre has rapidly grown to become one of the capital’s most popular broadband alternatives, undercutting major providers on price while delivering genuine gigabit speeds. As an independent altnet, Community Fibre doesn’t rely on Openreach or CityFibre.

Switching broadband provider saves the average household around £156 a year, according to Ofcom, and most providers now handle the switch for you.

Community Fibre Packages and Speeds

Community Fibre Pros and Cons

Is Community Fibre Available at My Address?

Community Fibre is currently available across a significant and growing number of London boroughs including parts of Hammersmith, Hackney, Lewisham, Newham, Tower Hamlets, and more. If you’re in London, check your postcode, Community Fibre’s coverage continues to expand rapidly. Not available outside of London at this time.

How to Get Community Fibre

1. Check your London postcode on Switcheroo or Community Fibre’s site
2. Select a speed package: 150Mbps, 500Mbps, or 1Gbps
3. Complete your online signup
4. A Community Fibre engineer installs fibre to your property
5. Connect your router and start enjoying full fibre speeds

Why Community Fibre Is Different

Community Fibre’s pricing is its headline act. Gigabit broadband at around £30/month is significantly cheaper than BT, Sky, or Virgin Media equivalents. This is possible because Community Fibre owns its infrastructure and targets a defined geography rather than building a national network. The result is highly competitive local pricing. Community Fibre also takes a straightforward approach: transparent pricing, no hidden fees, and 12-month contracts rather than locking customers in for 24 months. Customer satisfaction scores have been strong for a provider of its size. The obvious limitation is geography, it’s a London provider, full stop.

Who Is Community Fibre Best For?

Community Fibre is the obvious choice for London residents who want gigabit broadband at a fraction of the cost charged by Virgin Media or BT. If you’re in a covered postcode and don’t need TV bundles, it’s hard to beat on price per Mbps. Especially good for renters and younger households who prefer shorter contracts. Not suitable for anyone outside London or those seeking a premium customer service experience on a par with major providers.

Key Factors to Consider When Comparing

Speed alone isn’t the only metric. Look at upload speeds, which matter increasingly with video conferencing and cloud storage. Check latency (ping time) if you game or use video calls extensively. Examine contract flexibility, are you locked in for 24 months or can you switch monthly? Don’t ignore customer satisfaction ratings. Independent reviews reveal service quality beyond marketing claims. Check specific reviews for your postcode to understand real world performance. Consider whether the provider includes a new router or charges separately. Installation fees vary significantly. Some offer free installations; others charge £50–150. Check if you’re eligible for any switching incentives or loyalty discounts. Calculate the total cost over the full contract period, including setup fees, rather than focusing only on monthly costs.

Understanding Your Broadband Speed Results

You signed up for ‘up to’ 100Mbps but you’re getting 60Mbps. Is that normal? Yes, ‘up to’ speeds are marketing maximums, not guarantees. Real world speeds depend on network congestion, distance from exchange (for FTTC), WiFi signal strength, and time of day. Download a speed testing app and test during off peak hours (midday weekdays) versus peak hours (6–9 PM evenings). Peak hour speeds should still meet your Minimum Guaranteed Access Speed (MAP). If they fall short, contact your provider to report faults. Use multiple speed tests, single tests can be misleading due to temporary congestion. Test on wired connection versus WiFi to identify WiFi issues separately. Expect variations of 10–15% around advertised speeds as normal. Consistent speeds 30%+ below advertised warrant complaint to your provider.

Cost Comparison: Total Contract Cost vs Monthly Price

A provider advertising £20/month might actually cost more than one advertising £25/month. The difference? Hidden charges. A £20/month deal might include £80 setup fee, £10/month router rental, and annual price rises reaching £35 by month 12. A £25/month plan might have £0 setup, included router, and price lock. Total 24-month cost for the first: £20×12 + £32×12 + £80 = £704. Total for the second: £25×24 = £600. The cheaper monthly offer cost you £104 more overall. Always calculate total cost including all fees over the full contract period. Many people make switching decisions based on misleading comparisons. Use a calculator entering exact fees to compare accurately. Don’t trust advertised monthly rates alone.

Switching Process: What Actually Happens

Day 1: You sign up online or phone the new provider. Day 2–3: New provider contacts your existing provider to notify of the switch. Your current provider confirms disconnect date (typically 7–14 days away). Day 5–7: New provider arranges installation engineer visit. Day 7–10: Engineer installs new broadband service at your home. Day 10–14: Your previous broadband disconnects automatically. Throughout the process, you maintain broadband, no period without service if switching properly. The new provider provides a migration code so you keep your phone number (important if you have a landline). Your old provider may contact offering retention discounts. These sometimes beat new provider offers. You have 14 days to cancel if unsatisfied. Most providers offer a money back guarantee within this cooling off period.