Community Fibre is a full-fibre broadband provider mainly serving in London. We compare Community Fibre to other big providers. We look at technology, pricing, service offerings, and how happy customers are.
Community Fibre Plans – Overview
Community Fibre makes its pricing and contracts simple. They offer high-speed internet at clear rates. Prices depend on the speed you choose and the length of your contract.
For entry-level users, the basic plan is affordable. It is great for people or small families who do average internet tasks. The price is lower than many major competitors. This makes it a good choice for those new to fibre broadband.
Speed
Community Fibre is making waves in the UK broadband market. They offer fibre-optic packages for everyone. Whether you use the internet lightly or need loads of data, there is a plan for you. Their service stands out compared to regular broadband.
They provide a variety of speeds. The 75 Mbps plan is great for small households. It works well for browsing, streaming in HD, and light downloads. The 150 Mbps option suits medium-sized households or small businesses. It lets you stream, game, and download on several devices without a hitch. For larger families or tech enthusiasts, the 500 Mbps plan is ideal. It handles heavy streaming, gaming, and big downloads and uploads.
The 1 Gbps option is for power users with smart homes and heavy data needs. And the new 3 Gbps plan is built for the most demanding users and homes with hundreds of connected devices. All plans have the same upload and download speeds, which is great if you upload as much as you download.
Pricing and Contract
Community Fibre has clear and simple pricing. They also offer deals like free installation and discounts for the first few months. Faster plans usually cost higher.
They also offer flexible contract options – 12 month, 18 month, or 24-month. Shorter contracts might cost a bit more each month. This flexibility lets you pick what works best for your budget and needs.
Limited time offer: Free setup. Vouchers of worth up to £120.
Features
Each package comes with extra features. You get an advanced router that works well at high speeds with many devices. There is unlimited data with no limits or speed drops. For bigger homes or tricky layouts, there is an optional Wi-Fi mesh system to boost coverage.
Community Fibre also offers add-ons. You can choose extra security to protect your devices. They offer VoIP services so you can make phone calls online at a lower cost. Bundled TV packages are available too, with a range of channels and streaming choices.
Community Fibre compared
Technology and Infrastructure
Community Fibre network uses Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) which means fibre-optic cables go directly to your home and help you get faster speeds and a more stable connection.
Many other providers use Fibre to the Cabinet (FTTC). In this setup, the fibre stops at a street cabinet, and copper wires connect to homes. Copper wires can slow down speeds and weaken the signal
Speed and Performance
Community Fibre offers gigabit speeds in London. Their internet plans offer a range of speeds, from 75 Mbps up to 3 Gbps. Other providers like BT, Virgin Media, and Sky offer the top speed of 1 Gbps. If you are a regular online gamer and stream on multiple devices, ultrafast speeds are the best option
Pricing and Contracts
Community Fibre is known for good prices. They often cost less than competitors for the same speeds. Their contracts are clear, with no hidden fees. Some other providers have complex contracts or raise prices after the initial term.
Installation and Setup
Community Fibre has a quick and easy installation process. They own their network, so they don’t rely on Openreach like BT and Sky do. This often means faster connections. Installation is usually free and includes a setup to help you get the best signal at home.
Customer Service
Community Fibre’s customers often praise their support. The company has a London-based team for quick responses. Other major providers sometimes struggle with large call volumes. They may not have local teams, leading to slower service.
Additional Features and Benefits
Community Fibre does not throttle speeds or set data limits. They provide the best routers that can handle many devices at once and can support for high-bandwidth activities like streaming and gaming.
Availability
Community Fibre mainly operates in London. Virgin Media and BT have wider coverage across the country. If you live outside London, Community Fibre may not be an option yet.
Community Fibre Vs Virgin Media
Community Fibre focuses on London, while Virgin Media operates across the UK. Community Fibre’s network, accessible to more than 2.2 million premises in London, is smaller but fast-growing, and in some areas, it may be the only provider of full-fibre services. In contrast, Virgin Media covers over 17.8 million premises and plans to expand to 23 million homes.
Pricing and contract
Community Fibre is often popular for its lower monthly costs compared to Virgin Media. Its out-of-contract pricing usually increases by just £4 over its introductory offers, whereas Virgin Media is known for larger price hikes after the initial contract. Both providers offer discounts initially, with Virgin Media providing low-priced deals on bundles.
Both ISPs offer contracts of 12, 18, or 24 months, with Virgin Media typically offering 24-month contracts. Promotions may include free setup on specific packages.
Speed
Community Fibre delivers symmetrical upload and download speeds on its full-fibre packages, making it ideal for users who need fast upload speeds. Virgin Media, using hybrid fibre-coaxial technology, offers excellent download speeds but comparatively slower upload speeds.
Community Fibre uses fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) technology, ensuring lower latency and more stable connections. If fast upload speeds are a priority, Community Fibre might be the better choice. However, for wide availability and proven download speeds, Virgin Media stands out.
Router, setup and TV
When it comes to reliable WiFi, Community Fibre’s WiFi 6 router effectively delivers the best signal for most properties. Virgin Media offers a WiFi guarantee in certain packages, promising coverage in every room, and provides WiFi pods at no extra cost if the signal is weak.
Community Fibre supplies the latest Linksys WiFi 6 router with most of its plans, while Virgin Media typically provides a Hub router that does not support the WiFi 6 standard. Additional WiFi pods or boosters can help you optimise WiFi in your home.
Regarding installation, Community Fibre may require an engineer to visit and install a fibre connection directly into the property. In contrast, Virgin Media’s broadband installation often does not require an engineer visit if your premises are already connected to its cable network.
Virgin Media bundles broadband with TV and phone services, offering packages that include channels from Sky, Netflix, and on-demand content. For households that want everything in one package, Virgin Media is the better option. Community Fibre, focusing primarily on full-fibre broadband, offers telephone services as an option but does not provide premium TV bundles like Virgin Media.
Which is better?
Overall, Community Fibre is one of the best options for Londoners, especially for its symmetrical speeds, lower monthly bills, and smaller gap between in-contract and out-of-contract prices. However, Community Fibre’s biggest limitation is its availability. In contrast, with coverage across millions of premises, Virgin Media has the advantage if you need broadband outside London.
For heavy uploaders, Community Fibre’s symmetrical speeds offer a significant advantage. Meanwhile, for families who love on-demand TV or prefer a comprehensive entertainment package, Virgin Media can provide everything they need in one bundle.
Virgin Media is the better option if you are looking for TV packages and phone bundles with broadband. In fact, bundling multiple services can help you save money.
Community Fibre is well-known for its excellent customer support, with helpful experts on phone and quick resolution times. In contrast, Virgin Media often receives complaints about long wait times and the need for repeated calls to resolve issues.
By weighing all of these factors—availability, coverage, pricing, speed, installation process, equipment, customer service, and extras—you can make an informed decision.
Community Fibre vs Hyperoptic
Both Community Fibre and Hyperoptic are experts in providing full-fibre optic connections using modern infrastructure to deliver ultrafast and gigabit speeds. Both have built their own independent infrastructure and have a reputation for excellent customer service and symmetric speeds. We take a look at pricing, reliability, performance, and coverage.
Overview
- Contract Flexibility
Hyperoptic offers one-month rolling contracts, in addition to 12- or 24-month deals. Community Fibre offers just 12 or 24 months. - Pricing and Fees:
Community Fibre usually has cheaper monthly rates at similar speed tiers compared to Hyperoptic. In many cases, it also waives or reduces setup fees. Hyperoptic, while sometimes more expensive due to a setup fee, has the advantage of not raising prices during the contract term. - Speed Tiers:
Both providers offer ultrafast speeds. Community Fibre provides symmetrical upload and download speeds across all their packages, even the cheaper tiers. Hyperoptic offers symmetrical uploads only on certain higher-speed deals. - Social Tariffs and Support:
Both companies offer social or low-cost broadband for people who cannot afford expensive deals. Community Fibre’s plan is open to everyone, while Hyperoptic’s is only available to certain groups. There are small differences in the monthly cost and speed for each social tariff. - Coverage Range
Community Fibre has more extensive coverage in Greater London. Hyperoptic focuses on specific buildings, especially in central London, and has gradually expanded to more areas over the years. - Customer Feedback
According to popular surveys, both providers generally receive positive reviews. Community Fibre often edges out Hyperoptic with slightly higher ratings. However, Hyperoptic still ranks well, and many customers praise their reliability.
Pricing
Community Fibre is known for offering lower monthly rates than Hyperoptic. It usually waives the setup fee and also offers gifts and vouchers. Hyperoptic, on the other hand, typically charges an upfront activation fee, which can vary depending on the contract length.
For gigabit plans, Community Fibre remains cheaper in most cases. Community Fibre’s 1Gbps plan can cost around £25 per month, often with no setup fee. By contrast, Hyperoptic might charge £35 per month plus a setup fee for a similar 900Mbps or 1Gbps plan.
However, Hyperoptic does not raise prices during a contract, while Community Fibre increases a small amount each year, typically around £2.
Speed and Performance
Community Fibre and Hyperoptic both deliver full fibre based FTTP broadband, which is often more reliable and faster than FTTC fibre connections.
Community Fibre offers symmetrical upload and download speeds for all their plans. Even the cheaper packages, like their 150Mbps tier, provide 150Mbps upload speed. Hyperoptic also offers symmetrical speeds, but mainly at the 150Mbps level and above. On their entry-level 33Mbps or 50Mbps deals, the upload speed is much lower.
Community Fibre has a 3Gbps plan for those who truly need higher speeds, which is the fastest speed available for home use. Hyperoptic typically offers 900Mbps or 1Gbps on their top package, which is still very fast for typical households.
Community Fibre often installs a fibre line that goes directly into your residence. Hyperoptic sometimes uses existing internal wiring to reach individual flats. Although the final segment of copper or coaxial cable is short, it might affect speeds.
Community Fibre is more consistent. Hyperoptic, meanwhile, has symmetrical speeds only on higher tiers. If you need top-tier performance for things like gaming or large data transfers, both are great options.
Conclusion
If you live in London and look out for reliable, high-speed internet at a fair price, and good customer service, Community Fibre is a top option.