Community Fibre is one of the largest full-fibre altnets focused specifically on London, building its own independent network rather than relying on Openreach, the infrastructure that underpins deals from BT, Sky and many other mainstream providers. Its rollout has particularly focused on social housing and densely populated boroughs, often bringing full-fibre speeds to buildings that were previously reliant on older, slower connections.
1. Community Fibre's approach to building its network
Rather than retrofitting existing copper infrastructure, Community Fibre lays its own fibre-optic cabling directly into buildings, frequently partnering with housing associations and local authorities to reach properties that might otherwise be last in line for a fibre upgrade. This has made it a genuinely popular option in parts of London where it's available, often at competitive prices relative to full-fibre packages from national providers.
2. Where Community Fibre is available
Because it's building its own physical network rather than using existing national infrastructure, Community Fibre's coverage is concentrated in London and doesn't extend nationwide the way BT or TalkTalk do. If you live outside London, it's simply not going to be an option, in which case it's worth comparing other full-fibre altnets such as YouFibre or nationwide Openreach-based providers instead.
3. Speed and value in London
Community Fibre has built a reputation for offering high headline speeds — often at prices that undercut some of the bigger national names — specifically because it doesn't have Openreach's wholesale costs baked into its pricing. If you're in a serviced area and want a genuinely fast connection without paying cable-provider prices from Virgin Media, it's worth comparing directly.
4. Checking availability at your address
Full-fibre altnets build street by street and building by building, so it's essential to check availability at your specific address rather than assuming coverage based on your general area. Community Fibre's rollout continues to expand, so an address that wasn't served a year ago may now have access.
5. Frequently asked questions
Is Community Fibre available outside London?
Its rollout has historically focused on London, so availability outside the capital is limited. Check a full-fibre altnet with a wider national footprint, or a nationwide provider using Openreach, if you're elsewhere in the UK.
Does Community Fibre use the same network as BT or Sky?
No, Community Fibre builds and operates its own independent full-fibre network rather than relying on Openreach's infrastructure, which is what most mainstream providers use.
Is Community Fibre cheaper than national providers?
Often its pricing is competitive, particularly for full-fibre speeds, since it avoids some of the wholesale costs associated with using another network's infrastructure. Compare its live rates against our cheapest broadband deals guide.
Does Community Fibre serve social housing?
Yes, a significant part of its rollout strategy has involved partnering with housing associations and local authorities to bring full-fibre connectivity to social housing properties that may otherwise have been overlooked by wider fibre rollouts.
6. Conclusion
Community Fibre has carved out a strong position in London by building genuinely fast full-fibre infrastructure directly into buildings, often at competitive prices. If you're in a serviced area, it's well worth comparing against national providers and other altnets to see whether it offers the best combination of speed and value for your address.
