CityFibre and Openreach represent two competing visions for UK broadband infrastructure. Both deliver full fibre (FTTP) connections, but through entirely different networks with distinct strengths and weaknesses.
Understanding which network serves your address—and which provider offers better value—impacts your broadband experience for years. This comprehensive comparison breaks down every factor that matters.
The Fundamental Difference
Openreach: The Incumbent
Who they are: BT’s infrastructure division, separated in 2016
Network size: 18-20 million premises passed (60%+ of UK)
History: Evolved from 140+ year old telephone infrastructure
Business model: Wholesale only—sell access to 600+ ISPs
Openreach operates the UK’s dominant broadband infrastructure. When you buy from BT, Sky, TalkTalk, Plusnet, EE, or dozens of others, you’re using Openreach’s network.
CityFibre: The Challenger
Who they are: Independent alternative network provider
Network size: 5-6 million premises passed (15-20% of UK)
History: Founded 2011, pure fibre-only from day one
Business model: Wholesale only—partner with ISPs like Vodafone, TalkTalk, Zen
CityFibre built entirely new fibre infrastructure, bypassing Openreach monopoly in covered areas. They focused on urban areas first, expanding to towns and some rural communities.
Critical point: Neither sells directly to consumers. You buy from ISPs who use their networks.
Coverage: Who’s Available Where
Openreach Coverage
Current (2026):
– Full fibre (FTTP): 18-20 million premises (60-65% UK coverage)
– Legacy FTTC: 28 million premises (95%+ coverage but being phased out)
– Rural presence: Extensive due to historic infrastructure
– Urban coverage: Near-universal
Coverage type:
– Cities: Comprehensive
– Towns: Excellent
– Rural: Good and improving
– Remote rural: Patchy but most have something
Check Openreach availability: openreach.com/fibre-checker
CityFibre Coverage
Current (2026):
– Full fibre (FTTP): 5-6 million premises (15-20% UK coverage)
– Focus areas: 80+ cities and large towns
– Rural presence: Limited—mainly urban/suburban focus
– Rapid expansion ongoing
Strong presence in:
– London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester, Birmingham
– Milton Keynes, Reading, Northampton, Peterborough
– Leicester, Coventry, Aberdeen, Inverness
– (Check their site for full list)
Check CityFibre availability: cityfibre.com
Coverage Winner: Openreach
By sheer numbers: Openreach covers 3-4x more premises
But: In areas where both available, competition benefits consumers
Speed Packages: What’s Actually Offered
Openreach Speed Tiers
Via ISPs using Openreach:
– 40 Mbps, 80 Mbps (legacy FTTC, being phased out)
– 150 Mbps, 300 Mbps, 500 Mbps, 900 Mbps (FTTP)
Upload speeds:
– FTTP 150: 30 Mbps upload
– FTTP 300: 50 Mbps upload
– FTTP 500: 75 Mbps upload
– FTTP 900: 110 Mbps upload
Asymmetric speeds: Download significantly higher than upload (except highest tiers approaching symmetric)
CityFibre Speed Tiers
Via ISPs using CityFibre:
– 150 Mbps, 500 Mbps, 900 Mbps (full fibre only)
Upload speeds:
– Symmetric: Upload matches download on all packages
– 150/150, 500/500, 900/900
Key advantage: True symmetric speeds, critical for content creators, businesses, and cloud-heavy users.
Speed Winner: CityFibre (for upload)
Download: Comparable top speeds (both reach 900 Mbps+)
Upload: CityFibre offers symmetric speeds—massive advantage for upload-intensive tasks
Overall: CityFibre wins on speed specifications, especially upload
Pricing: What You Actually Pay
Pricing varies by ISP, not network. But competition creates different dynamics:
Openreach-Based ISP Pricing (2026)
FTTP 150 Mbps:
– BT: £30-35/month
– Sky: £28-32/month
– TalkTalk: £25-30/month
– Plusnet: £25-29/month
FTTP 900 Mbps:
– BT: £45-55/month
– Sky: £40-50/month
– Vodafone: £38-45/month
CityFibre-Based ISP Pricing (2026)
FTTP 150 Mbps:
– Vodafone: £26-30/month
– TalkTalk: £25-28/month
– Zen Internet: £28-32/month
FTTP 900 Mbps:
– Vodafone: £35-42/month
– TalkTalk: £32-38/month
– Zen Internet: £40-48/month
Pricing Winner: CityFibre (Generally)
Why CityFibre often cheaper:
– Newer infrastructure (lower maintenance costs)
– Competition forcing Openreach ISPs to match prices
– ISPs pass savings to consumers
But: Prices vary by ISP, location, and promotions. Always compare specific offers.
Reliability and Performance
Network Architecture
Openreach:
– FTTP: Modern full fibre where available
– Legacy FTTC: Still common, less reliable (copper last mile)
– Mixed infrastructure: Some areas decades old, others brand new
CityFibre:
– 100% full fibre: No legacy copper infrastructure
– Modern build: All infrastructure <15 years old
– Uniform standards: Consistent deployment nationwide
Reported Reliability
Ofcom complaints data (Q1 2025):
Openreach-based ISPs:
– BT: 5 complaints per 100,000 customers
– Sky: 7 complaints per 100,000 customers
– TalkTalk: 13 complaints per 100,000 customers
– Plusnet: 5 complaints per 100,000 customers
CityFibre-based ISPs:
– Vodafone: 8 complaints per 100,000 customers
– Zen Internet: 1 complaint per 100,000 customers
– TalkTalk: 13 complaints per 100,000 customers (same ISP, different network)
Note: Complaints reflect ISP service quality as much as network infrastructure.
Real-World Performance
Openreach FTTP:
– Consistent speeds during peak hours: 95-98% of advertised
– Latency: 8-15ms typical
– Uptime: 99.5-99.8% typical
CityFibre FTTP:
– Consistent speeds during peak hours: 96-99% of advertised
– Latency: 5-10ms typical (often slightly lower)
– Uptime: 99.6-99.9% typical
Reliability Winner: Draw (Both Excellent)
Practical reality: Both full fibre networks deliver excellent reliability
Differences: Marginal—ISP matters more than network
Old Openreach FTTC: Less reliable than either FTTP network
Installation Experience
Openreach Installation
Typical timeline:
– Order to installation: 2-4 weeks
– Engineering visit: 4-6 hours
– External work: ONT box mounted on outside wall
– Internal work: Fibre cable routed to installation point
Installation quality:
– Mature process—engineers experienced
– Varied quality depending on individual engineer
– External box typically conspicuous (white, 15cm)
Cost:
– Usually free for new customers
– £60-80 if paying separately
CityFibre Installation
Typical timeline:
– Order to installation: 3-6 weeks
– Engineering visit: 4-8 hours
– External work: ONT mounted (varies by provider)
– Internal work: Fibre cable routing
Installation quality:
– Newer company—processes still evolving
– Some reports of scheduling difficulties
– Installation quality varies by local contractor
Cost:
– Usually free for new customers
– £60-100 if paying separately
Installation Winner: Openreach (Maturity)
Openreach advantages:
– More experienced engineers
– Better scheduling reliability
– Established processes
CityFibre challenges:
– Growing pains as network expands
– Installation scheduling can be problematic
– Quality depends heavily on local contractors
But: Both complete installations successfully—just different journey to same outcome.
ISP Choice and Flexibility
Openreach ISPs (600+ Options)
Major ISPs:
BT, Sky, TalkTalk, Plusnet, EE, Vodafone, Post Office, John Lewis, Utility Warehouse
Specialist ISPs:
Zen Internet, Andrews & Arnold, Aquiss, IDNet, Uno
Budget ISPs:
NOW Broadband, Shell Energy, Utility Warehouse
Benefit: Massive choice—find ISP matching your priorities (price, service quality, features, ethics)
CityFibre ISPs (20-30 Options)
Major ISPs:
Vodafone, TalkTalk, Giganet, Zen Internet
Regional ISPs:
Various local providers depending on area
Limitation: Fewer choices than Openreach
ISP Choice Winner: Openreach (Overwhelming)
600+ vs 20-30 ISPs: No contest on choice
But: CityFibre has quality ISPs including Zen (top-rated) and Vodafone (major provider)
Customer Service Experience
Service quality depends far more on ISP than network infrastructure:
Top-Rated ISPs (Any Network)
Zen Internet:
– Ofcom rating: 1 complaint per 100,000
– UK-based support
– Excellent reputation
– Available on both Openreach and CityFibre
Community Fibre (London-specific):
– 0-1 complaints per 100,000
– Exceptional service
– Own network + CityFibre areas
Worst-Rated ISPs
TalkTalk (on any network):
– 13 complaints per 100,000
– Consistently poor ratings
– Avoid regardless of underlying network
Lesson: Pick your ISP carefully—network matters less than who you deal with monthly.
Business vs Residential Use
For Residential Users
Openreach:
– ✅ Better coverage (more likely available)
– ✅ More ISP choices
– ❌ Lower upload speeds (except top packages)
CityFibre:
– ✅ Symmetric speeds (better for uploads)
– ✅ Often cheaper
– ❌ Limited availability
– ❌ Fewer ISP options
Residential winner: Depends on availability and needs
For Businesses
Openreach:
– ✅ Business-grade SLAs available
– ✅ Established track record
– ✅ Static IP options widely available
– ✅ More redundancy options (more ISP choices)
CityFibre:
– ✅ Symmetric upload critical for businesses
– ✅ Modern infrastructure
– ✅ Competitive pricing
– ❌ Fewer business-grade ISPs
Business winner: CityFibre for upload needs, Openreach for maximum ISP flexibility
Future-Proofing
Openreach Investment
Current trajectory:
– Aiming for 25 million premises by end of 2026
– Government-backed Project Gigabit funding rural rollout
– Retiring copper infrastructure (PSTN switch-off Jan 2027)
– Moving entirely to FTTP by 2030
Stability: Backed by BT Group, Ofcom-regulated, very stable
CityFibre Investment
Current trajectory:
– Target 8 million premises by 2025-2026
– Focus on urban densification
– Expanding to new cities annually
– Pure fibre strategy from day one
Stability: Private investors, rapid growth phase, financially sound
Future-Proofing Winner: Both
Both committed to full fibre: You won’t need to upgrade infrastructure
Speeds: Both support multi-gigabit (currently throttled by pricing/demand)
Longevity: Both networks will serve decades
Environmental Considerations
CityFibre Advantages
– All-new build: Energy-efficient from design stage
– No legacy copper maintenance
– Modern equipment with lower power consumption
– Smaller carbon footprint per GB delivered
Openreach Considerations
– Decommissioning old copper (environmental benefit)
– New FTTP infrastructure also modern/efficient
– Larger organization, more resources for sustainability initiatives
Environmental winner: Marginal difference—both modern fibre infrastructure is environmentally sound
The Verdict: Which Is Actually Better?
There’s no universal answer. It depends entirely on your situation:
Choose Openreach-based ISP if:
✅ CityFibre not available at your address (most common scenario)
✅ You want maximum ISP choice
✅ You prefer established, mature service
✅ Download speed matters more than upload
✅ You value proven installation processes
Choose CityFibre-based ISP if:
✅ Available at your address
✅ You need symmetric upload speeds
✅ You’re looking for best value (often cheaper)
✅ You’re comfortable with newer provider
✅ Upload-heavy usage (content creation, cloud, video calls)
The Practical Truth
For 80% of users: Both networks deliver excellent full fibre service
For 15% of users: CityFibre’s symmetric upload provides clear advantage
For 5% of users: Specific ISP availability on one network matters most
Real-world advice:
ISP Recommendations by Network
Best Openreach-based ISPs
Premium service: Zen Internet (£28-48/month, exceptional support)
Best value: Plusnet (£25-35/month, decent support)
For BT customers: BT (£30-50/month, integrated services)
Avoid: TalkTalk (poor service reputation)
Best CityFibre-based ISPs
Premium service: Zen Internet (£28-48/month, top-rated)
Best value: Vodafone (£26-42/month, good service)
Avoid: TalkTalk (even on better network, still TalkTalk)
CityFibre vs Openreach isn’t like iPhone vs Android—a religious war. Both deliver excellent full fibre broadband.
CityFibre’s genuine advantages:
– Symmetric upload speeds
– Often cheaper
– Newer infrastructure
Openreach’s genuine advantages:
– Far better coverage
– Massively more ISP choices
– Mature, established service
For most people, the decision makes itself: one network is available, the other isn’t. Where both available, compare actual ISP packages rather than obsessing over underlying network.
And remember: your ISP matters far more than the network. Zen Internet on either network beats TalkTalk on either network every time.
Check your address, compare ISPs, consider your upload needs, and choose accordingly. Both networks will serve you well for years to come.
