Community Fibre accelerates network build and announces new target to pass 2.2 million homes in London
London, UK – 26 January 2022 – Community Fibre, London’s fastest 100% full fibre broadband provider, announces today that it has doubled its network roll-out target in London and will now pass 2.2 million homes and businesses[1] by the end of 2024. The network operator and ISP aims to serve more than half of the 3.7 million homes in the city.
Community Fibre, which has already enabled 435,000 homes and businesses with its full fibre connectivity, will accelerate its network growth to help power London out of the pandemic. With so many Londoners needing more affordable and reliable connectivity to undertake critical activities such as working and studying remotely, running small businesses, as well as applying for jobs and undertaking video interviews, Community Fibre is focused on meeting this need for as many people as possible in the quickest time. And of course, the service provides high quality connections to support valuable relaxation and social engagement ranging from high-definition TV streaming to gaming.
Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, commented: “I welcome Community Fibre’s additional investment in our digital infrastructure, which will give Londoners faster internet speeds and support new jobs and growth. It forms part of wider plans led by my Digital Inclusion Taskforce to bridge the digital divide through reliable and affordable connectivity, access to devices, and skills training.”
Graeme Oxby, Chief Executive Officer at Community Fibre, says: “The last two years have been a challenge for everyone, which is why it is more important than ever that we are focused on giving the communities in London the connectivity they need. We have seen significant progress in our roll-out and will be continuing to ramp this up in the next three years, bringing our 100% full fibre broadband to almost two thirds of London’s citizens and businesses. We are working closely with landlords and councils to install better broadband across London and we have increased our commitment to making London gigabit-capable. And by putting our fibre network through the existing ducts under London’s streets and pavements rather than digging trenches, our build is less disruptive than that of some other operators for residents and road users alike. Community is at the heart of everything we do. Everyone deserves fast, high-quality broadband at affordable prices.”
Research from the Government’s Office for Science indicates that fast broadband should be considered an essential utility[2], much like water and electricity, with the world becoming increasingly digitalised where people need to get online to access essential care services and personal data.
Community Fibre operates a 100% end-to-end full fibre network – the most reliable connectivity available on the market, which delivers the fastest speeds. Community Fibre has built its network to future-proof broadband so it can be scaled up for the inevitable increase in data usage in UK homes.
Olaf Swantee, Executive Chairman for Community Fibre complimented the Community Fibre team led by Graeme Oxby: “Community Fibre has grown tremendously, tripling its roll-out pace over the last year to become the leading full fibre network provider in London. The new target is a natural result of this evolution in pace and above expectations performance in providing ultra-fast connectivity to a larger number of homes and businesses and achieving high levels of customer satisfaction.’’
By using existing ducts and poles to deploy its fibre network, Community Fibre’s installation process results in minimal disruption to London streets. Off the back of its speedy 100% full fibre broadband rollout, in the last year, Community Fibre has hired more than 300 employees; moreover, there are now more than a thousand people employed in Community Fibre’s supply chain, by network build and other partners, helping grow the network.
With the target of 2.2 million homes passed by the end of 2024, Community Fibre will continue to create new jobs in boroughs across the capital.
ENDS
Media Contacts
AxiCom for Community Fibre: communityfibre@axicom.com
About Community Fibre
Community Fibre is future proofing London communities by delivering 100% full-fibre broadband throughout the capital city. By believing in a more inclusive future where everyone has access to better broadband, Community Fibre offers the fastest 100% full fibre broadband in London, with up to 10 Gbps for businesses and up to 3Gbps for consumers, at the most competitive prices on the market. Through offering more reliable and affordable 100% full fibre connections, Community Fibre empowers communities, enabling them to connect with friends and family and access crucial services online.
Community Fibre was named the UK’s best Consumer Internet Service Provider for the second year running at the Internet Service Provider Association (ISPA) Awards 2021, in addition to being recognised as the Best Ultrafast Broadband provider and awarded the Social Impact Award. It also won the Scaling Up category at the INCA Gold Awards in 2021.
Currently Community Fibre operates in the following London boroughs: Barnet, Brent, Bexley, Bromley, Camden, City of London, Croydon, Ealing, Enfield, Greenwich, Hackney, Hammersmith and Fulham, Harrow, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Kingston upon Thames, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Newham, Richmond upon Thames, Southwark, Sutton, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest, Wandsworth and Westminster.