Full Fibre Broadband Network CommunityFibre May Restart UK FTTP Rollout

A new report suggests that alternative network operator and ISP CommunityFibre could return to large scale expansion of their 5Gbps speed full fibre broadband (FTTP) network, potentially reaching close to 2 million UK premises. The provider has so far invested c.£1bn to build across 1.342m homes (inc. 185k businesses within 200 metres of their network) – mostly in London.

Not unlike many other altnets, CommunityFibre has come through somewhat of a rough patch due to the rising cost of build, strong market competition and high interest rates. All of this previously caused a slowdown in network build and related redundancies (here and here), which resulted in CF pivoting their strategy to focus more on growing customer take-up (commercialisation) than new network build.

The strategy appears to have been working. The company recently reported a “record year” of annual revenue growth (up 48% to £113m) and customer growth (up 26%). At the same time their earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) reached £49.8m, up by an impressive 530% from 2024. The provider currently expects to be “cash flow positive before financing costs in H1 2026“, but we don’t yet know their latest figures for debt and losses etc.

However, according to a new FT (paywall) report, CommunityFibre are said to be planning to expand their full fibre network in order to reach “close to 2mn premises to support customer growth“. Separately we note that the operator will be holding an event later this month, which we’re told will reveal their latest growth and some new developments – this is potentially an opportunity for them to also mention a future expansion.

At the time of writing the provider has yet to comment on the FT’s report (we have asked), and it’s worth considering that new network build isn’t the only way they could reach 2 million premises. Consolidation is another option (or a mix of consolidation + build) and indeed they’ve already engaged in discussions with other providers before (example), but it remains to be seen whether this might form part of their final strategy for the future.

The other big question mark in all this is over funding. Regardless of whether they restart building at scale or go heavy on consolidation, they’ll need adequate funding to pursue such an approach and securing fresh investment in this market remains a challenge for everybody. But as above, CommunityFibre are in a better state than quite a few other altnets, so they may have more scope to pursue such a strategy. Time will tell.