Vodafone UK launch new 8Gbps speed Pro 4 broadband plans and 5G service
Internet, mobile and phone provider Vodafone UK has today soft launched a new range of fixed line “Pro 4 Broadband” packages, which will harness their next‑gen tri-band WiFi 7 router (Ultra Hub 7+) and CityFibre’s national full fibre (FTTP) network to deliver 8Gbps speeds via 50G PON technology. The operator has also launched a 5G social tariff from just £11 a month.
Firstly, the new fixed line packages. Vodafone’s Pro packages typically include additional features, such as a Wi-Fi Boosters for the “fastest Wi-Fi in every room“ (guaranteed), dedicated WiFi Xperts for daily support (i.e. proactively monitor and fix WiFi issues), automatic 4G back-up (dongle/modem) if your fixed broadband service goes down and Secure Net Home for “hassle-free [internet] security and family controls“.
By comparison the new Pro 4 packages, which are due to go live “later this year“, are currently still in trial. The new packages will introduce an even faster Ultra Hub 7+ router (this one supports 6GHz too), some new Super Wi-Fi 7+ boosters and looks set to be the first services to be carried over CityFibre’s future 50G PON network that could theoretically handle c.40Gbps speeds in the real world, which is still in early testing (at present most of their network uses 10Gbps capable XGS-PON technology).
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At the time of writing, we’re still trying to clarify a few points on this. Vodafone’s announcement states that they’ve tested 10Gbps speeds via CityFibre’s trial 50G PON network, although it will take time to deploy that and we know the operator can already support 8.5Gbps speeds at wholesale via their current XGS-PON network. Suffice to say, we suspect the new package may still be primarily delivered using XGS-PON.
Vodafone said their customer trials of Pro 4 have already shown customers “experiencing real 8Gbps speeds on the CityFibre network“, including upload speeds of up to 6.5Gbps. At present the provider has not revealed how much this new package will cost, although it won’t be the first one to offer such speeds (e.g. EE, DIGI, B4RN and YouFibre all have 8Gbps class tiers).
Finally, the provider has improved their network-level Secure Net Mobile and Secure Net Home internet protection services. Now, customers can manage both home WiFi and mobile parental controls through one central app, which Vodafone claims makes them the “first and only major provider to offer parental controls that work seamlessly in and out of the home, from one place“.
The Secure Net service also provides malware protection, 24/7 ID monitoring and Scam Call Protection at a network level.
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5G Broadband Essentials
Readers might recall that, back in May 2026, the provider also launched their new Vodafone 5G Broadband service for homes, which somewhat questionably claimed to offer “full‑fibre like speeds” to a further 3.7 million homes across the UK (speeds of up to 50Mbps and 150Mbps were offered), albeit using their mobile network instead of FTTP.
Today Vodafone said they will “soon” expand upon that with 5G Broadband Essentials – a social tariff for customers on government benefits or identified as financially vulnerable. With plans from £11 a month and no upfront cost, it will make Vodafone the only UK provider offering 5G Broadband on a social tariff, and the most affordable social broadband option on the market.
Vodafone has also introduced a 12‑month plan, giving households a flexible alternative to full fibre, and students get a £2 discount, with plans starting from £20 a month – or around £5 each in a typical four‑person house share. The provider said that their postcode checker assesses coverage at a customer’s exact address and recommends either full fibre or 5G Broadband “based on which delivers the best performance in their home“.
Rob Winterschladen, Consumer Director at VodafoneThree, said:
“Broadband is evolving fast, and we’re leading that shift with breakthrough fibre speeds and real‑world innovation. Our Pro 4 trials are already giving customers across the UK access to true 8Gbps performance, and combined with our successful 10Gbps testing on 50GPON, we’re showing what next‑generation connectivity can unlock for homes powered by AI, cloud and high‑capacity connected devices.
While we push the boundaries of speed, we’re equally focused on making fast, reliable broadband accessible and secure for everyone. Our 5G Broadband Essentials social tariff will offer the most affordable 5G broadband on the market, and our enhanced Secure Net service gives families a simple, unified way to stay safer online across both broadband and mobile. Together, these innovations reflect our vision for a future where fast, reliable and secure broadband is accessible to every home in the UK.”
The mention of CityFibre’s new 50G PON network is particularly interesting in all this because the network operator hadn’t previously made a firm commitment to its deployment, although at the end of 2025 they did express that it would be likely to come as part of their “next [logical] business evolution”, albeit across a time-frame that runs into 2032. At the time they stated that business connections would be the first to benefit, followed later by residential customers during the 2030s.
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The above further reinforces our belief that Vodafone’s new Pro 4 packages will actually use CityFibre’s existing XGS-PON network, with the mention of 50G PON perhaps being more of a marketing distraction. Nevertheless, it’s good to see an ISP finally launch an 8Gbps package via CityFibre’s network, regardless of the underlying technology as that will largely be irrelevant to end-users.
Mark is a professional technology writer, IT consultant and computer engineer from Dorset (England), he also founded ISPreview in 1999 and enjoys analysing the latest telecoms and broadband developments. Find me on X (Twitter), Mastodon, Facebook, BlueSky, Threads.net and Linkedin.
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You think they’d make a 5G backup device for the router, to also use 5G speedlane should the fixed line cut off this can automatically kick in.
They’ve offered that for many years now as part of the Pro packages. I have it.
They refer to the router as ‘triband’ today for the first time.
Anyone know if this means that Vodafone has finally embraced the 6 GHz band?
A band which they have fiercely fought for to be mobile
I have the Vodafone Ultra hub that uses the 6Ghz for WiFi 6e, work perfectly as a stable 1Gbs plus connection the the WiFi extender, run a home lab off said extender. Best setup I’ve ever had, software’s a bit naff but rock solid connection.
I’d love someone to tell me what bandwidth hungry AI apps there are, just bolted onto any old … these days.
I’m not one of those “who needs these speeds”. I long for the day when were in the 10-100gigabit network connections which are just like water or electricity. So speed no longer a factor just it is plumbed for “Internet.
For the home user, I doubt there is any bandwidth hungry A.I apps.
Higher speeds is a way of grabbing more money form people who think they need the speed and pay out for them. It is data that costs the ISPs money, not speed. sure the faster the speed than maybe the more data people will use, or will they?
Take me for example, I have a 500Mb/s, it is nice having it, don’t get me wrong, but the things i do I can do with lower speeds, just take longer.
My oldest brother just moved to Wales and now don;t have Fibre and is back on FTTC, for what he does it will make little difference. The only thing is downloading stuff for his synth modules and music stuff will take a little longer. When he did have Fibre, he went from 400 and something back to 150Mb/s.
My partner went from 1Gb/s back to 200Mb/s and notice no difference, the only difference is when I send files to her NAS.
So for many people they don;t need it, they just think they do and the ISPs are rubbing their hand in Glee. There are people who will use the full speed, not sure if many would use 8Mb/S, I doubt many would have the capability to use it to be honest.
It would be nice if maybe we did not get charged for the speed, but then what would we get charged for, the data? That was done years ago, with caps and I was on a ISP that did charge you extra if you went over a certain amount of Data (Metronet). those days it worked well, because there was no streaming and data usage was low. Not sure if it would work these days.
It is amazing that not that many years ago we was on dial up and now can get up to super duper speeds.
would i have that speed if offered it for the same price as i am paying now, yeah, not that it would do me any good as my internal network is not that fast. But if it is offered, then why the hell not. 🙂
500-1000 is pretty much the sweet spot, but it’s usually the prices for these are so minimal I guess as brits we love a bargain, 500 for £22 or 1000 for £24, I’d go straight to the 1000.
Even going lower to say 150 and your paying £19 odd.
>M , But the price don;t stay that for long, just for a nose I did a comparison and the hepeast for 1Gb/s was Vodafone 24 month contract, start at £22 a month, then A price rise to £29.50/moth on 1 Apr 2027 and then A price rise to £33/moth on 1 Apr 2028. Not much of a bargain.
I pay £25 a month for 500Mb/s for 24 months fixed and it is the same speed both ways, lucky that there is a Altnet here.
In before the “who need them speeds people” 😉
Back to my comment, and I agree on the above. I’m surprised they don’t have an option for 5G failover on their router as an add-on
My parents had a 4G backup with Vodafone a few years ago, in the 2 years they were with them the service went down for a few hours one day. The 4G backup never even worked. Complete waste of time.
Can i be first in to start an argument lol!
Once again, ISPs monetising the low-hanging fruit. As usual those who already have are offered more. Obviously they can make oodles more cash with a minimal outlay. Whereas they don’t seem to care about extending adequately fast connections to the rest of us who are stuck on twisted copper without even 4G as an option. To much cost and effort it would seem.
Have you researched 5g or starlink?
Cost is the usual suspect. These are private companies not charities.
Yep, agreed. We are in the same boat. Some bean counter has deemed our street too expensive to roll out to, and we are stuck with VDSL for the foreseeable.
Polish Poler – yes, thank you for your cutting insight (for the millionth time – maybe give it a break?). These are real problems that affect real people and have a significant impact on modern day work/life so maybe cut back on the stupid comments and snark. There’s no need for it.
That’s why programmes like Project Gigabit was put in place. 5 /billion/ set aside and yet, it seems only a tiny handful can benefit from it.
You’re welcome, Sonic.
luciferscousin, I’d love to know why people like you keep questioning the need for anyone else requiring more bandwidth! Lets all stay on slower asymmetric services, yay cause you and a couple of others say so!
Not at all what he meant and I think you know it Fanny.
You just come here for a fight. 🙂
Agree
What can we do with 50Gbps Broadband?
Are there any Websites
or Servers/Data Centres
that can handle this speed?
If you read the article it is 8gbits. 50gbit means it is future proof for years to come and can support future upgrades.
Does anybody see this 8Gbps offer available?
“Soft launch” – if you go through the Vodafone pages it states it’s launching “properly” later in the year and there’s people already on the package as a trial basis (is how I read their announcement)