Sponsored Links

CityFibre is live! Who to choose!

njp-eros

Casual Member
My area in Leicester (Oadby) has gone live with CityFibre a couple of days ago and orders are now possible. (been waiting years for this! nothing available here other than FTTC). And when they come, they come fast. 5 years of nothing, and now suddenly CityFibre are done, Openreach FTTP will be complete within 3 months, and nexfibre have also done their work but no idea on order date. Safe to say our telegraph poles are going to be packed to the rafters (if not already) with CBTs and equipment.

I'm struggling to choose an ISP. I'd have liked to just go with Zen (my current FTTC provider) but they're not actually set up for CityFibre at my exchange (Oadby). And hence they don't come up in the CityFibre ISP list for me. 15 ISPs and they're not one.

However if I postcode check my previous address in Leicester (Belgrave exchange), we get 16 ISPs come up on the CityFibre checker with Zen being that 16th one. I rang Zen and they said they're just not equipped in the Oadby exchange.

So it's gotten a little tricky to choose. Also Giganet aren't in the list, however I can place an order directly on their website as their checkers reflect that I can get CityFibre. I've read online about Noone (recent takeover though makes it look less of a good choice and possibly employing CGNAT soon even with static IPs). We have Yayzi, IDNet, AAISP (quite costly though!), then the usual suspects - TT, Voda, bunch of others.

Yayzi didn't have the greatest of reviews but reading the latest responses by them to reviews, they've got some new equipment on the go now. Not sure if they're a viable option now.

My requirement is basically the 900/900 connection, one IPv4 Static IP, no CGNAT (goes without saying!), and a decent latency bearing my location in mind (Oadby is South Leicester).

Can anyone provide any input on their CityFibre choice and where to go? Some do a 1 month rolling at higher upfront cost (IDNet, AAISP, Yayzi) so an option to test someone out - otherwise just a 12-month rolling so at least I'm not tied in for too long before moving. AAISP looks like a holy grail going on what people say online but the price increase is quite substantial.

Please drop your twopence here, any up to date info or direction will help! Anxious to get an order in with somebody asap!

Thanks.
 
IDNet. They're pretty much the best you can get on CityFibre. They cost a little bit extra but they're well worth it.

Brawband is a company that is generally well respected these days and at a decent price. I now know lots of people who are very happy with them on both sides of the border. I Personally gave them a try and was one of very few who was left a little disappointed, but would honestly probably give them another shot if I moved elsewhere.

I would go back to ADSL before I considered touching Yayzi. Absolute bottom of the list in my opinion.
 
Another vote for IDNet. I was a very happy IDNet SoGEA customer for years before I jumped ship to XGS-PON but if I had the option of using them again I would pay a slight premium as they are worth it IMHO.
 
Sponsored Links
Thanks so far guys - IDNet is on my shortlist as well currently just going on historically what they've been about as an ISP since day dot. I only stayed with Zen for FTTC/SoGEA for so long (since 512k ADSL days) because, well if it wasn't broke, don't fix it!

Yes IDNet are a little extra (but then again, only £6 more than Giganet + Static IP). They're still a lot less than AAISP and as great as AAISP may be currently, is the premium worth it - at least for the next 12 months whilst we see what ISPs start to do with IPv4/CGNAT.

In terms of reliability etc, always going to retain my EE 5G as secondary/failover no matter what - and it's gotten me out of jail when I've needed horsepower over the last few years (it's on it's own VLAN and WiFi in my home so if there's a need for speed, jump ship to that WiFi to get the job done).
 
If it's just gone live then could give it some time for Zen or give them a contact see if they can advise further.

I'd probably avoid Noone now with the take over so probably Brawband, IDNet or Giganet - All offer the option of Static IP
 
If it's just gone live then could give it some time for Zen
My area has been live for quite some time now and still no Zen here. They don't seem to be bringing their service to the newer exchanges.

No huge loss though. There's other good options around in their place and from what I have heard Zen really aren't anywhere near as good as they once were anyways.
 
If it's just gone live then could give it some time for Zen or give them a contact see if they can advise further.

I'd probably avoid Noone now with the take over so probably Brawband, IDNet or Giganet - All offer the option of Static IP
I spoke to Zen first thing yesterday, they were pushing Openreach FTTP saying it'll be done within 3 months here, but had no lead time on when/if they'll get their equipment into the Oadby exchange for CityFibre connections yet.

I gave IDNet a ring earlier just to ask a few tech q's (latency, CGNAT) - couldn't believe it - straight through to a human off the 0800 as if you're ringing a friend - no large IVR menu's to trawl. It was a lady, and to my surprise she was able to answer these questions off the bat. Great stuff!

They said that CGNAT is being spoken about as is with most ISPs right now, but no plans as of yet to push it on people. Latency - she couldn't confirm but said nearest peering to me is in London she thinks. If London to Leicester then shouldn't be too bad a roundtrip. Nothing too critical here, just want to ensure <10ms if I can.
 
Sponsored Links
They said that CGNAT is being spoken about as is with most ISPs right now, but no plans as of yet to push it on people.
Most are looking at CGNAT as default but I'm sure they'll still offer the option of Static IP even it's a few £ extra

Giganet charge like £3 extra I think, Brawband I can't remember but it's included with top package
 
BTW if anyone has an IDNet referral, drop it in here (first posted first used). No such thing as free money but £10 each way for pretty much nothing instead of a cold order, why not! Going to wait a couple more hours for any more feedback here, and then get the trigger pulled. Leaning towards IDNet significantly.

Giganet charge like £3 extra I think, Brawband I can't remember but it's included with top package

Yes, making them £42 p/m, albeit an 18-month term min. Only a £6 premium for IDNet (£48 p/m, 12-month term).

Although I've read that in IDNet's terms that they reduce the minimum speed guarantee if you use your own router. Understandable but I don't think I'm going to be troubled with the 2962 (2+GB capable) - but the lower speed guarantee hopefully doesn't cause me a contractual problem esp. if the CF connection is having trouble here. Might be worth just buying the router for the sake of the min speed guarantee in the contract.
 
Brawband I can't remember but it's included with top package
It's £3 a month for the lower packages, and included in the top one as you say.

While the lower packages are dynamic IP, I am not actually sure they are behind CGNAT. It certainly didn't behave like it was for me before I added static IP - Despite reading things to suggest they were.
 
Sponsored Links
I gave IDNet a ring earlier just to ask a few tech q's (latency, CGNAT) - couldn't believe it - straight through to a human off the 0800 as if you're ringing a friend - no large IVR menu's to trawl. It was a lady, and to my surprise she was able to answer these questions off the bat. Great stuff!
That right there is why I'll always use them, and recommend them, where possible.

Whenever I've had to call them it's been a very pleasant and pain-free experience.
 
Yes, making them £42 p/m, albeit an 18-month term min. Only a £6 premium for IDNet (£48 p/m, 12-month term).
I thought IDNet was £40

Edit: That's Ex VAT
 
TalkTalk, bit more pricey than the rest, worth it though
They aren't on the same level as the likes of IDNet.

The only real selling point for TalkTalk is that they tend to be low for latency. But even then ID Claim to be the lowest latency ISP in the country anyways.

If things go wrong, a call to TalkTalk will get you to an outsourced overseas agent who reads a script and you'll be tearing your hair out. A call to IDNet will get you a technical person answering straight away and doing what they can to provide personalised help to your specific situation.
 
IDNet is low ping too, I used them but compare to TT, TT is lower. so IDNets claim is wrong but with IDNet you speak to people who don't use scripts so that's the only good thing really as Koda said.
 
The only real selling point for TalkTalk is that they tend to be low for latency. But even then ID Claim to be the lowest latency ISP in the country anyways.
Haven't seen anyone else on other CityFibre ISP's be able to show lower latencies yet, will be interested to see if there is anyone:

zpQcFvV.png


I contacted TalkTalk once about my installation by CityFibre, and they were quick to respond to queries I had and seemed quite knowledgeable about the CityFibre installation. So not sure our experience matches quite like you describe.

FTTP general don't need to contact the ISP once you're all setup besides billing, so really doesn't make any difference to me, connection tends to matters more.
 
Sponsored Links
They aren't on the same level as the likes of IDNet.

The only real selling point for TalkTalk is that they tend to be low for latency. But even then ID Claim to be the lowest latency ISP in the country anyways.

If things go wrong, a call to TalkTalk will get you to an outsourced overseas agent who reads a script and you'll be tearing your hair out. A call to IDNet will get you a technical person answering straight away and doing what they can to provide personalised help to your specific situation.

Yep this can't end up a time consuming process, you want to be able to talk to an ISP quickly and in technical terms (we're all savvy here on this forum, we will know after a few checks whether it's an in-house issue or an infrastructure fault), let the ISP know to give CF a head's up on the fault, all without spending an hour on the phone. After that it's out of IDNet's hands but that initial fault log process needs to be painless. Not going over rudimentary crap relating to router config and 'factory reset' or power cycles etc, your typical 1st and 2nd line support agents.

TalkTalk is a DHCP connection isn't it (not PPPoE). But I read somewhere they can't offer a Static IP. This may be more important to me than low latency - as long as latency is sub 10 it's fine - no gaming here.
 
Wait, CGNAT even if you have a static IP? How does that work?

Not sure of the technicals but even with Virgin I think you can get a Static IP and still be CGNATted. The IP will just be a private block one via their in-house infrastructure - not a true public one. If this is incorrect, please correct me anyone. So I think this will still be possible if more and more ISPs change over to CGNAT delivery.
 
Not sure of the technicals but even with Virgin I think you can get a Static IP and still be CGNATted. The IP will just be a private block one via their in-house infrastructure - not a true public one. If this is incorrect, please correct me anyone. So I think this will still be possible if more and more ISPs change over to CGNAT delivery.
Dynamic IP, Virgin media doesn't deploy CGNAT as they own large IPv4 address pools
 
Top
Cheap BIG ISPs for 100Mbps+
Community Fibre UK ISP Logo
150Mbps
Gift: None
Virgin Media UK ISP Logo
Virgin Media £22.99
132Mbps
Gift: None
Vodafone UK ISP Logo
Vodafone £24.00 - 26.00
150Mbps
Gift: None
NOW UK ISP Logo
NOW £24.00
100Mbps
Gift: None
Plusnet UK ISP Logo
Plusnet £25.99
145Mbps
Gift: £50 Reward Card
Large Availability | View All
Cheapest ISPs for 100Mbps+
Gigaclear UK ISP Logo
Gigaclear £17.00
200Mbps
Gift: None
Community Fibre UK ISP Logo
150Mbps
Gift: None
Virgin Media UK ISP Logo
Virgin Media £22.99
132Mbps
Gift: None
Hey! Broadband UK ISP Logo
150Mbps
Gift: None
Youfibre UK ISP Logo
Youfibre £23.99
150Mbps
Gift: None
Large Availability | View All
Sponsored Links
The Top 15 Category Tags
  1. FTTP (6024)
  2. BT (3638)
  3. Politics (2720)
  4. Business (2439)
  5. Openreach (2405)
  6. Building Digital UK (2330)
  7. Mobile Broadband (2143)
  8. FTTC (2083)
  9. Statistics (1899)
  10. 4G (1813)
  11. Virgin Media (1762)
  12. Ofcom Regulation (1582)
  13. Fibre Optic (1467)
  14. Wireless Internet (1462)
  15. 5G (1404)
Sponsored

Copyright © 1999 to Present - ISPreview.co.uk - All Rights Reserved - Terms  ,  Privacy and Cookie Policy  ,  Links  ,  Website Rules