What is CityFibre? Here's everything you need to know

By 2025, OpenReach aim to have completely stopped selling copper wires – with preparations already well underway to withdraw from supplying traditional copper broadband to many parts of the UK. So, if they haven’t already, millions of homes are going to need to upgrade or switch their provider to a full fibre network. But what does this mean for you?

Here at Zen, we’re proud to be a network of choice for CityFibre – the UK’s leading alternative provider of full fibre – selected to provide seamless connection to millions of homes across the country. We understand that this rollout raises several questions for those yet to be introduced to full fibre to how it can greatly benefit them. This uncertainty can also make choosing your provider an overwhelming task.

Read on as we break down the big questions for you, so that you can get well ahead just in time for when CityFibre lands in your area.

What is CityFibre?

Independently built in the UK to provide home and business internet users with a new generation of full fibre infrastructure, CityFibre delivers unrivalled futureproof broadband for its wholesale customers. With consistent reliability, exceptional gigabit speed and impeccable service, CityFibre has already been named the nation’s provider of choice for full fibre network.

What does full fibre broadband mean?

You may not have heard of the 2025 Switch Off, which is when all PSTN (public switched telephone network) and ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) phone lines will be completely withdrawn – meaning all providers are switching to a fully digital network. ‘Fake Fibre’ (FTTC - fibre to the cabinet) broadband travels through a cabinet before reaching the home and utilises dated copper wires – resulting in slower speeds and inconsistent connection. Full fibre broadband (FTTP - Fibre to the Premise), on the other hand, is a Single Order broadband product - running straight to the premises for an optimum internet experience. The great news is that the deployment of full fibre broadband is quickly accelerating across the UK, becoming more accessible to more customers. With the digital age leading us to become increasingly dependent on digital devices for both work and personal purposes, FTTP is the number one futureproof solution for all homeowners. And it’s only going to continue getting better!

Why choose CityFibre?

Whether you’re an avid gamer, working from home or a big family with multiple devices, CityFibre is here to elevate your internet experience to whole new levels. As a CityFibre provider of choice, we’ve worked in close partnership to ensure Zen customers have access to a variety of full fibre packages to suit your specific requirements. In fact, our highest quality bundle provides download speeds of 900mbps and upload rates of 100mbps. That means a 4GB HD movie can be downloaded in 38 seconds, and a 60GB game in under 10 minutes and you can enjoy your choices with the peace of mind that there will be no disruptions or buffering.

What's the difference between fake fibre broadband (FTTC) and full fibre broadband (FTTP)?

Fake fibre broadband (FTTC), runs through a cabinet using copper lines to supply parts of the internet connection – this can result in poor connection, decreased signal, and slow download and upload speeds. Full fibre (FTTP) runs straight to the premises – delivering an ultra-reliable, durable connection with unrivalled broadband speeds of up to 900Mbps. As the only fibre-optic internet service available, full fibre is perfect for all types of internet usage and ensures every customer can reap these exceptional benefits.

When will CityFibre be in my area?

In 2021, CityFibre was implemented and launched across 29 cities in the UK – and this growth is continuously accelerating by the month. The rising need for stable and reliable full fibre broadband shows no sign of stopping, with more and more addresses having access to this modern connectivity technology every day.

To find out if full fibre broadband is available in your area, enter your postcode into our checker here. If your postcode isn't full fibre ready just yet, you'll be able to pop your details in a form and we'll let you know when it is.

Why CityFibre from Zen?

We’re the UK’s only WHICH? Recommended Provider for Broadband, making us the natural choice of partner for CityFibre as we can provide radically fast full fibre broadband to millions of homes across the UK. At Zen, we’re committed to putting our people and the planet first – and we continuously strive to go above and beyond to support this. With several sustainability initiatives in place and having been ranked among the UK’s Best Workplaces™ for Wellbeing (2022) by Great Place to Work®, we are incredibly proud to have achieved a B-Corp certification in 2020. This incentive to balance purpose and profit means we’ll never stop improving to ensure our customers receive the very best service and internet experience.

Will I need CityFibre for my business?

With flexibility at the core of many organisations’ work structures, CityFibre is here to support your business at this pivotal time of change. Backed by business class SLAs, full fibre broadband provides access to the highest quality super-fast broadband to enable seamless collaboration between workers no matter where they’re based. In comparison to traditional copper wire ‘fake fibre’ services, the CityFibre connection travels directly into your organisation - providing unrivalled speeds to unlock your business’s digital potential.

Is CityFibre better for the environment?

Being a B-Corporation means we’re passionate about placing the environment as a top priority when it comes to every decision we make – including those businesses we choose to partner with. We will only collaborate with organisations who too are being active in working towards a greener future for us all. CityFibre is a modern network built with purpose. Unlocking carbon neutral movements with the very latest power efficient technology, it optimises its full lifecycle and reduces waste effectively to make a positive difference for our environment. What’s more, CityFibre is committed to maintaining its ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management system certification by managing its environmental responsibilities systemically. As progress continues to be made, there will be an estimated 40% decrease in the CityFibre carbon emissions over the next five years – which is just the start of its progressive strategy to reach net zero. To find out more about Zen CityFibre, and for further information about our broadband bundles, head over here.