CityFibre

What CityFibre does

CityFibre Holdings Limited, founded in 2011 and headquartered in London, is the UK's largest independent full fibre (FTTP/FTTH) infrastructure platform. The company operates a wholesale-only model, building and operating an open-access fibre network that passes over 4.7 million premises across the UK, with a target of up to 8 million homes, 800,000 businesses, 400,000 public sector sites, and 250,000 5G/mobile sites. The network is built on XGS-PON technology supporting symmetrical speeds up to 8.5 Gbps, backed by 100+ state-of-the-art fibre exchanges (each powering up to 60,000 connections) and a national DWDM optical backbone with 800 Gbps rings. CityFibre reported £170m in FY2025 revenue (27% year-on-year growth), first-year Adjusted EBITDA profitability of £29m, and over 1 million live customer connections as of mid-2026.

CityFibre generates revenue through four primary wholesale streams: (1) wholesale fibre access sold to 30+ ISP partners (Sky, Vodafone, TalkTalk, Zen, toob, 4th Utility) on recurring subscription terms, (2) business Ethernet services (point-to-point, EFM, GigaRaster) with 5-hour repair SLAs, (3) dark fibre leased to operators for self-managed infrastructure including 5G RAN architectures, and (4) mobile backhaul for 5G network deployment under preferred supplier agreements with VodafoneThree and Three UK. Additional revenue comes from public sector and government contracts including nine Project Gigabit rural rollout contracts covering over 450,000 premises.

The company is privately held, backed by a consortium of infrastructure and institutional investors including Goldman Sachs Alternatives, Antin Infrastructure Partners, Mubadala Investment Company, Interogo Holding, and PATRIZIA. CityFibre has pursued an acquisition-led consolidation strategy, acquiring Lit Fibre (May 2024) and Connexin (March 2025), supported by a £2.3 billion funding round in July 2025 comprising £500m new equity, £960m expanded debt, and an £800m acquisition accordion facility. The company employs 1,001–5,000 staff across offices in London, Milton Keynes, Telford, Irlam, Glasgow, Reading, Edinburgh, and Newcastle.

Name

CityFibre

Legal name

CityFibre Holdings Limited

Website

http://www.cityfibre.com/

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

CityFibre is the UK's largest independent full fibre infrastructure platform, operating a wholesale-only XGS-PON network passing 4.7 million premises. It serves 30+ ISP partners, mobile operators (VodafoneThree, Three UK), businesses, and public sector clients with fibre connectivity up to 8.5 Gbps.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Telecom Infrastructure Services

NAICS

Wired and Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite) (51711), Fiber Optic Cable Manufacturing (335921)

akta.pro primary industry

Fiber-to-the-Premises/Building (FTTP/FTTB) Operators (HDAIACAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Fiber-to-the-Premises (FTTP/FTTH) Broadband Providers (HDAIABAC)

Keywords

• Wholesale fibre network
• Full fibre broadband
• Mobile backhaul services
• Dark fibre infrastructure
• Business ethernet services

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Wholesale Fibre Access: Wholesale-only network operator providing fibre infrastructure access to Internet Service Providers (ISPs). ISPs pay for access to the network to serve residential and business customers. Revenue derived from connection fees and ongoing wholesale access charges. Over 30 ISP partners including Sky, Vodafone, TalkTalk, Zen, and regional providers.
2. Ethernet Services: Business-class dedicated connectivity services including point-to-point Ethernet, Ethernet First Mile, and GigaRaster products. Sold through channel partners and direct sales. Revenue from installation fees and recurring monthly charges with business-class SLAs including 5-hour repair as standard.
3. Dark Fibre: Sale of unlit optical fibre strands to mobile operators, carriers, and enterprises for them to build their own infrastructure. Long-term contracts providing secure, high-capacity connectivity. Supports CRAN, vRAN, and O-RAN architectures for 5G networks.
4. Mobile Backhaul: Fibre connectivity services for mobile network operators connecting base stations and small cells. Preferred supplier agreements with VodafoneThree for 5G Standalone network transmission. Growing revenue stream from 5G network deployments.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

CityFibre operates as a wholesale-only full fibre (FTTP/FTTH) network platform across the UK, built on XGS-PON technology supporting symmetric speeds up to 8.5 Gbps. It sells wholesale network access to 30+ Internet Service Providers, provides Ethernet and dark fibre services to enterprises, supplies mobile backhaul and transmission to mobile network operators, and delivers public sector connectivity including the government's Project Gigabit programme.

Product overview

CityFibre operates as a wholesale-only full fibre network platform providing fibre infrastructure to internet service providers, businesses, public sector organisations, and mobile operators. The core product is the national full fibre (FTTP/FTTH) network built on XGS-PON technology supporting symmetric speeds up to 8.5Gbps. Service layers include Consumer FTTH Broadband (160Mbps to 5.5Gbps tiers), Business FTTP, Ethernet Services (100Mbps to 10Gbps symmetric with SLA guarantees), Dark Fibre for operator-managed infrastructure, and Mobile Backhaul for 5G connectivity. The company also participates in the UK government's Project Gigabit programme targeting rural areas. Network rollout targets include 8 million homes, 800,000 businesses, 400,000 public sector sites, and 250,000 5G/mobile sites.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Full Fibre Broadband Network Wholesale full fibre (FTTP/FTTH) broadband network built using XGS-PON technology capable of supporting symmetric speeds up to 8.5 Gbps, available to ISPs and service providers who resell connectivity to homes and businesses across the UK.
• Consumer FTTH Broadband Symmetric fibre-to-the-home broadband services available in speed tiers including 160 Mbps, 1 Gbps, 2.5 Gbps, and 5.5 Gbps for residential customers, sold via ISP partners.
• 8.5Gbps Wholesale FTTP Product Ultra-high-speed wholesale broadband product supporting symmetric speeds up to 8.5 Gbps on XGS-PON infrastructure, available to all ISP partners.
• Business FTTP
• Ethernet Services
• Dark Fibre
• Mobile Backhaul
• Project Gigabit

Quantifiable outcome

• Network reaches over 4.7 million premises with 1 million+ live connections
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• 8billionideascoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 June 2026Partnership with global education organisation 8billionideas to deliver Future Ready Learners digital literacy programme. Targeting one million primary school students by 2030 with classroom-ready Tech Toolkits.
• VodafoneThreeflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 June 2026Extended long-term partnership with CityFibre as preferred supplier for network transmission to connect mobile sites for 5G Standalone build. Also supports VodafoneThree retail broadband services reaching over 330,000 customers on CityFibre network. Part of £11bn VodafoneThree investment programme.
• CalixcoreTechnology or Integration · 14 May 2026Decade-long partnership with Calix for network technology. 50G PON capability enabling network evolution over existing fibre infrastructure. XGS-PON deployment across nationwide network using Calix platform.
• Three UKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership for 5G backhaul connectivity. Preferred provider status for connecting 1,300+ mobile masts across 59 towns and cities. Supports Three's national 5G rollout ambitions.
• BAI CommunicationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with BAI Communications and Sunderland City Council for 5G small cell network. CityFibre provides full fibre infrastructure connecting the small cell network for smart city applications.
• NokiacoreTechnology or IntegrationNetwork equipment partner alongside Calix for XGS-PON technology deployment. 10Gbps XGS-PON access technology deployed as standard using Nokia equipment.
• STEM LearningminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with STEM Learning to inspire next generation of digital innovators. Career engagement and educational programmes supporting digital infrastructure sector.
• SpringpodminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVirtual work experience programmes delivering career insights for students. Partnership supporting early careers engagement and recruitment pipeline.
• AllPoints Fibre Networks (APFN)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership enabling AllPoints Fibre Networks to launch multi-gigabit FTTP services using CityFibre infrastructure. Aquila platform integration providing 1.7Gbps and 2.3Gbps speed tiers.
• Building Digital UK (BDUK)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment delivery partner for Project Gigabit programme. Nine regional contracts delivering full fibre to over 450,000 hard-to-reach premises. BDUK-subsidised rollout extending commercial network build.
• Zen InternetcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorISP partner and Fibre Hub aggregator using CityFibre network alongside Openreach, Trooli, Freedom Fibre, ITS, and Sky Business Wholesale. Major channel partner serving residential and business customers.
• SkyflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor ISP partner offering Sky Full Fibre Broadband on CityFibre network. Strategic partnership bringing premium broadband brand to CityFibre infrastructure.
• TalkTalkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorISP partner providing residential broadband services on CityFibre network. Major national provider expanding coverage through wholesale partnership.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Openreach (BT Group): The UK's incumbent wholesale fibre infrastructure operator, providing FTTP/FTTC access to all major ISPs. Direct competitor to CityFibre's wholesale fibre access product, with substantially larger existing footprint and the same ISP partner ecosystem.
• Virgin Media O2: The UK's principal cable and quad-play operator with overlapping FTTP/HFC footprint. Competes with CityFibre both for end-customers (via its own retail ISP) and in wholesale Ethernet and backhaul markets across the UK.
• nexfibre: Wholesale-only FTTH platform backed by Telefónica, Liberty Global and InfraVia, currently acquiring Netomnia. Closest pure-play comparable to CityFibre's wholesale-only FTTH business model and is the principal rival in the wholesale-only segment.
• Community Fibre: London-focused altnet now majority-owned by Vodafone. Operates a competing FTTH network in dense urban areas that overlap with CityFibre's footprint, intensifying competition for residential take-up and ISP partnerships in London.
• Hyperoptic: UK altnet deploying FTTH/B primarily in MDU/build-to-rent developments. Competes for residential and small-business fibre customers in overlapping urban markets and operates a similar ISP-partner go-to-market model.

Emerging players

• Netomnia: UK altnet building full fibre across secondary cities with a wholesale-first model. Highly comparable target and competitor; being acquired by nexfibre — a transaction CityFibre itself flagged to the CMA on competition grounds.
• Gigaclear (Cellnex UK): Rural-focused UK fibre altnet, now part of Cellnex's UK tower and fibre portfolio. Comparable to CityFibre's Project Gigabit rural build programmes and a potential M&A or partnership candidate in underserved areas.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CityFibre
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/CityFibre
• Facebookfacebook.com/CityFibre
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cityfibre

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds8 records

Investors21 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A4 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CityFibre