CityFibre
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.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
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.
CityFibre firmographics
Firmographics- 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
CityFibre industry classification
Industry- 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
Where CityFibre is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices9 records
Markets served
CityFibre business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Infrastructure, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Wholesale fibre access for ISP partners |
| Unit Pricing | Monthly | Business Ethernet services with SLAs |
| Subscription | Monthly | Consumer FTTH broadband via ISP partners |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
CityFibre product offering
Product offeringCore 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
Companies that use CityFibre
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
CityFibre technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability3 records
Feature6 records
CityFibre partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- 8billionideascorePartnership 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.
- VodafoneThreeflagshipExtended 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.
- CalixcoreDecade-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 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 CommunicationscorePartnership 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.
- NokiacoreNetwork equipment partner alongside Calix for XGS-PON technology deployment. 10Gbps XGS-PON access technology deployed as standard using Nokia equipment.
- STEM LearningminorPartnership with STEM Learning to inspire next generation of digital innovators. Career engagement and educational programmes supporting digital infrastructure sector.
- SpringpodminorVirtual work experience programmes delivering career insights for students. Partnership supporting early careers engagement and recruitment pipeline.
- AllPoints Fibre Networks (APFN)minorPartnership 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)coreGovernment 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 InternetcoreISP 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.
- SkyflagshipMajor ISP partner offering Sky Full Fibre Broadband on CityFibre network. Strategic partnership bringing premium broadband brand to CityFibre infrastructure.
- TalkTalkcoreISP 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
CityFibre competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect 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
CityFibre social profiles
Digital presenceCityFibre compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
CityFibre financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CityFibre leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
CityFibre subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
CityFibre funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds8 records
Investors21 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CityFibre M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A4 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CityFibre
What does CityFibre do?
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.
Is CityFibre a public or private company?
CityFibre is a private company. It is classified as private equity controlled and is currently operating.
When was CityFibre founded?
CityFibre was founded in 2011. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is CityFibre based?
CityFibre is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does CityFibre make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Wholesale Fibre Access are the primary driver. The others are ethernet Services, dark Fibre and mobile Backhaul.
Who are CityFibre's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Openreach (BT Group), Virgin Media O2, nexfibre, Community Fibre and Hyperoptic. Emerging players are Netomnia and Gigaclear (Cellnex UK).
Does CityFibre have an API?
Yes. CityFibre provides web- and API-based interfaces enabling partners to access live, accurate information about network status and the performance of their customers' services. Partners can access detailed, reliable information to provide estimates on install, upgrade, and repair times, and can develop their own service tools and products.
What industry is CityFibre in?
CityFibre's product category is Telecom Infrastructure Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAIACAC, Fiber-to-the-Premises/Building (FTTP/FTTB) Operators, with a secondary code of HDAIABAC, Fiber-to-the-Premises (FTTP/FTTH) Broadband Providers. Its NAICS code is 51711.