4th Utility Broadband Review 2025

If you’re in a fibre-connected flat or a newly built home, you’ve probably come across 4th Utility. It’s not a household name like BT or Virgin Media, but it’s carving out space in the UK broadband market by focusing on pure FTTP — full fibre, no copper, no legacy systems. It’s a broadband-only provider offering symmetrical speeds, fair pricing, and short-term contracts. This review takes a full look at what 4th Utility actually offers and how it performs for real world users in 2025.

Speed Tiers and Bandwidth Options

The ISP offers a handful of speed options rather than a bloated list of bundles. The speeds available will depend on your building and what’s provisioned to your unit, but generally fall into three categories:

• 100Mbps symmetrical – Ideal for standard use cases: HD streaming, social media, browsing, and light file uploads.
• 300–500Mbps symmetrical – Great for households with multiple users streaming, gaming, or on video calls.
• 900Mbps symmetrical – High-end option for large households, power users, or remote professionals moving large files daily.

Overview

4th Utility is based in Greater Manchester. They deploy and manage their own fibre network infrastructure, which puts them in the same bracket as other alternative network (altnet) providers in the UK. Unlike resellers or ISPs piggybacking on Openreach, 4th Utility controls the last-mile fibre in buildings where their network is available.

That matters because it gives them control over the rollout, installation, and customer support. No subcontractors, no split responsibilities when something goes wrong. Everything’s handled in-house.

4th Utility delivers broadband over FTTP. That means optical fibre runs directly from the exchange to your home. There’s no drop-off in speed based on distance from the cabinet, which is still an issue with FTTC (fibre to the cabinet). There’s no copper line involved, so the line doesn’t suffer from electrical interference or bandwidth bottlenecks.

This type of setup is capable of gigabit throughput, low latency, and symmetrical speed delivery. That means your upload rate is the same as your download rate. It’s useful for more than just cloud backups. If you’re sending large files, hosting remote meetings, gaming, or even using home security cameras with cloud storage, symmetrical speed makes a difference.

4th Utility’s service is built for streaming, video conferencing, remote work, and gaming. There’s no artificial throttling and no usage caps. The company claims 99.9% uptime — and based on available feedback, that number seems consistent with user experience.

Router

Customers get the Icotera i4850-25 router as standard. It’s a decent piece of kit with specs that cover most needs:

While the router works fine for most flats and smaller homes, it’s not a mesh system. If you want whole-home coverage or advanced features like parental controls or guest networks, you might consider bridging it with your own router.

The router is included at no cost, even on the rolling 30-day contract. There’s no requirement to return it unless you cancel within a short window post-activation.

Contract Options and Pricing

Flexibility is a selling point here. Most providers try to lock you into 18 or 24-month deals with mid-contract price rises. 4th Utility offers three contract types:

Entry-level pricing starts at £24.99 per month. The 900Mbps plan is around £62.99 per month. All plans come with unlimited usage, no setup fees, and no line rental (since it’s broadband-only).

These prices are competitive given the symmetric speeds and the fact there’s no in-contract price rise. Larger ISPs often advertise a low rate that increases annually, but 4th Utility locks in your price for the full contract term.

Social Tariff

If you’re on Universal Credit, Pension Credit, or certain other benefits, you may qualify for their social tariff. It’s priced at £14.40/month and offers 30Mbps symmetrical speeds — enough for day-to-day browsing, HD streaming, schoolwork, and video calls.

This plan is on a rolling contract, doesn’t require a credit check, and is open to anyone living in an eligible building. It’s one of the few genuinely accessible social tariffs from a smaller provider.

Installation and Setup

For most people living in a fibre-enabled property, the installation process is plug-and-play. The ONT (optical network terminal) is already in place, and your router gets shipped to you for self-installation.

If there’s no existing connection in your unit, an engineer will visit to handle fibre termination. The company schedules directly — no third-party Openreach engineers — which means installs are usually quicker and smoother.

There are no activation fees, regardless of your contract. Most installs are completed within 7–10 working days.

Network Reliability and Performance

Because the network is built using dedicated fibre lines, congestion and dropouts are rare. You don’t share bandwidth with your neighbours in the way that cable users (e.g. Virgin Media) do.

Ping times are low — ideal for gamers and VoIP users — and throughput tends to remain consistent even during evenings and weekends. There’s no fair use policy buried in the terms. Heavy usage won’t get your speeds throttled.

Performance depends on how your internal network is set up. If your laptop is connected to a weak Wi-Fi signal, you won’t see the full speed. But over Ethernet, most users report getting close to advertised rates.

Availability and Coverage

4th Utility’s service is not available everywhere. Their rollout focuses on major cities and new-build developments where they’ve struck agreements with developers. If your building has their fibre, you’ll see them listed when you move in.

Availability can be checked using the postcode tool on their website. If they’re not in your area yet, you’ll need to consider other FTTP providers like Hyperoptic, Community Fibre, or a BT full fibre option through Openreach.

This model — targeting pre-wired buildings — means they don’t need to dig streets or get council permission. But it also limits expansion to areas where partnerships exist.

Customer Service

Support is available through UK-based phone lines, WhatsApp chat, and a web live chat tool. There’s no mobile app for self-management, but you can log into your account through their web portal to manage billing and updates.

You can get in touch with them through:

Customer feedback on support is mostly positive. Wait times are short, and most issues (billing, connection drops, setup) are resolved without needing escalation.

The company holds a 4.1/5 score on Trustpilot. Around 77% of users rate it as Excellent, with most positive reviews focused on speed consistency, installation experience, and support responsiveness.

Is 4th Utility broadband any good?

4th Utility doesn’t offer TV packages, mobile SIMs, or traditional landline voice services. That’s intentional. The model is broadband-only.

If you want home phone, you’ll need a VoIP provider. If you want TV, you’ll be using apps — Netflix, iPlayer, NOW, or Freeview over IP. For many users, this separation is a benefit. You’re not locked into a bundle you don’t need.

The upside is you’re only paying for broadband. The downside is you’ll need to manage your other services separately. This model works well for younger households, renters, and digitally native users.

Who It’s Best For

4th Utility suits specific types of users:

If you live in an older house with no FTTP option, or if you want everything bundled under one provider, it’s not the right fit. But if you just want fibre broadband that works, without upselling, it does the job.

Final Verdict

4th Utility isn’t trying to be a full-service telco. It’s focused on delivering FTTP broadband to places where its network is already installed. That approach means fewer extras, but more control over quality.

The symmetrical speeds, competitive pricing, flexible contracts, and solid service support all add up to a broadband provider that gets the basics right.

It’s a smart option if you can get it — especially in the current landscape where so many ISPs advertise one price and charge another.

4th Utility vs Vodafone

Vodafone offers both FTTC and FTTP connections, depending on location. Its FTTP services are delivered via Openreach or CityFibre, so it doesn’t own the last-mile infrastructure — unlike 4th Utility, which operates its own private fibre network in supported buildings.

Speed & Performance: Vodafone’s full fibre plans top out at 910Mbps downstream, but not all packages offer symmetrical speeds. Uploads are usually lower, especially on Openreach-based lines. In contrast, 4th Utility’s FTTP is symmetrical by default — which benefits users handling large uploads, cloud storage, or video conferencing.

Pricing: Vodafone is often cheaper on paper, thanks to aggressive promotions, but contracts are usually 24 months and subject to CPI+3.9% annual price hikes. 4th Utility avoids in-contract price increases entirely and offers rolling deals, making it more predictable.

Hardware: Vodafone includes the Ultra Hub on its Pro II plan, a strong router with built-in mesh. 4th Utility supplies the Icotera i4850-25, solid but more basic unless paired with user-supplied mesh hardware.

Who wins: Vodafone offers wider availability and better bundling options, but 4th Utility wins on symmetrical speeds, contract flexibility, and pricing stability.

4th Utility vs TalkTalk

TalkTalk is a budget provider operating across FTTC and FTTP footprints, reselling Openreach and CityFibre services. It doesn’t own fibre infrastructure, unlike 4th Utility, which builds and manages its own network in select locations.

Speed & Reliability: TalkTalk offers FTTP up to 944Mbps, but uploads are usually asymmetric unless you’re on the CityFibre platform. 4th Utility’s symmetrical setup means faster uploads by default. That’s a better fit for shared households, file-sharing, and remote work.

Contract Terms: TalkTalk’s plans are mostly locked to 24-month terms with scheduled price increases. 4th Utility’s 30-day rolling and 12-month plans provide more flexibility, especially for renters or short-term residents.

Customer Service: TalkTalk’s support reputation is mixed, with many users reporting delays and offshore call centres. 4th Utility keeps support UK-based, with quick response via phone, chat, and WhatsApp.

Verdict: If you’re after the cheapest price and can commit long-term, TalkTalk works. If you want full fibre with better support and shorter terms, 4th Utility is a more stable choice — especially for upload-heavy users.

4th Utility vs Hyperoptic

Hyperoptic and 4th Utility have a similar business model: own-network, FTTP-only delivery focused on apartments and new builds. Both bypass Openreach and deploy fibre directly to supported buildings.

Speeds: Hyperoptic offers symmetrical plans from 50Mbps to 1Gbps. 4th Utility also tops out at 900Mbps with symmetrical throughput. In real-world terms, both deliver reliable performance with low latency and no peak-time slowdown.

Flexibility: Both providers offer 30-day rolling options, 12-month and 24-month contracts, with no setup fees. Hyperoptic sometimes includes discounts with longer-term deals. 4th Utility keeps pricing simple and stable with no in-contract rises.

Coverage: Hyperoptic has broader reach, covering more than 1.2 million premises. 4th Utility’s network is smaller but expanding in new-build zones.

Router & Features: Hyperoptic supplies a decent router but allows for bridge mode easily. 4th Utility includes the Icotera, which is functional but less advanced. Tech-savvy users may prefer to use their own hardware with either.

Verdict: It’s a close match. Hyperoptic wins on availability and feature maturity. 4th Utility matches on speed and flexibility, and often delivers better pricing stability mid-contract.

4th Utility vs Community Fibre

Community Fibre is a London-focused full fibre provider that, like 4th Utility, builds and operates its own fibre network. Both offer symmetrical gigabit speeds, but their coverage zones and service depth differ.

Speed & Throughput: Community Fibre offers plans up to 3Gbps in certain areas. 4th Utility maxes out at 900Mbps. Both use GPON or XGS-PON depending on location, with symmetrical speeds as standard.

Pricing: Community Fibre is aggressive on pricing, often undercutting other ISPs with offers starting as low as £20/month for 150Mbps. 4th Utility starts around £24.99 — still competitive, but not at Community Fibre’s volume-discount level.

Extras: Community Fibre throws in mesh Wi-Fi pods and even fixed-IP options for home users. 4th Utility keeps it lean — standard router, no extras unless the user provides their own.

Availability: Community Fibre is only available in London. 4th Utility operates in multiple UK cities, but its footprint is smaller and mostly tied to pre-installed MDU agreements.

Conclusion: If you’re in London, Community Fibre probably offers better raw value and faster plans. Outside London, 4th Utility fills the same role in supported buildings with strong FTTP performance and fewer gimmicks.