4th Utility Broadband Review 2026

4th Utility broadband at a glance

4th Utility Pros and Cons

What speed do you need?

The correct package depends on the number of people using the connection, simultaneous activity and the upload speed available through the local network. A faster package reduces large download times, but it does not automatically improve gaming latency or Wi-Fi coverage.

150Mbps Full Fibre is suitable for one or two people, smaller families and homes using several devices for streaming, video meetings, gaming and ordinary downloads. The Openreach-based version has a 20Mbps upload speed, while the symmetrical version offers 150Mbps.

200Mbps Full Fibre gives a household more capacity for several simultaneous activities. Versions with 30Mbps and 200Mbps upload speeds are available, making the symmetrical package particularly useful for cloud backups and regular transfers of large files.

300Mbps Full Fibre provides the best balance for many families. It supports several high-resolution streams, online games, video calls and downloads at the same time. Upload speed is either 49Mbps or 300Mbps.

500Mbps Full Fibre is ideal for larger households with several heavy users. It shortens large game and file downloads, while the symmetrical version is valuable for content creation, online backup and remote file access.

900Mbps Full Fibre is suitable for very busy home networks, frequent multi-gigabyte downloads and several wired devices. The Openreach-based version has a 110Mbps upload speed; the symmetrical version raises this to 900Mbps.

2.3Gbps Full Fibre is restricted to selected premises and is not part of the standard package range everywhere. It is most useful for an advanced home network with multi-gigabit Ethernet, suitable devices and several intensive users. Most televisions, games consoles and laptops cannot use the full connection through one port.

Icotera i4850-25 router

Current 4th Utility packages list the Icotera i4850-25 as the included router. It can combine the optical connection and home router in one unit on compatible installations.

The i4850-25 is a dual-band Wi-Fi 5 device using the 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequency bands. It is adequate for ordinary home use, but it lacks the efficiency improvements of Wi-Fi 6 and the newer features of Wi-Fi 7.

Actual wireless speed depends on the receiving device, distance, walls, interference and other network activity. The 2.4GHz band reaches farther but is usually slower, while 5GHz is faster over a shorter distance.

Installation

A property with working 4th Utility equipment can sometimes be activated without a full engineer installation. A self-install involves connecting the fibre lead, powering on the router and allowing five five to ten minutes for activation.

An engineer appointment is arranged when suitable equipment is not already installed. Someone aged 18 or over must be present, and tenants should obtain the landlord's permission before permanent cabling or a fibre socket is fitted.

Standard installation places the socket within two metres of the front door. A different socket position, rewiring or complex cable routing can cost extra. The work and price must be agreed before a non-standard installation proceeds. A new CityFibre connection can require a two-to-three-hour appointment.

Standard installation is included with the current 24-month offers. Billing begins when the router and broadband service are activated.

4th Utility Wi-Fi coverage and boosters

4th Utility does not publish a nationwide minimum Wi-Fi speed for every room. Its broadband-speed commitments apply to a wired connection rather than the wireless signal throughout the property.

Keep the router in an open position, above floor level and away from cupboards, large electrical appliances, mirrors and radiators. Larger homes and buildings with thick walls or concrete floors can require a mesh system or an additional wireless access point.

There is no standard booster price, fixed equipment quantity or room-to-room guarantee across every package. Customers who need extra equipment should confirm its cost, quantity and contract conditions before ordering.

A personal mesh system or router can also be used. 4th Utility supplies a bridge device without charge, allowing the fibre connection to reach a personal router through Ethernet. PPPoE login details are available through the online account.

Is 4th Utility download/upload speed and latency really any good?

Every current main residential package uses FTTP. Fibre reaches the premises instead of relying on copper between a street cabinet and the home. This removes the distance-related copper limitation associated with FTTC and avoids many faults caused by ageing copper connections.

FTTP does not guarantee that every device receives the package's average speed. Network demand, the selected server, Ethernet capability, Wi-Fi conditions and device performance all affect individual results.

The most important difference within the 4th Utility range is upload speed. Openreach-based packages use lower upload speeds, while packages delivered through suitable alternative networks can be symmetrical.

Equal download and upload speeds substantially reduce cloud-backup, video-upload and remote-file-transfer times. The asymmetrical versions remain fast enough for typical home use, but they are less suitable for frequent large uploads.

There is no single verified latency figure across every 4th Utility network and location. FTTP can provide low latency, but routing, the destination server and other household activity affect the final result. Buying 900Mbps instead of 300Mbps does not automatically reduce gaming latency.

The general contractual minimum is 50% of the selected package speed. Customers recording a lower wired result on three successive days should report a fault using a Cat 6 Ethernet connection. A separate support threshold for 900Mbps and 1Gbps services uses 70% as the point for a fault investigation; it does not replace the general contractual minimum.

4th Utility first attempts to correct the problem. If the connection cannot reach the contractual minimum, it can move the customer to a slower service and charge the lower monthly amount. The general agreement does not provide an automatic cancellation right solely because the service is downgraded.

What you need to know about 4th Utility broadband packages

The current main range includes average download speeds of 150Mbps, 200Mbps, 300Mbps, 500Mbps and 900Mbps. Live prices and offers appear in the comparison table above. Enter your postcode because the network, upload speed, contract and available package can differ by address.

Contracts, annual increases and additional charges

Current comparison offers use a 24-month minimum term. Direct ordering can also include 12-month and 30-day rolling choices at selected premises. The monthly charge changes to the stated later rate after the introductory period; this is separate from any annual contract increase.

Annual pricing is not identical across every package. Some agreements specify a fixed increase each March, while others state that prices can change during the contract. The personalised contract summary confirms the rule attached to the selected service.

The early termination deduction is £2.10 for each remaining month on 4th Utility's own network and £15.10 for each remaining month on a third-party network. These figures are reviewed each April. The remaining contract value includes applicable discounts, promotions and contractual price increases.

Customers can upgrade during the minimum term. An upgrade starts a new agreement without an early termination charge on the previous package. A downgrade after the cooling-off period can produce an early termination charge.

The referral promotion gives the existing customer a £100 Amazon voucher and the referred customer three free months on an eligible 12 or 24-month package. It cannot be combined with an affiliate or partner promotion, so compare its total value with the offer in the deals table.

Full fibre networks and availability

4th Utility began by installing FTTP in apartment buildings, new developments and managed residential properties. Its retail reach has expanded through Openreach, CityFibre, Community Fibre, Trooli and Freedom Fibre.

The network determines the upload speed, installation process and packages available at the premises. Openreach-based services use lower upload speeds, while CityFibre, Community Fibre and 4th Utility's own infrastructure can provide symmetrical speeds.

The 2.3Gbps service is restricted to selected CityFibre areas and is not part of the standard range everywhere. Availability must still be confirmed by postcode even when FTTP has already reached the local area.

Switching to 4th Utility

An eligible residential transfer can use the One Touch Switch process, allowing the new provider to coordinate the change with the old provider. Do not cancel the old broadband separately unless specifically instructed to do so.

Check whether the old minimum term has ended and whether an early termination charge applies. 4th Utility does not normally pay charges owed to the previous provider. A transfer between different physical networks can also require a new fibre installation.

Customers moving an existing telephone number should confirm that it can transfer to the new digital phone service before the previous connection ends.

Social tariff

The 4th Utility social tariff provides an average 30Mbps full fibre download speed on a 30-day rolling contract. It is suitable for browsing, schoolwork, HD streaming, social media and video calls in a smaller household.

Eligibility includes Universal Credit, Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance and Pension Credit. Some entire apartment buildings qualify, reducing the supporting evidence required from individual residents.

A confirmed upload speed is not published for every social-tariff connection, so the 30Mbps service should not be assumed to be symmetrical. Availability is more restricted than the standard multi-network package range.

Cancellation and early termination charges

The 14-day cooling-off period begins on the day after the order confirmation is issued or the customer receives supplied equipment. Cancellation within this period does not produce an early termination charge, although service used and work requested during the cooling-off period can still be charged.

Every contract requires 30 days' notice. An early termination charge applies when the notice period ends before the minimum term. Cancelling a payment instruction at the bank does not cancel the agreement and can lead to service restriction, late-payment charges and debt recovery.

Moving home

4th Utility can continue the service only when the new home is connected to a compatible network. A move is normally treated as a new order and can begin a new minimum term or involve activation and installation charges.

If service is unavailable at the new address, the existing agreement does not automatically end without charge. Contact 4th Utility before the move and obtain written confirmation of the available options and costs.

Equipment returns

The router, bridge device and other supplied equipment remain 4th Utility's property. Return instructions are issued after cancellation, and the equipment must normally be sent back within 14 days. Failure to return it can result in a full replacement charge.

Keep proof of postage until receipt is confirmed. Integrated fibre equipment may need to remain at the premises for the next resident, so follow the individual return instructions rather than removing fixed optical equipment.

Customer service

4th Utility provides assistance by telephone, live chat, WhatsApp and online account. The main customer service and technical support number is 0333 888 4050.

The online account provides bills, payment details, package information, service details and PPPoE credentials for personal routers. A separate network-status service lists current outages and maintenance.

Trustpilot displayed a score of 4.5 out of 5 from 11,195 reviews when checked on 24 August 2026. Positive reports frequently concern employees, ordering and installation. Complaints include connection dropouts, waiting times, technical faults and unexpected charges. Online ratings can change and are not a controlled satisfaction survey.

4th Utility is not included in Ofcom's provider-specific complaints comparison, so its public rating cannot be compared directly with the regulated complaint rates published for the largest broadband providers.

Complaints

Report a technical fault to the technical team first so diagnosis can begin. A formal complaint is acknowledged within seven working days, with resolution targeted within 28 working days. Customers who remain dissatisfied can request a further review by the Head of Customer Services.

An unresolved complaint can be referred to CISAS after eight weeks or after a deadlock letter is issued. CISAS is an independent dispute-resolution service and does not charge the customer. Keep bills, correspondence, appointment details and wired speed-test results.

Is 4th Utility broadband any good?

4th Utility is worth considering when the postcode result includes a symmetrical package. Equal download and upload speeds are especially useful for cloud backup, large file transfers, remote work and content production.

The 300Mbps package provides the best balance for many families. The 500Mbps and 900Mbps options are more suitable for larger households, frequent large downloads and several heavy users. Compare the complete minimum-term cost because introductory discounts and later monthly charges differ between packages.

Openreach-based packages are less distinctive because they use lower upload speeds that are also available from numerous Openreach providers. The Icotera i4850-25 is the clearest equipment limitation: it is adequate for ordinary use but lacks Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 7 and multi-gigabit Ethernet.

Overall, 4th Utility is a good choice for customers who can obtain a competitively priced symmetrical package and do not require television or mobile bundles. It is less attractive when only an asymmetrical package is available and a competing provider includes more modern Wi-Fi equipment at a similar full-contract cost.

Alternatives to 4th Utility

About 4th Utility

4th Utility Holdings Limited was established in 2017. It operates as an internet provider and fibre network owner, with an early focus on apartment buildings, residential developments and managed properties.

The company acquired Vision Fibre Media, expanding its presence in London apartment buildings, and later added access to national and regional wholesale fibre networks. This wider reach also created substantial differences between packages carrying the same average download speed.

The 4th Utility brand continues to provide residential broadband, own-network services and a social tariff. Eligible customers can add a digital phone service, but a traditional copper landline is not required. There is no 4th Utility television package.

4th Utility and Rise Fibre

Rise Fibre is a trading name of 4th Utility Holdings. It provides the group's wider multi-network retail service, so package information and customer communications can contain references to both brands.

In August 2026, TalkTalk agreed to transfer 120,000 customers to Rise Fibre, taking the wider customer base close to 250,000. The transfer was expected to include many customers using CityFibre connections.

Existing 4th Utility customers do not automatically lose their package because of the Rise Fibre expansion. New customers should check the legal provider name in the order summary, payment instruction and customer-service information so they know which conditions apply to the service.