Rise Fibre Broadband Review

Beyond the basics, Rise Fibre also offers useful extras. You can add a static IPv4 address if you need port forwarding for gaming servers, CCTV, or smart home access.

And if you qualify, there’s a social tariff set at £13.99 per month for a 30Mbps plan, which helps households on low incomes stay connected.

Speed

Rise Fibre’s broadband plans start at 250Mbps and go all the way up to 2.3Gbps, depending on where you live. The connection is full-fibre (FTTP), so there’s no copper line slowing things down. But what you get depends on which network is available at your address.

Rise Fibre’s fastest plan — 2.3Gbps — is available in areas where CityFibre has rolled out its upgraded infrastructure.

• And now, where available, multi-gigabit speeds up to 2.3Gbps
• Entry-level fibre starting at 250Mbps
• Mid-range plans like 500Mbps or 900Mbps

If you’re on the Openreach network, download speeds are fast, but uploads are slower — a typical setup if you’re used to traditional fibre. If your home is covered by CityFibre, you’ll usually get symmetrical speeds, which means your upload is just as fast as your download. That’s useful if you work from home, back up to the cloud, or do anything that sends large files out regularly.

Who Rise Fibre broadband good for

Rise Fibre is aimed at people who want a straightforward full fibre service without a lot of fuss. If you want the flexibility to add a static IP, it’s appealing for:

• Remote workers who need reliable uploads for video calls and large files.
• Gamers who host sessions or want full port forwarding.
• Smart home users who need remote access to cameras or devices.

For content creators and home offices in CityFibre towns, the symmetrical uploads are a great feature. In Openreach areas, you still get the reliability and consistency of FTTP, even if upload rates are lower.

Rise Fibre Broadband Deals

Prices on Rise Fibre vary depending on the network you’re connected to and your exact postcode. Rise publishes its activation fees and monthly costs clearly on the checkout page, but it’s worth noting that offers and discounts can change across the year.

Like other providers in 2025, Rise applies mid-contract increases as a flat £3 each March on fixed?term deals. This means your monthly bill will rise by that amount once per year, so factor it into the total cost if you’re signing an 18 or 24 month contract.

Customers are protected by a 14 day cooling off period after signing up. This gives you the option to cancel without penalty if you change your mind within that timeframe.

For households eligible for a social tariff, Rise offers one of the more affordable entry-level deals currently available: £13.99 per month for a 30Mbps plan. This is targeted at people on low incomes or certain benefits, making it easier to stay connected without stretching the budget.

Setup, Router and Wi-Fi

If your home already has a fibre ONT fitted (that’s the small white box where the fibre cable comes into your property), getting connected can be very quick. In some cases, it’s as simple as activating the line at the provider’s end, and your service can go live almost instantly once your account is switched on.

If you don’t yet have an ONT, you’ll need an engineer visit. The engineer will usually run a fibre cable from the nearest distribution point in your street to your property and then mount the termination unit inside your home, typically close to where you want the router. It’s a fairly tidy process, but it can involve drilling through an external wall if fibre hasn’t been brought inside before.

Once the ONT is in place, setup is straightforward. The self-install guide shows how to connect the supplied Icotera router: you simply plug the fibre patch lead into the router’s fibre port and then into the wall socket. Within a few minutes, you’ll usually have an active connection.

When you sign up with Rise Fibre, the installation usually comes with an Icotera router included. The self-install guide from 4th Utility is very straightforward: you connect the fibre patch lead from the wall socket into the router’s fibre port, plug in the power, and once your account is activated, you’re online in a matter of minutes.

For people who prefer to use their own router or mesh system, Rise Fibre makes this possible. Through your 4th Utility online account, you can request your PPPoE username and password. These are the login details your personal router needs to connect directly to the service.

Icotera i4850 (Wi-Fi 5) Router

This is a dual band router that supports both 2.4GHz and 5GHz WiFi, with Wave 2 MU-MIMO for handling multiple devices at once. On paper, it can deliver wireless link speeds of up to 1733 Mbps on 5GHz and 300 Mbps on 2.4GHz.

Key features include:

• 4× Gigabit LAN ports for wired devices like PCs, consoles, or smart TVs.
• VoIP (POTS) ports on certain variants, useful if your package includes a digital phone service.
• Remote management options (TR 069, SNMP, syslog, SSH, Telnet) so the provider can monitor and troubleshoot the device.
• Support for multiple WAN interfaces and bridge mode, giving you flexibility if you want to connect your own router.

Icotera i4880 series (Wi-Fi 6) Router

The i4880 is a more powerful unit aimed at higher speed tiers and larger households. It features:

• A 2.5Gbps routing engine designed to handle multi-gigabit broadband.
• 8×8 + 4×4 Wi-Fi 6 radios, which offer higher throughput and more reliable coverage across multiple rooms.
• Better performance for busy homes where several devices are streaming, gaming, or working at the same time.

Both models can comfortably handle speeds from 100Mbps up to 1Gbps over Ethernet. Wireless speeds will vary depending on your home’s layout, how many devices you’re using, and the quality of your WiFi clients. In dense households, the Wi-Fi 6 model offers more consistent performance because of its advanced radio configuration.

Guest Wi-Fi, mesh, and controls

One limitation that users have flagged in community forums is that some Icotera routers ship with firmware that has reduced settings compared to retail models. In particular, people have noticed that the guest WiFi toggle is missing on some versions of the i4850, which means you can’t create a separate network for visitors.

If you want more control—such as advanced parental controls, better guest network support, or the ability to run a mesh system like Orbi, eero, or UniFi—the simple solution is to run your own router and let the Icotera act as a bridge. In some setups, you can also bypass the Icotera entirely and connect your router straight to the ONT, using the PPPoE credentials Rise provides.

Using your own router (PPPoE and bridge mode)

Setting up your own router is straightforward:

1. Log in to your 4th Utility account and request your PPPoE credentials.
2. Enter these into your router’s WAN settings.
3. Depending on the hardware, you may also need to configure a VLAN tag, which Rise support can confirm.

If you want to keep the Icotera in place but prefer your own WiFi, switch it to bridge mode (also called passthrough). In that setup, the Icotera only passes the connection, while your router handles WiFi, DHCP, and everything else.

Community feedback suggests that customers have successfully used routers from brands like Asus, UniFi, and TP-Link with Rise Fibre, either via PPPoE or bridge mode.

CGNAT, static IP, and port-forwarding

By default, Rise Fibre places residential customers behind CGNAT (Carrier Grade NAT). This is fine for streaming, browsing, and most everyday internet use, but it blocks incoming connections. That means you won’t be able to host a game server, run a home web server, or access your CCTV cameras remotely.

If you need these features, you can add a static IPv4 address for a small monthly fee. This takes you out of CGNAT and restores standard port forwarding functionality. It’s particularly useful for gamers, content creators, and anyone running a smart home setup that requires inbound connections.

Reliability and performance

Reliability on Rise Fibre depends on the underlying full-fibre network your property connects to—either CityFibre, Openreach, or in some cases, a direct 4th Utility build. In general, full-fibre (FTTP) offers more consistent performance than older copper or hybrid lines because the fibre connection runs all the way into your home. That means less signal degradation, more stable speeds during peak times, and lower latency.

In CityFibre areas, Rise Fibre customers often benefit from symmetrical speeds (uploads as fast as downloads) and good performance across typical usage hours. This matters if you’re gaming, hosting servers, or backing up data to the cloud. CityFibre’s infrastructure is purpose-built for FTTP and has been upgraded to support multi-gigabit speeds, which helps reduce congestion and allows for higher throughput, even in dense residential areas.

In Openreach FTTP areas, performance is also generally strong. Download speeds match what you pay for in most households, and latency is usually low enough for smooth video calls, streaming, and online gaming. Upload speeds tend to be lower than download speeds on this network, which is worth noting if your work involves uploading large files regularly.

Speed test results from users on public forums and review sites suggest that Rise Fibre delivers close to its advertised speeds most of the time. Ping times (latency) tend to be in the range of 5–15ms, which is well within the ideal range for real-time applications like video calls, gaming, and VoIP. Jitter levels are also low on FTTP, helping to maintain consistent performance.

Customer service

On Trustpilot, Rise Fibre averages around 4.1 out of 5 stars based on 87 UK reviews. Many users highlight positive experiences with installation speed and reliable connectivity. However, a few also raise concerns about support wait times and how quickly faults are resolved.

When it comes to getting in touch, there are several support options. You can contact them by phone, use the live chat on their website, or send a message through WhatsApp using the 4th Utility help hub. This makes it relatively easy to reach someone, even if you’re not keen on calling.

If something goes wrong and you’re not happy with how it’s handled, Rise Fibre follows a published complaints procedure. This gives you a clear path for escalating issues. If your complaint isn’t resolved within a reasonable time or you reach a deadlock, you can take the matter further through Ombudsman Services, which is the approved Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) scheme that Rise Fibre is signed up to. This is a free and independent service that can step in to help resolve ongoing problems.

Is Rise Fibre any good?

Rise Fibre is one of best options for households that want affordable full fibre with a bit of flexibility. The option of a static IP is rare among consumer ISPs, and the social tariff is welcome.

Performance depends heavily on which network you’re connected to. CityFibre addresses get symmetrical uploads and also offers multi-gig tiers. Openreach addresses benefit from wider national coverage, but uploads remain lower than downloads.

Rise Fibre is a competitive option if you want full-fibre broadband without overpaying. On pricing, Rise Fibre deals are among the more affordable full-fibre options in the UK. Plans start from just £17 per month, and all packages come with free setup.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Full-fibre coverage across Openreach and CityFibre with symmetrical option
• Option to add a static IPv4 for around £5 per month
• Social tariff available from £13.99 per month
• Multi-gig speeds where CityFibre upgrades are live

Cons

• Upload rates depend on which network you’re on
• Some Icotera routers lack guest WiFi features
• Mid-contract £3 price rise each March
• CityFibre incidents can occasionally impact wide areas at once

Verdict

Rise Fibre is a good choice if you’re looking for simple full-fibre broadband with a few useful extras. The optional static IP is especially handy for gamers and smart home setups. Pricing is competitive, and the £13.99 social tariff gives it an extra edge for eligible households.

The main things to keep in mind are the £3 annual rise, the difference in upload speeds between networks, and the possibility of needing your own router if you want advanced WiFi features.

Alternatives

If you’re in a CityFibre-covered town, there are several other providers worth looking at alongside Rise Fibre. Sky, Vodafone, TalkTalk, and Zen all now use the CityFibre network in many areas, and each offers its own speed tiers, contract lengths, and add-ons like Wi-Fi guarantees or bundled mobile deals. Some of these providers also offer multi-gigabit plans, especially where CityFibre has upgraded the local network to support its 5.5Gbps symmetrical wholesale platform. Rollout of these faster tiers began in 2025, so availability is expanding gradually depending on location.

If your address is served by Openreach full fibre, your main alternatives are BT, Sky, Plusnet, and EE. These providers offer consistent FTTP performance and a broad range of speeds, from basic fibre packages up to full 900Mbps tiers. Upload speeds on Openreach are generally lower than download speeds, so if symmetrical upload performance is important to you, it’s worth comparing what’s available through CityFibre instead.

In apartment buildings or new-build flats, Hyperoptic can be a better fit if the building is already wired for it. Hyperoptic specialises in multi-dwelling units and typically offers symmetrical speeds and flexible rolling contracts. In London, Community Fibre is another strong option, offering full-fibre plans with symmetrical upload and download speeds up to 3Gbps, often at competitive prices compared to the national providers.

FAQs

Can I get Rise Fibre at my address?
Yes, if your postcode falls in an area covered by CityFibre or Openreach FTTP that Rise Fibre supports. Use the Rise Fibre postcode checker to confirm.

Are the speeds symmetrical?
In CityFibre areas, yes — uploads usually match downloads (for example, 500/500). On Openreach full fibre, uploads are lower.

Does Rise Fibre use CGNAT, and can I get a static IP?
Yes, customers are behind CGNAT by default, but you can request a static IPv4 for a monthly fee to enable full port forwarding.

Can I use my own router or mesh system?
Yes. 4th Utility provides PPPoE login details, and many users set the supplied router to bridge mode so their own kit handles WiFi and routing.

What about mid?contract price rises?
Fixed term Rise contracts go up by £3 each March. That’s a flat increase, unlike CPI linked rises used by some providers.

Is there a social tariff?
Yes. Rise offers a £13.99 per month 30Mbps plan for eligible households.

About Rise Fibre

Rise Fibre is the provider owned by 4th Utility Holdings Limited, registered in the UK under company number 11010880. Its terms and privacy policy identify it as a 4th Utility brand, meaning billing, support, and complaints all follow the same processes. Complaints that reach deadlock can be escalated to Ombudsman Services.

Coverage is extended by using both CityFibre and Openreach wholesale networks, plus some dedicated 4th Utility builds. That’s why availability can look very different from one postcode to another, but it also means the provider can serve a wider pool of UK households than many single network ISPs.