my-server
← Wiki

Vodafone Broadband UK

Vodafone Broadband is the consumer and business home broadband offered by VodafoneThree in the United Kingdom.

History ÂÂ

Vodafone acquired Cable & Wireless Worldwide in April 2012, adding fixed‐line infrastructure beyond its mobile network. Using this network, they launched Vodafone Connect in June 2015, originally for existing Vodafone mobile customers in areas like Manchester, Berkshire, Hampshire, and Surrey. Speeds could reach 76 Mbps.

Vodafone partnered with CityFibre to deliver FTTP (Full Fibre to Premises), with a rollout planned for mid-2018. By 2020, Vodafone was rolling out ultra-fast full fibre broadband in several UK cities with Openreach and CityFibre. Speeds reached up to 900Mbps in certain areas.

By June 2022, Vodafone had become the UK’s largest full fibre broadband provider (in terms of homes able to access its full fibre service), overtaking BT. Later changes would add full fibre speeds (up to 2.2Gbps) under the “Vodafone Pro 2 Broadband” product name, which included new hardware like a WiFi 6E router. This has since been usurped by Vodafone’s Pro 3 (21), which utilises a WiFi 7 router.

Business broadband ÂÂ

Vodafone first offered full fibre services for small office and home office (SoHo) businesses in early 2020, partnering with CityFibre and Openreach to deliver gigabit broadband connections to business premises.

Network ÂÂ

Vodafone uses a mix of Openreach (BT) network and alternative network providers like CityFibre  and Community Fibre to deliver services.

Technologies:

  • FTTC (Fibre to the Cabinet) – up to <s>~</s>76Mbps.
  • FTTP (Fibre to the Premises) – full fibre up to 2.2Gbps (through Openreach and CityFibre).
  • Scale: By 2022, Vodafone became the largest provider of full fibre access (in terms of premises able to order).
  • Router technology: The latest Pro 3 Broadband product includes WiFi 7 routers, mesh WiFi boosters, automatic 4G backup SIMs.

Pro Broadband ÂÂ

Vodafone’s Pro Broadband is the network provider’s premium tier for home broadband customers, currently marketed as Vodafone Pro Broadband 3. It offers WiFi 7 compatibility and offers speeds of up to 2.2Gbps, along with ancillary services like Vodafone’s Secure Net Home (online security and parental controls), and 4G Broadband Back-up.

Relationship with alternative networks (Altnets)

Altnets (alternative networks) are broadband providers building networks independent of the traditional incumbent (Openreach in the UK).

Vodafone partners with CityFibre, using its network for delivering full fibre broadband in certain cities since 2017. Partnerships with Community Fibre will allow Vodafone to offer full fibre broadband services to 1.3million homes in London.

References