With an average download speed of 1,000Mbps and an average upload speed of 1,000Mbps, Community Fibre 1Gbps suits homes that regularly move large amounts of data. Video editors, people backing up computers to the cloud and households downloading several games have more to gain than someone mainly browsing and watching television. The package also comes with a Linksys M60 Wi-Fi 7 router, an upgrade over the equipment supplied with 500Mbps.
Most homes do not need gigabit for viewing and video calls alone. The next 2Gbps package reduces transfer times further, but needs capable equipment to make the upgrade worthwhile.
Plan details
| Package feature | Community Fibre 1Gbps |
|---|---|
| Average download speed / average upload speed | 1,000Mbps / 1,000Mbps |
| Broadband connection | Community Fibre’s full fibre network, with fibre brought into your home |
| Equipment included | Linksys M60 dual-band Wi-Fi 7 router |
| Available terms | Standard 1Gbps: 12 or 24 months; Premium WiFi: 24 months |
| Broadband price changes | Monthly charge increases by £3 each April; £4 is added when the minimum term finishes |
| Satisfaction guarantee | During the 30 days following successful installation, you can leave without cancellation fees if you are unhappy and Community Fibre cannot resolve the problem |
| Getting connected | An engineer installs a new fibre connection; Community Fibre can coordinate a provider change through One Touch Switch |
| Package choices and extras | Standard 1Gbps or 1Gbps Premium WiFi; optional home phone and TV |
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Far quicker large uploads than most Openreach gigabit packages. | Ordinary streaming and calls gain little over 500Mbps. |
| Halves calculated transfer times compared with 500Mbps. | Full-speed wired use needs a 2.5Gbps network connection. |
| Better supplied router than the slower Community Fibre plans. | Standard 1Gbps excludes the Premium WiFi coverage service. |
What you can do with 1Gbps speeds
One demanding download can occupy a slower connection even when few people are online. With 1Gbps, a transfer running at 800Mbps still leaves 200Mbps of download bandwidth for the rest of the household.
| Activity | Example of simultaneous use | Bandwidth or transfer time |
|---|---|---|
| TV and home working | Three 4K screens plus three HD video meetings | 87Mbps download and 12Mbps upload, allowing 25Mbps per screen and 4Mbps each way per call |
| Cloud gaming | Four players using GeForce NOW at supported 4K/120fps settings | 180Mbps download in total at 45Mbps per player |
| Downloading while watching Netflix | An 800Mbps download alongside four 4K streams | 860Mbps download in total, leaving 140Mbps |
| Sending a large work project | Uploading a 50GB folder with the full upload speed available | About 6 minutes 40 seconds |
These are bandwidth examples, not device limits. Transfer calculations use decimal gigabytes and the full package speed; servers, Wi-Fi and other users can slow them down.
There is a marked difference when sending files to clients or remote storage. A 20GB upload takes about 2 minutes 40 seconds at 1,000Mbps, compared with around 24 minutes at BT Full Fibre 900’s 110Mbps average upload speed.
Community Fibre Router
The Linksys M60 has three 2.5Gbps LAN ports and a separate 2.5Gbps WAN port. A suitably equipped computer can therefore avoid the throughput limit of Gigabit Ethernet.
Community Fibre’s expected Wi-Fi range is 500–750Mbps on this package. This is its guidance, not a guaranteed result. Reception and device hardware affect performance.
The M60 uses Linksys Now for browser-based controls instead of the Linksys mobile app. Our Community Fibre equipment guide explains the controls and compatible mesh equipment.
The 1Gbps Premium WiFi option adds professional mesh setup and priority support, with a 50Mbps coverage guarantee across up to 12 rooms and three floors. Read the Premium WiFi coverage conditions before ordering; the guarantee does not promise gigabit in every room.
Home phone and TV
Community Fibre Calls is an optional extra, using a telephone adapter connected to broadband. Request any number transfer when ordering. The service needs electricity and an active broadband connection.
Community Fibre’s TV packages use PLEIO for live channels, streaming apps and cloud games. Gigabit allows downloads to continue quickly alongside viewing, although slower packages can also support the TV service.
Community Fibre 1Gbps for gaming
Installing a large game becomes a shorter job, particularly when several players download updates before an evening session.
| File to download | Calculated time at 1,000Mbps |
|---|---|
| 30GB update | 4 minutes |
| 100GB game | 13 minutes 20 seconds |
| 200GB collection of game files | 26 minutes 40 seconds |
Installation and verification add to these times. Two simultaneous 100GB downloads still involve transferring 200GB in total, because the players share the connection.
Community Fibre advertises 0–10ms ping. That is a provider claim, not an independent result for this plan or a promise for every game server. Doubling broadband speed from 500Mbps does not halve latency.
NVIDIA requires latency below 80ms to its data centre, alongside 45Mbps per player for supported 4K/120fps play. For a console or PC, Ethernet and controlled background downloads help keep latency consistent.
New gigabit connections use CGNAT by default. Hosting through incoming IPv4 port forwarding requires the separate public IP option.
Community Fibre 1Gbps for streaming
Watching video uses a small part of this connection. Netflix recommends 15Mbps for each 4K stream: four screens need an allowance of 60Mbps, or 6% of the package’s download bandwidth. Picture quality and permitted screens remain subject to your subscription.
Broadcasting your own video makes use of the upload connection. YouTube recommends a 35Mbps video bitrate for 4K at 60fps using AV1 or H.265, or 50Mbps using H.264. Those settings account for 3.5% or 5% of the package’s upload bandwidth before audio and overheads.
Your encoder must also handle the video reliably. Limit cloud backups during a broadcast: even a gigabit connection can become congested when a transfer uses all its bandwidth.
Is Community Fibre 1Gbps any good?
Fast file transfers in both directions and better supplied equipment make 1Gbps a worthwhile upgrade for demanding users. Its 1,000Mbps average upload speed is a particular advantage over standard BT Full Fibre 900 and Virgin Media Gig1.
If 500Mbps already handles your busiest evenings, gigabit’s main benefit is time saved on transfers. Compare 2Gbps for frequent simultaneous downloads or a computer equipped to use the extra speed.
Alternatives to consider
These five options from four providers are in the gigabit speed range. Their upload specifications differ considerably.
| Alternative | Average download speed / average upload speed | Why compare it? |
|---|---|---|
| Hyperoptic 1Gb Hyperfast | 900Mbps / 900Mbps | A close alternative for both sending and receiving large files where its network is available. |
| BT Full Fibre 900 | 900Mbps / 110Mbps | Near-gigabit downloads, but a much lower average upload speed. |
| Virgin Media Gig1 | 1,130Mbps / 104Mbps on the standard package | Higher average download speed; considerably slower standard uploads. Check full fibre upload upgrades separately. |
| Vodafone Full Fibre 910 | 910Mbps / 105Mbps on Openreach; 910Mbps / 910Mbps on CityFibre or Community Fibre | The alternative-network versions are closer competitors for cloud backups and video uploads. |
| Vodafone Pro 3 Full Fibre 910 | 910Mbps / 105Mbps on Openreach; 910Mbps / 910Mbps on CityFibre or Community Fibre | Compare its Wi-Fi 7 equipment, included booster and automatic 4G backup with the complete Community Fibre package. |
Community Fibre 1Gbps FAQs
Why does my wired speed test stop at around 940Mbps?
A 1Gbps Ethernet connection typically carries around 940Mbps of usable data after network overheads. To remove that limit, connect a computer with a 2.5Gbps adapter to an M60 LAN port and check that any intervening switch also supports 2.5Gbps. Server and device limits still apply.
Does the M60 router include 6GHz Wi-Fi?
No. It uses 2.4GHz and 5GHz. Wi-Fi 7 does not automatically mean a router has a 6GHz band, so check the bands as well as the wireless standard when comparing equipment.
Can I keep my MX20 mesh units when moving to the M60?
They cannot join the M60 as compatible mesh nodes. The MX20 uses Intelligent Mesh, while the M60 uses Cognitive Mesh. Confirm replacement mesh equipment before upgrading if you currently rely on extra MX20 units for coverage.
Is 1Gbps Premium WiFi faster than standard 1Gbps?
Both offer a 1,000Mbps average download speed and a 1,000Mbps average upload speed. Premium adds coverage equipment, professional setup and priority support. It can improve reception in distant rooms without increasing the broadband package speed.
Should gamers choose 1Gbps or 2Gbps?
At full speed, 2Gbps cuts a 100GB download from 13 minutes 20 seconds to 6 minutes 40 seconds. The benefit is most useful for frequent large installations or several downloads at once. It does not promise better frame rates or lower in-game ping.