🚀 What’s the Buzz About 5.5 Gbps Tokenized Broadband?
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| CityFibre teases 5.5 Gbps tokenized broadband |
CityFibre, the UK’s top independent full-fibre wholesaler, has teased a groundbreaking “multi-gig” 5.5 Gbps symmetrical broadband service. Built on XGS‑PON technology, this upgrade offers identical upload and download speeds—5,500 Mbps down, 5,500 Mbps up—more than three times fasterthan BT Openreach’s fastest 1.8 Gbps downstream/0.12 Gbps upstream package.
Why “Tokenized”?
The term “tokenized broadband” refers to CityFibre packaging this service as a wholesale token or product SKU for resellers. Instead of consumers buying directly, ISPs like Sky, Vodafone, TalkTalk, Giganet, Zen, and others will purchase this token from CityFibre and rebrand it for residential or business use. The token simplifies how ISPs integrate high‑end technology into their own plans.
🔧 How It Works: Powered by XGS‑PON
XGS‑PON (10‑Gigabit-capable Symmetric Passive Optical Network) forms the backbone of this strategy:
• CityFibre upgraded ~85 % of its network to XGS‑PON as of June 2025, with full completion expected by late summer.
• Once done, the infrastructure supports symmetrical 5.5 Gbps—and leaves room to expand to 10 Gbps services in 2026.
This leap from GPON (Gigabit PON, max ~2.5 Gbps) to XGS‑PON reduces latency, cuts power usage, and improves overall efficiency
For ISPs:
• Competitive edge: They gain a powerful new option to offer higher‑tier packages, differentiating from rivals.
• Margin flexibility: Token pricing may be more cost-effective than legacy options like GPON or 10‑Gb leased lines.
For Consumers & Businesses:
• Real-world impact: Symmetrical multi-gig speeds are game-changers for households uploading 4K/8K content, cloud users, home offices, and gamers.
• Future-readiness: This isn’t just faster—it’s a vision for next-gen speed, with 10 Gbps coming soon.
Broad Market Implications:
• Intensified competition: CityFibre positions itself well ahead of BT Openreach, and sends a challenge to altnets like Virgin Media O2.
• Digital leadership: Aligns the UK with fiber-forward nations like France, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and parts of the US.
🧩 Deployment and Timeline
Milestone | Status |
XGS‑PON rollout (85 %) | Completed |
Full 5.5 Gbps service live | Rolling out now across ~4 million premises |
Network fully upgraded | Expected by summer 2025 |
10 Gbps service launch | Targeted for 2026 |
🛑 Considerations & Caveats
• Realised speeds: Most home equipment won’t immediately deliver 5.5 Gbps—consumers need compatible routers, ONTs, and wired LAN setups.
• Use-case fit: True multi-gig use is typically business-focused—average households may not fully utilize such speed.
• ISP rollout pace: Even with wholesale readiness, retail availability depends on each ISP’s willingness to adopt, price, and promote the offering.
✅ Takeaways
CityFibre’s 5.5 Gbps tokenized broadband isn’t just about headline speeds—it represents a strategic shift:
1. Wholesale innovation, enabling ISPs to quickly roll out powerful multi-gig tiers.
2. Flexible infrastructure, with room to double speeds again in two years.
3. Market momentum, pushing fiber adoption and competition across the UK.
As deployment advances—through summer 2025—and as ISPs begin commercial launches, watch for the first 5 Gbps retail packages. But the next benchmark will be 2026’s 10 Gbps rollout, marking true ultra‑broadband era in the UK.
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