
Gigaclear broadband was launched in 2010 with the aim to provide high-quality, superfast and reliable broadband to the UK’s more rural areas.
Oxfordshire-based Gigaclear specialises in bringing ultrafast broadband to the rural parts of the UK that Openreach does not reach. At the time of writing, it has over 80,000 customers.
Founded in 2010, Gigaclear has grown steadily and as of May 2024 it covers 500,000 rurally located premises, spread across 26 counties in England.
As you might expect from a full fibre specialist, speeds are excellent. But you might be surprised to know that Gigaclear's packages are reasonably priced for what you get.
So if you're unlucky enough to live in an area not covered by the big providers' infrastructure, Gigaclear is well worth a look.
Why should I choose Gigaclear broadband?
Living in a rural area can often mean limited options for fast and reliable broadband. Gigaclear looks to solve that issue by supplying ultrafast broadband to parts of Britain that other providers may have neglected.
It operates its own full fibre network using ‘fibre-to-the-premises’ (FTTP) technology, meaning it can deliver a much speedier and more reliable connection.
If you live in rural locations in the likes of Berkshire, Devon, Essex, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Northamptonshire, Somerset or Wiltshire, you might want to consider Gigaclear for your new provider.
The company is constantly expanding its coverage, so it’s always worth checking if it’s developing a new project in your area.
Pros of Gigaclear broadband
- Superfast and ultrafast packages. Speeds range between 100Mbps to a lightning fast 830Mbps
- Flexible, one-month home phone plans. Better still, you won't have to pay an expensive line rental
- Specialise in serving rural 'notspots': In fact, Gigaclear is of the fastest and most reliable options if you live rurally
- No need to take a landline: Full fibre tech doesn't rely on phone lines. So you don't have to pay line rental if you don't want a fixed-line home phone
- Symmetrical upload speeds: That means no delay when you're playing games online and smooth livestreaming. It's great for video calls too
Cons of Gigaclear broadband
- Large price hikes: Once the minimum term is finished, be prepared for prices to spike substantially
- Very limited availability: You can only get Gigaclear in rural locations
- No one-month contract option; 18-month contracts are the shortest on offer
For more on Gigaclear, read our full review.
How fast is Gigaclear broadband?
Gigclear offers a range of superfast, ultrafast and hyperfast broadband packages with speeds of...
- Superfast 100 – average download speeds of 100Mbps
- Superfast 200 – average download speeds of 200Mbps
- Ultrafast 500 – average download speeds of 500Mbps
- Ultrafast 600 – average download speeds of 600Mbps
- Hyperfast 900 – average download speeds of 830Mbps
Unlike most providers, Gigaclear broadband packages feature 'symmetrical' upload speeds. That means they're great for online gaming, livestreaming video or audio, and uploading lots of super high-res photos to the cloud quickly.
What are Gigaclear's bundles?
Gigaclear bundle options include:
- Broadband only (full fibre)
- Broadband + home phone call plans (no landline required)
- Broadband + home phone call plans + Sky TV with Sky Stream (no dish required)
Does Gigaclear offer broadband-only contracts?
Yes – you don’t need to take a home phone package with your broadband if you don’t want one.
Can I get TV with Gigaclear?
Gigaclear doesn't offer TV bundles that bear comparison with the likes of Virgin Media or BT, with their suites of channels and high-end set top boxes.
But you can add Sky Stream for an additional charge and get Sky Entertainment and Netflix basement, as well as a Sky Stream puck streaming device.
What are Gigaclear's call add-ons?
For an extra charge every month, you can sign up to one of Gigaclear’s phone plans:
- Evenings and Weekends
- Evenings and Weekends PLUS
- Anytime PLUS
While some providers require you to sign up to a home phone contract, Gigaclear’s plans are all on one-month rolling contracts – so you’re free to change or cancel whenever you want.
And they all come with a host of features, such as voicemail, call divert and premium call blocking, among others.
It’s worth noting that Gigaclear doesn’t use traditional copper cables to provide its phone service. Instead, it uses your home broadband to deliver a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service.
Some advantages of VoIP include clearer sound and (usually) more reliable calls. However, if there’s a power outage in your area, you won’t be able to use your home phone – which is why Gigaclear recommends against getting its home phone service if you’re reliant on your landline, and don’t have alternative means to contact emergency services in the event of a power cut.
If you can't get Gigaclear...
As Gigaclear primarily serves rural communities, you’re out of luck if you’re living in a big city or anywhere not covered by its network.
But the good news is that you'll probably be able to get an ultra fast service from Virgin Media or from any of the array of providers that use the Openreach network, such as BT, EE or Sky. All of whom offer full fibre service with comparable speeds to Gigaclear.
If you'd prefer a cheaper option, perhaps consider a standard fibre broadband package from TalkTalk or Plusnet. They're fine for smaller occupancy homes and come in at really good prices.
Compare broadband deals with MoneySuperMarket to see what’s available in your post code.