If you live in a rural area, chances are you might have a hard-time getting access to superfast broadband. That’s why Gigaclear might be your best option, this provider is installing its own super-fast network in areas that don’t have a decent broadband connection in an effort to make sure everyone has access to fast internet. Read our in-depth guide to Gigaclear broadband and see if it's the right choice for your home or business.
What Is Gigaclear?
Gigaclear is a UK broadband provider that is dedicated to making super-fast broadband accessible to rural communities. Gigaclear has won several awards for its broadband service and is available to more than 22 counties in England. To date, according to its Crunchbase profile, Gigaclear has raised £346M from nine investors. Gigaclear was able to raise £190M in its last round of fundraising that took place in December 2021.
Who Owns Gigaclear
Gigaclear Ltd is majority owned by Infracapital who are a European investment company that is primarily involved in infrastructure. The networks that Gigaclear builds are developed with commercial investment and through Government subsidies such as the BDUK programme.
The Gigaclear Network
Gigaclear builds and maintains its own network infrastructure, this means that it doesn’t rely on BT Openreach to have installed fibre to your property. By building its own network, Gigaclear is able to plan, develop and maintain to its own standards. If Gigaclear isn’t available in your area, you can let Gigaclear know that you’re interested so they can plan the roll-out if there is enough demand.
No matter if you need broadband for your business or home, Gigaclear offers plans to get your rural property connected to its full fibre network. At the time of writing, Gigaclear provides broadband to more than 250,000 rural homes and businesses and is an alternative to 5G rural broadband.
Gigaclear Reviews
According to its verified profile on the consumer review website Trustpilot, which has 5,727 reviews, it’s rated as Great with 4.1 out of 5 stars. This is clearly a good sign if you’re considering switching your broadband to Gigaclear.
| Excellent | Great | Average | Poor | Bad | Overall Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 48% | 19% | 14% | 7% | 12% | 4.1/5 |
Last updated: 12/05/2022
Positive Gigaclear Reviews
Happy customers are singing the praises of the Gigaclear customer service team and how fast the Gigaclear speed is.
The advisor on the the phone was very helpful and got my internet back up and running again in minutes!
Everything was comfortable and reassuring and contrasted dramatically with an unpleasant experience I’d just had where I was required to negotiate a similar arrangement over text with Vodafone. Pity you don’t do mobiles!
Am currently waiting for my Gigaclear fibre install, but my dealings so far with them have been extremely positive. They have even contacted me to see if I would to bring my install date forwards as an earlier date has become available.
As part of the roll out for Witham they arranged an open presentation/Q&A zoom session, and gave far more details and were more open than I have know any telecoms company to be - normally it's like getting blood out of a stone.
Negative Gigaclear Reviews
On the other hand, unhappy customers make special mention of Gigaclear outages and lack of communication about unresolved network problems.
I have been without my landline number now for over 18 days. Gigaclear really do not seem interested. I have made 5 calls to them trying to find out what is happening but each time the operative says that they can't help me but they will get someone to call me. They seem to be great at Broadband but useless with VOIP Phone.
I received a call from a CSR who was very helpful but I only received the call after raising another ticket to find out the state of play of my installation which I have been waiting for 6 months for.
Only gave 1 star as I couldnt give 0 stars. Had the fibre installed into our house 3 weeks ago but still NOT connected to the internet! When I speak to gigaclear they just blame others and say theyre speaking to management to get it booked. They are a waste of time.
Gigaclear Offers
Let’s take a look at what Gigaclear offers in its plans and how much it costs for a Gigaclear deal. It’s important to mention that the Gigaclear prices are for new customers only and if you’re already a Gigaclear customer you should contact the Gigaclear loyalty team to renew your plan, or you might want to compare broadband providers to see if there’s a better deal for your home or business.
At first glance, Gigaclear offers a very simplified choice with just four options to choose and its cheapest broadband plan is just £17 a month. But, The more you pay, the faster internet you will have. All plans include a free Gigaclear router, whilst the top-tier plans also come with a WiFi extender which is great for larger properties or homes with thick walls.
Are Gigaclear prices fixed?
No, Gigaclear states in its terms and conditions that the price will remain fixed in 2022 and from October 2023 the price will increase by 3.5% above the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
Broadband providers will often link its prices to the CPI and pass on the rise in costs to its customers, it's important to read the terms and conditions of any broadband deal to see how the CPI cost is factored in. Some broadband providers such as Direct Save Telecom or italk offer fixed prices without a mid-contract rise.
Gigaclear Prices For Residential Customers
In the table below you will find the Gigaclear prices for residential broadband customers, and what you can expect with each plan.
| Superfast 200 | Ultrafast 300 | Ultrafast 600 | Hyperfast 900 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average Speed | 200 Mbps | 300 Mbps | 600 Mbps | 830 Mbps |
| Minimum Term | 18 Months | 18 Months | 18 Months | 18 Months |
| Router Included | ||||
| Wi-Fi Extender Included | ||||
| Monthly Price | £17 | £20 | £26 | £49 |
| Price After Minimum Term | £40 | £44 | £59 | £79 |
Last updated: 12/05/2022
Gigaclear Prices For Business Customers
Similar to the Gigaclear offers for residential customers, its business broadband plans also include unlimited usage and a free router. In the table below, you can see the Gigaclear prices and options for business customers. Before making any decision we recommend that you compare broadband providers to find the best broadband for your business.
| Business 100 | Business 250 | Business 500 | Business Ultra | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average Speed | 100 Mbps | 250 Mbps | 500 Mbps | 900 Mbps |
| Minimum Contract | 24 Months | 24 Months | 24 Months | 24 Months |
| Router Included | ||||
| Monthly Price | £85.50 + VAT | £142.45 + VAT | £284.90 + VAT | £477.60 + VAT |
Last updated: 12/05/2022
Does Gigaclear Offer TV?
Unfortunately Gigaclear does not have any TV options, only Gigaclear broadband. That means you will need to rely on subscriptions to your favourite streaming services or from a traditional TV package from the likes of Sky or NOW TV. As an alternative, you might consider getting your hands on a Netgem TV box, which is an easy-to-use set-top box, for only £10 a month you get access to:
- 210+ live channels including Freeview!
- 35+ apps
- Premier Sports included (worth £12.99/month)
- 40,000 hours of on-demand content
- Choice of add-ons (BT Sport, Rakuten TV, BritBox, hayu, etc)
- Unlimited Mobile TV
- 4K TV box included (worth £149)
Gigaclear Customer Service
One of the most important things to consider when choosing a broadband service is its customer service. The last thing you want when you have a Gigaclear outage is to have a hard-time contacting the provider. As you can see from the Gigaclear reviews, its customer service is great at first contact, but seems to be lacklustre when it comes to problems that require more attention.
If you do find yourself needing to contact Gigaclear customer service, you can do so in the following ways:
- Phone
- Post
Below are the details of how to contact Gigaclear customer service, sales, head office and media enquiries.
| Gigaclear Customer Service Department | Phone Number | Email Address | Opening Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sales | 03708 637 606 | [email protected] | Mon to Fri 9am to 7:30pm Weekends 10am to 4pm |
| Customer Service | 01865 591 131 | [email protected] | Mon to Fri 8am to 8pm Weekends 10am to 5pm |
| Media Enquiries | 01865 664 153 | [email protected] | - |
| Head Office | 01865 591 100 | [email protected] | - |
Last updated: 12/05/2022
Gigaclear Problems
If you have a Gigaclear problem the first thing you should do is try to reset your Gigaclear router, this is as simple as disconnecting the power for 30 seconds to a minute then turning it back on. If you still have a Gigaclear problem, you will need to get in touch with Gigaclear customer service on the number above.
Gigaclear Status
Sometimes, a Gigaclear problem can affect multiple properties or postcodes, this is called an outage. You can use the Gigaclear status checker on the providers website before you call to see if there are any outages reported. On the Gigaclear status checker you can find the information about both planned and unplanned outages, along with updates such as:
- Investigating: Gigaclear are aware of the problem and trying to find out the issue
- Identified: Gigaclear have found the fault and are attempting to fix it
- Update: The Gigaclear status checker will be updated every so often with updates to keep customers informed
Gigaclear Login
You will be able to manage most aspects of your account with a Gigaclear login. You should be provided with your username and password when you join the provider. Without a Gigaclear login, you will need to call the customer service team to make any changes to your account.
We recommend that you set up your Gigaclear login as soon as possible so you can track the status of your connection and be kept informed throughout the process.
Gigaclear Speed Test
As with all broadband services, the speed offered by the plan you choose is a maximum speed and can not be guaranteed. The quality of your connection can depend on several factors such as:
- If you use Wi-Fi or Ethernet
- Where you place your router
- Distance from your router
- How many people are using the connection
- Etc
You should therefore run a speedtest every now and then to check if your connection is at least close to what you’re paying for. You can use the speed test in our Broadband Speed Test Guide, which is compatible with any broadband service. If your Gigaclear speed test shows you have a slow-connection, try to reset your router or contact Gigaclear customer service to report the problem.
Gigaclear Frequently Asked Questions
Does Gigaclear use Openreach?
No, Gigaclear doesn’t use BT Openreach. Instead, the provider installs and maintains its own network and infrastructure.
Do I need a phone line for Gigaclear?
As the Gigaclear network is full-fibre it doesn’t need a landline to work, this means you won’t need to pay line rental. Gigaclear doesn’t offer any landline service or call packages to its customers. If you need a landline, you can get a landline only service with providers such as Direct Save Telecom, italk, POP Telecom, etc. Alternatively, you will need to rely on your mobile or VOIP for calls.
Can Sky use Gigaclear Fibre?
If you have a Sky TV, such as Sky Go that requires an internet connection then Gigaclear broadband will work just fine.
Can BT use Gigaclear?
Gigaclear is required by law to allow other providers to use its network on a wholesale basis, however BT is unlikely to take advantage of this due to its relationship with BT Openreach.
How long does Gigaclear take to install?
On average, Gigaclear takes around four weeks to install from the moment you sign up for a Gigaclear plan.
Is Gigaclear a FTTP?
Yes, Gigaclear is FTTP, which means you are able to take advantage of the fastest possible speeds - depending on the Gigaclear offer you choose.
Which router does Gigaclear use?
The Gigaclear router is a custom Linksys Velop router developed especially for Gigaclear, the current model is the Linksys WHW0301GC-UK. The Linksys Gigaclear router has features such as:
- Tri-band network
- 802.11ac
- Next generation AC2200
- MU-MIMO technology
- Intelligent Mesh WiFi system
- Seamless roaming
- 2x2 Spatial streams
- Full speed everywhere
- Cross-channel solution
- Spot Finder technology
- Beamforming technology
- Guided setup
- Guest Wi-Fi
- Parental Controls
- Speed Check
- Notifications
- Two gigabit ethernet ports
Is Gigaclear fast?
Gigaclear has options from 200 to 900 Mbps which means that its one of the fastest fibre networks in the UK.
Read more articles about Gigaclear
How to Contact Gigaclear Customer Service
