Gigabit IQ Launches £270,000 Crowdfunding Round to Accelerate Full-Fibre Expansion
UK ISP Gigabit IQ has launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise £270,000, aiming to fuel its ongoing full-fibre broadband expansion efforts. According to a report from ISPreview, the company carries a pre-money valuation of £5 million and is offering 5.12% equity to attract new investors. At the time of writing, £243,650 had already been committed by 40 backers.
Gigabit IQ’s Expansion Strategy
Gigabit IQ has made a name for itself as a retail ISP offering full-fibre connectivity along with value-added services like FamilyGuard+ and CyberGuard+, which focus on safety and device protection. The ISP reportedly has an addressable market of 1.5 million homes via wholesale agreements with Full Fibre and F&W Networks.
While this latest crowdfunding effort targets £270,000, the company had initially aimed to raise £500,000 when it announced its plans in October 2025. This emphasis on localized crowdfunding aligns with what the company describes as its “community-centred approach to broadband provision.”
Market Context: Surge in UK Altnet Activity
The crowdfunding campaign comes at a time when UK-based alternative networks (altnets) are vying for dominance in the rapidly growing full-fibre market. According to the Independent Networks Cooperative Association (INCA), altnets covered 8.2 million UK premises by the end of 2025, marking a 47% year-on-year increase. The competitive landscape is intensifying as providers invest heavily in network builds and customer acquisition strategies.
For Gigabit IQ, tapping into community-based crowdfunding may provide more than just capital; it could also establish stronger goodwill among potential customers in its target areas. Industry observers see this approach as a way to differentiate the company from larger providers, such as Openreach and Virgin Media O2, which dominate much of the UK broadband market.
Expert Insights and What’s Next
While the campaign’s rapid progress suggests investor interest in niche broadband players remains high, Gigabit IQ’s funding ambitions are modest compared to the sums raised by top-tier altnets. For example, CityFibre recently secured £4.9 billion in private equity funding to further its ambitious rollout plans. Nonetheless, smaller players like Gigabit IQ could play a vital role in reaching underserved markets where larger operators have limited penetration.
The success of this crowdfunding round could determine Gigabit IQ’s ability to expand its footprint and enhance its service offerings. With just over 10% of the target left to raise, the campaign’s outcome may also signal broader market sentiment toward community-driven telecom initiatives.
Will this grassroots approach gain further traction in the industry, or will big-budget competitors continue to dominate the market share? Only time—and investor wallets—will tell.
For more details, read the full report on Total Telecom.
