Our review of B4RN broadband

Who are B4RN Broadband?

Broadband for the Rural North Ltd known as ‘B4RN’ Broadband is a registered non-profit community venture run by a team of local landowners and volunteers. As the name suggests it's a rural broadband service covering a limited area in the North of England. It was founded in Lancashire in 2011 and led by Industry expert Barry Forde. Barry's innovative social enterprise demonstrates that a community approach can deliver a world-class broadband network at a sensible price. It's the community-based approach that has led to B4RN being so successful. Their expanding broadband network has an average takeup of 50% of all properties in the area that they cover. B4RN currently supplies gigabit broadband to over 14,000 homes and businesses. Any profit B4RN makes can only be distributed to the community, so by getting connected you're helping support your local community!

What's the cost of B4RN Broadband?

B4RN broadband offers 1000Mbps (1Gbps) as standard. Realistically, most households won’t need speeds that fast, but it does provide future-proof performance. There’s also the option to upgrade to 10Gbps, although that’s more than most people will ever require. B4RN broadband now comes with a minimum 12-month contract. Their phone service, B4RN Voice, is delivered over VoIP and available as an add-on for both residential and social tariff customers. After the initial term, broadband can be cancelled with 30 days’ notice. Early termination within the 12-month period may result in additional charges. If you're within a B4RN coverage area, here’s a list of current prices, including domestic, business and social broadband tariffs. All prices include VAT.

Domestic household

One off connection fee £60
£33 per month for broadband

Social broadband tariff

One off connection fee £60
Terms and conditions apply
£15 per month for broadband

Business customers

Micro businesses (Businesses run from home)*

One off connection fee £60
£33 per month for broadband

Independent small businesses (Annual turnover less than £1m)*

One off connection fee £60
£66 per month for broadband

Other businesses (Annual turnover less than £10.2m )*

One off connection fee £60
£66 per month for broadband

*Holiday cottages, caravan sites, schools, larger businesses, hotels, churches etc all have special pricing plans that take into account their special circumstances.

Read B4RN broadband features in more detail

  • One-off connection fee £360
    £150 per month for broadband

    What area do B4RN Broadband cover?

  • It’s a great service and a fantastic price, but there are a few things worth knowing before you sign up:

    If you want B4RN Broadband, you’ll need to be prepared to get your hands dirty. Unlike most other full fibre broadband providers, B4RN asks customers to install a duct from their property to the boundary. This is usually done by the property owner, but a contractor or trained volunteers from your local B4RN group may also assist with the garden dig. B4RN will provide clear guidance on the route and ducting specifications.

    B4RN doesn’t provide its own email service, so you’ll need to use a third-party provider such as Gmail, Outlook, Proton Mail, or iCloud. Most broadband providers now treat email separately, and access may be lost after switching. For example, if you were previously a BT customer and also used the BT email service, your email account will remain active for 60 days after cancellation. After that, you’ll need to subscribe to BT Premium Email (£7.50 per month) to keep your address active.

    B4RN is a broadband-only service delivered via full fibre directly to the property. It doesn’t use a traditional phone line, but you can add a digital VoIP phone service if required. See below for more information about B4RN Voice.

    For further information, visit the B4RN website: www.b4rn.org.uk

  • B4RN Voice is a digital landline service that works through your B4RN gigabit fibre connection, using the voice over internet features already built into the B4RN router.

    Key Features

    • Inclusive calls to UK landline numbers (01, 02, 03) and mobile numbers (07, excluding 070).
    • 200 monthly international minutes to Canada, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and mainland Europe.
    • Voicemail with multiple access options (handset, app, online).
    • Access to short and emergency numbers including 999, 112, 101, 105, 111, 119, 159, and more.
    • Support for Freephone numbers (0800, 0808).

    Pricing and terms

    Monthly price: £9.99 on a rolling 1-month contract & no setup fee (if you're already a B4RN broadband customer)

    Number porting

    You can move your current phone number to B4RN Voice for a one-off fee of £30. This process typically takes 1–3 weeks. Do not cancel your current landline service until the porting is complete, or you risk losing your number. New customers can also request a local number free of charge.

    Compatibility & installation

    No engineer visit is required. Most standard corded or cordless phones connect directly to the B4RN router. If your router is not located near your preferred phone socket, a cordless DECT phone system is recommended.

    BT Digital Voice handsets are not compatible with B4RN Voice. Some older phones may not support keypad functions (DTMF tones); in this case, a newer handset or the B4RN Voice smartphone app may be required. View the B4RN Voice mobile app user guide.

    Power considerations

    Like all VoIP services, B4RN Voice will not work during a power cut unless you have a backup battery or generator. Vulnerable customers should also ensure they have access to a mobile phone in case of emergency